Cotton Yarn 8ply Sonoran

How to Crochet a Primary Colours Tote Bag

Crochet a large, colourful tote bag using tapestry crochet, bold geometric motifs and a reinforced cord base. The bag is worked continuously in the round, with the unused colours carried beneath the working stitches to create a neat, durable fabric.

The body combines chevrons, diamonds and striped sections in aqua, red and yellow. The handles are crocheted directly from the upper edge, creating a strong, fully integrated finish.

Project Details

• Difficulty: Advanced crochet
• Finished length: approximately 50 cm
• Height including handles: approximately 55 cm
• Construction: Worked continuously in the round
• Graph repeat: 12 repeats around the bag

What You Will Need

Yarn

• Main colour – Aqua: 6 × 50 g balls of Lincraft Cotton 8 Ply
• Colour 1 – Red: 4 × 50 g balls
• Colour 2 – Yellow: 3 × 50 g balls

Hook and Equipment

• 3.50 mm crochet hook
• Stitch marker
• Wool needle for sewing in ends
• 5 metres of 5 mm cord

Alternative Yarns

Choose a smooth DK or 8 ply yarn with firm stitch definition. Cotton is preferred because it creates a strong, low-stretch fabric suitable for a large carry bag.

• Mercerised cotton 8 ply: Creates crisp colourwork and a slightly polished finish.
• Standard cotton 8 ply: The closest alternative for strength, structure and breathability.
• Recycled cotton yarn: A durable option, provided it is smooth enough for tapestry crochet.
• Cotton and acrylic blend: Produces a lighter bag with greater resilience, although it may stretch more than pure cotton.
• Firm acrylic 8 ply: An economical alternative, but consider adding a lining because acrylic may stretch when the bag is loaded.

Match substitute yarn by total metreage rather than ball count. Use yarns with similar thickness and fibre content for all colours so the tapestry pattern remains even.

Tension

Tension is not critical for this project. However, the fabric should be firm enough to support the bag’s contents without becoming stiff or difficult to crochet.

Crochet Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• dc: double crochet
• mdc: modified double crochet
• blo: back loop only
• inc: increase by working 2 stitches in one stitch
• sl st: slip stitch
• st or sts: stitch or stitches
• MC: main colour
• C1 and C2: contrast colours 1 and 2

What Is Tapestry Crochet?

Tapestry crochet is a colourwork technique in which unused yarns are carried inside the working stitches. Each colour is brought into use only where it is needed, while the remaining strands are enclosed beneath the active colour.

Work continuously in the round without joining with a slip stitch or beginning each round with a chain. Place a marker in the first stitch and move it upwards after every round.

What Is Modified Double Crochet?

Modified double crochet is used to make the colourwork sit more vertically. Insert the hook through the back loop only and draw up a loop. To complete the stitch, place the hook over and behind the yarn, catch the yarn from above and pull it through both loops.

This yarn-under finish reduces the natural slant that can occur with ordinary double crochet.

How to Change Colours

1. Begin the final step of the stitch with the current colour.
2. Before completing the stitch, place the new colour over the hook.
3. Pull the new colour through to complete the stitch.
4. Carry the unused yarn beneath the following stitches.
5. Gently adjust the carried strands after each section so the fabric remains flat and the unused colours do not show through.

Crochet the Reinforced Base

The base is worked continuously around the starting chain with the 5 mm cord enclosed beneath the stitches.

1. Using the main colour, make 121 chain.
2. Leave approximately 15 cm of cord extending beyond the beginning of the work.
3. Lay the cord over the starting chain and crochet around it so the cord is enclosed inside the stitches.
4. Round 1: Work 3 dc in the second chain from the hook, 1 dc in each of the next 118 chains and 5 dc in the final chain.
5. Turn the work to crochet along the opposite side of the starting chain. Work 1 dc in each of the next 117 stitches and 2 dc in the final chain. 245 dc.
6. Do not join. Place a marker in the first stitch.
7. Round 2: Increase in each of the first 3 stitches, work 118 dc, increase in each of the next 5 stitches, work 118 dc, then increase in each of the final 2 stitches. 256 dc.
8. Round 3: Increase in each of the next 6 stitches, work 118 dc, increase in each of the next 10 stitches, work 118 dc, then increase in each of the final 4 stitches. 276 dc.
9. Round 4: Increase in each of the next 12 stitches, work 118 dc, increase in each of the next 20 stitches, work 118 dc, then increase in each of the final 8 stitches. 316 dc.
10. Round 5: Work 3 dc, increase six times, work 118 dc, repeat 3 dc, increase ten times, work 118 dc, then repeat 3 dc, increase four times. 336 dc.
11. Cut the cord, leaving approximately 15 cm extending from the work.

Begin the Bag Body

1. Continue using modified double crochet through the back loop only.
2. Round 6: Work 1 mdc in every stitch. 336 mdc.
3. Join Colours 1 and 2 and carry the unused colours inside the stitches.
4. Follow the written round sequence or the chart, repeating each 28-stitch colour section 12 times around the bag.

First Chevron Section

• Rounds 7–15: Work the first nine-round chevron sequence in the three colours as shown in the project chart.
• Repeat Rounds 7–15 once.
• Repeat Rounds 7–10 once more.

Maintain 336 stitches throughout the body. Each complete chart repeat contains 28 stitches and is worked 12 times around.

Complete the Upper Geometric Sections

1. Work Rounds 29–31 to complete the narrowing upper chevron section.
2. Work one plain main-colour round.
3. Work one complete round in Colour 2.
4. Work one complete round in Colour 1.
5. Work Rounds 35–45 to form the large diamond section.
6. Reverse the colour pattern by working Rounds 44–19 in reverse order.

Crochet the Handles

Do not fasten off after the bag body. Continue directly into the handle section.

1. Change to the main colour.
2. Handle Round 1: Work 1 mdc in every stitch.
3. Handle Round 2: Work 58 mdc, make 100 chain and miss 68 stitches.
4. Work 100 mdc, make another 100 chain and miss 68 stitches, then work the final 42 mdc.
5. You should have two 100-chain handle loops.
6. Handle Round 3: Work mdc into every body stitch and every chain around. 400 mdc.
7. Work 2 further complete rounds in the main colour.
8. Change to Colour 1.
9. Slip stitch across the upper bag edges and work modified double crochet across each handle section as directed.
10. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Add the Inner Handle Edging

1. With the right side facing, attach Colour 1 to the first missed stitch beneath one handle.
2. Slip stitch along the missed body stitches.
3. Work 1 mdc in each handle chain.
4. Join with a slip stitch.
5. Repeat around the second handle opening.

Finish the Tote Bag

1. Gently pull each remaining cord tail so the reinforced base is firm.
2. Carefully trim the excess cord close to the crochet without cutting the stitches.
3. Weave in all yarn ends.
4. Gently shape the base and handles.
5. Add a fabric lining if additional structure or protection is desired.