Crochet Market Bag (UK Crochet Terms)

This simple market bag is designed to introduce a few basic crochet skills:

1. Working in rounds

2. Mesh stitch in the round

3. Reading a pattern.

Notions

Use a hook size appropriate to your yarn.

You will also need 2 stitch markers.

Abbreviations:

dc

double crochet

tr

treble crochet

hk

hook

ch

chain

sl st

slip stitch

rnd

round

Tension

It is not necessary to check your tension for this project.

Pattern starts here:

Make 5ch, join with a sl st to make a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch3 (counts as 1st tr here and throughout), 11tr into ring, join with a sl st in top of

beginning 3ch. 12tr

Rnd 2: Ch3, 1tr in same place as sl st, 2tr in each tr around, join with a sl st to beginning

3ch. 24tr

Rnd 3: Ch3, 1tr in same place as sl st, 1tr in next tr, [2tr in next tr, 1tr in next tr] 11 times,

join with a sl st to beginning 3ch. 36tr

Rnd 4: Ch3, 1tr in same place as sl st, 1tr in each of next 2tr, [2tr in next tr, 1tr in each of

next 2tr] 11 times, join with a sl st to beginning 3ch. 48tr

Rnd 5: Ch3, 1tr in same place as sl st, 1tr in each of next 3tr, [2tr in next tr, 1tr in each of

next 3tr] 11 times, join with a sl st to beginning 3ch. 60tr

Rnd 6: Ch3, 1tr in same place as sl st, 1tr in each of next 4tr, [2tr in next tr, 1tr in each of

next 4 tr] 11 times, join with a sl st to beginning 3ch. 72tr

Rnd 7: Ch3, 1tr in same place as sl st, 1tr in each of next 5tr, [2tr in next tr, 1tr in each of

next 5tr] 11 times, join with a sl st to beginning 3ch. 84 tr

Continue working increases as set (one extra treble before increase) until base of bag is

desired size).

Mesh stitch body:

Next round: *Ch5, skip 3ch, 1dc in next ch; repeat from * around, sl st in 1st 5ch sp.

Next and all following rounds: *Ch5, sl st in next 5ch sp; repeat from * around.

Continue working this mesh stitch until bag is desired length.

Final rnd 1: 3dc in each 5ch sp around, sl st in 1st dc.

Place handles

Lie bag flat and mark where you wish the handles to be with stitch markers.

Rnd 2: Ch20 (alter to suit), skip 15dc, dc to next marker, ch20, skip 15dc, dc to end of

round.

Rnd 3: 1dc in each dc and each ch around.

Rnd 4: Repeat Rnd 3.

Fasten off yarn, weave in ends.

Notes:

The bag can be made as small / large as you like by working more / fewer treble rounds.

The bag above has 7 rounds of trebles. Each round is a multiple of 4, so the mesh stitch will

always work, regardless of how many rounds you make.

You can also make it longer / shorter by working more / fewer rounds of mesh stitch.

The handle length can be adjusted to suit by working more / fewer chains.

Suitable yarns:

Cotton yarn is ideal for this bag. For the small size you’ll need about 200m.

Suitable yarns are:

2 balls of Knitpicks Dishie which comes in single colours or variegated bright colours.

3 balls of Paintbox dk cotton (available from Loveknitting.com)

2 balls Sirdar Cotton DK

Other great cotton yarns are Scheepjes, Yarn and Colours, Patons, Rowan and Rico.

You can also use wool and acrylic – but use a smaller hook as these yarns have more

“stretch”!

If you aren’t sure what size hook to use, check the ball band of your yarn.

Or use a 4mm hook for DK yarn, a 5mm for Aran weight etc.

Pattern © Tracey Todhunter

This free pattern is adapted from a crochet workshop “Learn to Crochet a Market Bag”, it

has been tested by the participants, but if you find any errors or typos – please let me now.