Bright and Cheery! There is no other way to describe this free crochet tote bag pattern. Whether you work up this fun tote to carry your newest work in project, to use as a library bag, or as a happy beach tote, you are sure to bring smiles to the faces of anyone who sees it. For those who love to make crochet granny squares, this bag will be nothing but a breeze. The side panels are essentially just two giant granny squares, and then you applique the bright sun to the center. It really couldn’t be easier. This is a project perfect for an adventurous beginner ready to take on something bigger than a basic scarf.
You Are My Sunshine Crochet Tote Bag
Pattern provided by Red Heart Yarns
Materials:
- COATS® Crème De La Crème®: 1 ball each of 500 Aqua A, 701 Orchid Pink B, 625 Brite Green C, 720 Brite Pink D, and 200 Sunshine E; and a small amount of 12 Black F
- Crochet Hook: 5 mm [US H-8]
- Yarn needle
GAUGE:
16 sts = 4” (10 cm); 8 rows/rounds = 4” (10 cm) in double crochet (dc). CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.
Tote measures 13½” (34.5 cm) wide and 13½” (34.5 cm) tall, not including handles.
ABBREVIATIONS:
- A, B, C = Color A, Color B, Color C etc
- ch = chain
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- sc = single crochet
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- tr = treble (triple) crochet
- () = work directions in parentheses into same st
- [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified
- * = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.
Special Technique:
join with sc = Place a slip knot on hook, insert hook in indicated stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook.
Notes
- Tote is made from identical front and back squares, and two handles.
- Front and back are worked in joined rounds beginning with the center sun. Sunglasses are worked separately and sewn to the sun.
- Handles are worked separately and sewn to top of tote.
FRONT:
Sun
With E, ch 4.
Round 1 (right side): Work 11 dc in 4th ch from hook (3 skipped ch count as first dc); join with slip st in top of beginning ch— 12 dc.
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), dc in same st as joining, 2 dc in each remaining st around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—24 dc.
Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st; repeat from * around; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—36 dc.
Round 4: *Ch 6, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, tr in last ch (point made), skip next 3 sts of Round 3, slip st in front loop only of next st; repeat from * 8 more times—9 points. Fasten off E.
Background:
Round 5: With right side facing, working behind sun points and into back loops of Round 3, join A with sc in same st as last slip st; sc in next 6 sts, (hdc, dc) in next st, ch 1, (dc, hdc) in next st, *sc in next 7 sts, (hdc, dc) in next st, ch 1, (dc, hdc) in next st; repeat from * around; join with slip st in first sc—44 sts (11 sts across each of 4 sides between ch-1 spaces) and 4 ch-1 spaces.
Round 6: Ch 3, dc in next 8 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch-1 space (corner made), *dc in next 11 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch-1 space; repeat from * 2 more times, dc in last 2 sts; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—36 dc—60 dc (15 dc across each of 4 sides) and 4 corner ch-1 spaces.
Round 7: Ch 3, *dc in each st to next corner ch-1 space, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in corner ch-1 space; repeat from * 3 more times, dc in each st to end of round; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—76 dc (19 dc across each of 4 sides).
Round 8: Repeat Round 7—92 dc (23 dc across each of 4 sides). Fasten off A. With right side facing, draw up a loop of C in same st as joining.
Round 9: With C, repeat Round 7—108 dc (27 dc across each of 4 sides). Fasten off C. With right side facing, draw up a loop of D in same st as joining.
Rounds 10 and 11: With D, repeat Round 7 twice—140 dc (35 dc across each of 4 sides) at the end of Round 11. Fasten off D. With right side facing, draw up a loop of B in same st as joining.
Rounds 12 and 13: With B, repeat Round 7 twice—172 dc (43 dc across each of 4 sides) at the end of Round 13. Fasten off B.
Round 14: With right side facing and working in back loops only, join C with sc in same st as joining, *sc in each st to next corner ch-1 space, 3 sc in corner ch-1 space; repeat from * 3 more times, sc in each remaining st to end of round; join with slip st in first sc—184 sc. Fasten off C.
Round 15: With right side facing and working in front loops of Round 13, join E with slip st in any st, slip st in each remaining st around. Fasten off E. Side Panel Row 1 (right side): Working behind Round 15 slip sts and into back loops only of Round 14, draw up a loop of C in center sc of any 3-sc corner, ch 3 (counts as dc), [dc in each st across next side, dc in each of the 3 corner sts] twice, dc in each st across 3rd side, dc in next 2 corner sts working last dc in center sc of corner; leave last side unworked for top of tote—139 dc. Fasten off C.
Pin sun points down. With E, sew points flat.
Sun Glasses (make 2):
With F, ch 2.
Round 1 (right side): Work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; do not join.
Round 2: Work 2 sc in next 6 sc; join with slip st in next sc—12 sc. Fasten off F.
Round 3: With right side facing, join D with sc in any sc, 2 sc in next sc, [sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 5 times; join with slip st in first sc—18 sc. Fasten off D, leaving a long tail for sewing glasses to sun.
Using photograph as a guide, sew sun glasses in place on sun.
Smile:
With B, embroider a couched stitch smile below the sunglasses.
BACK:
Make same as front, including side panel and sunglasses.
HANDLE (make 2):
With E, ch 65.
Round 1 (right side): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 62 ch, 3 sc in last ch; working across opposite side of foundation ch, sc in next 62 ch, 2 sc in last ch (at base of very first sc); join with slip st in first sc—130 sc. Fasten off E.
Round 2: With right side facing and working in back loops only, join A with sc in same st as joining, sc in same st again, sc in next 62 sts, 2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next 62 sts, 2 sc in each of last 2 sts; join with slip st in first sc—136 sc. Fasten off A.
Round 3: With right side facing and working in front loops of Round 1, join D with slip st in any st of Round 1, slip st in each remaining st around; join with slip st in first slip st. Fasten off D.
Round 4: With right side facing and working in front loops only of Round 2, join B with slip st in any st of Round 2, slip st in each remaining st around; join with slip st in first slip st. Fasten off B.
FINISHING:
Hold front and back with wrong sides together and side panel stitches matching. With C, sewing through back loops only, sew side panel edges together, leaving top edge unsewn.
Sew one handle to front and the other to the back, sewing ends of each handle to top edge about 5” (12.5 cm) apart. Weave in ends.
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