Welcome to this easy crochet tote bag pattern, the Mellow tote bag, perfect for beginners who want to create something both beautiful and practical. Whether you’re heading to the market, beach, or just need a cute everyday bag, this tote is the perfect project to get you started.
Designed with simplicity in mind, this pattern uses basic stitches and minimal shaping. If you know how to chain and double crochet—you’re all set! With step-by-step instructions and a clean, modern design, you’ll finish this bag with pride (and probably want to make more than one).
Grab your yarn, hook, and a cozy seat—let’s get crocheting!
Knowledge on how to crochet double crochet and slip stitch and chain is required for this pattern.
Material list:
- Crochet Hook size 6mm
- Macramé/ Rope or t-shirt yarn or any other bulky yarn that is about 3mm thick
- Meters used – 220 meters
- Scissors
- 4 stitch markers
Tension:
Gauge: 4″ = 4 rows x 9 stitches (double crochet)
One size bag
Finished bag measurements
34 cm height and 32 cm width
Crochet Terms in US Terminology
- join – join two stitches together , done by working a slip stitch in the top of the next stitch
- rep – repeat (do it again)
- st (s) – stitch(es)
Stitch guide
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- dc – double crochet
Pattern notes:
- You are going to work in rounds.
- The number in the brackets at the end of each instruction is the total number of stitches for that round.
Instructions:
The bag is made in 3 steps
- Step 1 – the bottom
- Step 2 – the sides
- Step 3 – the handles
Step 1- The Bottom
Foundation round: make a slip knot and chain ch 28. Skip the first two chains from the hook and put 1 dc in the 3rd chain from the hook. Continue with 1 dc in the next chains until you are at the end of the row. Put 5 dc in the last chain. Now continue to crochet into the back of the chains as shown below, put 1 dc in the back of each chain until you are left with one chain (the back of the chain with the first dc) and put 4 dc in that chain.
Crochet in the back of the chains to make a round.
Join the last dc to the first dc with a slip stitch to complete the first round as shown below. After completing the first round the base of the bag is done. (58 st)
NB: Note that from here onwards crochet in the back loop of the stitches.
- Since we are crocheting with double crochet, we begin each round with a chain of 3
- The slip stitch at the end of each round does not count as a stitch therefore do not crochet in this slip st.
Step 2 – The Sides
Round 2: ch 3, put 1 dc in the back loop of the base stitch of the chain 3.
Crochet in the back loop
Continue with 1 dc in the back loop of each st right round until you are towards the end of the round. Towards the end, do not crochet in the last stitch which is the slip stitch we did in the previous round when we joined the first dc to the last dc.
Skip the last stitch which is the slip stitch.
Therefore skip the last slip stitch and join the last dc to the 3rd chain of the chain 3 we did at the beginning of the round with a slip stitch to finish round 2.
Join by inserting the hook in the 3rd chain of the chain 3 we did at the start of the round
It should look like this after joining with the slip stitch
Round 3: ch 3, put 1 dc in the back loop of the next stitch, Continue with 1 dc in the back loop of each st right round, skip the last slip stitch and join the last dc to the 3rd chain of the chain 3 we did at the beginning of the round with a slip stitch to finish round 3.
Round 4 to round 12: repeat Round 3
Step 3- The Handles
Round 13: starting counting from the first st, put st markers in stitch number 7; 23; 36; 52; as shown below:
Ch 3, put 1 dc in the back loop of the next stitch, Continue with 1 dc in the back loop of each st until you reach the first st marker. Put 1 dc in the st with the st marker (st 7) and chain 50, skip 15 st, and join the chain in the next st with the stitch marker (st 23). Continue with 1 dc in each st until you are at the next st marker (st 36). Put a dc in st 36 and chain 50, skip 15 sts and join the chain in st number 52. Continue with dc in the back loop until the round is done and join with a slip stitch as done in previous rounds.
Round 14: ch 3 and put 1 dc in the back loop of the next stitch. Continue with 1 dc in the back loop of each st, when you reach the chain crochet dc in the back bumps of the chains as shown below. Continue with the pattern until the round is done.
dc in the back bumps of the chains
When round 14 is done:
- Cut and fasten off the ends to finish the bag
- Your bag is complete
And there you have it — your very own handmade crochet tote bag! Whether you’re heading to the market, packing up your latest yarn haul, or just showing off your crochet skills around town, this tote is as practical as it is stylish. I hope you had as much fun making it as I did designing it!
If you end up whipping one (or a few!) up, I’d love to see your finished bags — feel free to tag me on social media or leave a comment below. And don’t forget, this pattern is super customizable, so play around with colors, stitches, or add a pocket to make it truly yours.
Happy crocheting, and until next time — keep those hooks moving!
