Crocheted Linen Grocery Tote
It’s always a good time to eschew the plastic bag in favor of an earth friendly one. My favorite choice is the netted grocery tote. It has all the conveniences of a plastic bag and none of the detriments. I love that it scrunches up into a tiny ball inside my purse, weighs nothing, and fits more groceries than I can even carry – magic!
Our knit version of this bag has been a perennial favorite at Purl (check out Elisa’s Nest Tote), so here, finally, is a crocheted option. It’s made out of Louet’s Euroflax Linen, which is as durable as it is beautiful. My favorite summertime yarn, the Euroflax has the rawness of a hardworking natural linen, balanced by a delicate luster and a graceful drape. Buying groceries will never be the same!
The Materials
- 1 skein of Louet’s Euroflax Original, 100% linen. This color is “Willow”.
- A US size “D” crochet hook
The Pattern
Gauge
5½ single crochets = 1 inch
Finished Size
Approximately 17 inches tall x 11 inches wide and very expandable.
The Bottom
Chain 6 and slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.
Round 1: Make 11 single crochets (sc) into the ring.
Note: Mark the first stitch of the next round with a removable stitch marker, safety pin or paper clip.
Round 2: Make 2 sc into each stitch of the round. (22 stitches)
Note: You can now remove the stitch marker because through Round 6 the end of the round is obvious, and after that the end of the round won’t matter.
Round 3: *Chain 2, 1 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (22 chain loops)
Round 4: *Chain 4, 1 sc into 2 chain loop, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 5: *Chain 6, 1 sc into 4 chain loop, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 6: *Chain 8, 1 sc into 6 chain loop, repeat from * to end of round.
The Body
NOTE: As you begin this section you may worry that your bag is really more of a flat doily. But as you continue, the slack of the center bottom increases will eventually be taken up, and the doily will, in fact, become a tube!
*Chain 8, 1 sc into 8 chain loop, repeat from *, spiraling up until bag measures 16 inches from the center bottom to the top edge. (Tug the bag in all directions and lay it flat to measure.)
The Handles
Note: Mark the first stitch of the next round with a removable stitch marker. Reposition the marker at the beginning of each round to mark the first stitch of the new round.
Round 1: Continuing in the same 8 chain loop, make 6 sc. Then make 7 sc into each 8 chain loop to the end of the round. (161 stitches)
Round 2: 1 sc into each stitch.
Round 3: 1 sc, chain 50, skip 25 stitches, 1 sc into next stitch…
… 1 sc into next 54 stitches, chain 50, skip 25 stitches, 1 sc to end of round.
Round 4: 1 sc into next stitch, 50 sc into 50 chain loop,…
… 1 sc into each stitch until next handle, 50 sc into 50 chain loop, 1 sc into each stitch to end of round.
Round 5: 1 sc into each stitch to end of round.
Slip stitch into the first stitch of the round, cut the yarn and pull it througn the remaining stitch.
Weave in the ends and toss your tote into the washer and dryer. The more you wash it, the softer it gets!
Thank you! This looks magnificent in white!
Thank you for this tutorial ! I'm french and it's my first english work.I've choosen it easy! wow, I hope I'll manage to crochet it ! (If I finish to understand and the tutorial…)
Thanks a lot, it looks very beautiful, I hope mine will be the same…
Bye,Karine
Hi Whitney,
I'm having the same problem some had before: I have no clue how can I "Spiraling up" without having a doyle shaped result.
I was wondering if the others (who had problems) managed to make the bag, and how.
I'd love to make it!
Thanks anyway for the pattern 🙂
I am having the same problem. I am ending up with a large doily instead of a tube shape. Clearly I am not mastering the "spiraling up" technique. Can anyone help?
Hi MadreLayana and Anita,
I think that people who are getting "doilies" are somehow increasing their stitches, so I would recommend counting your stitches periodically to make sure that the number of 8-chain loops is staying the same.
Also, are you making one single crochet into the loop and then chaining 8 to the next loop where you make one single crochet? You should be. Are you just going around and around without regard to the beginning and end of the round? You should be!
I'd love if a reader who solved his or her doily problem would write in with the magic solution! Otherwise, I hope these tips straighten you both out.
Thank you for your questions and good luck!
Whitney
How many rounds do you need to do before it goes from doily to tube? I’ve done about 8, I have counted and definitely only have 22 loops but it is still flat!
Hi Wendy,
Thank you for the comment! As you begin this section you may worry that your bag is really more of a flat doily. But as you continue, the slack of the center bottom increases will eventually be taken up, and the doily will, in fact, become a tube!
I hope this helps and feel free to respond if you have more questions!
Happy Crocheting!
Jake
Absolutely, Jake! I went through the same thing, and decided to Soldier on! Now, happily, I am Spiralling On!
Hi Whitney,
I finally finished my bag! My mistake was closing the first rounds with a slip stitch, therefore I didn't get a spiral from the beginning.
Thank you very much for the help.
Best,
Hi,
I am sorry, but I keep getting a doily too,instead of a tube shape.I have read the instructions six times.Plus I have gone through all the 50 and odd comments too.What am I doing wrong?Could you help please.Maybe, if you could follow the instructions and start crocheting a bag, you might also get a doily and that might help.But it baffles me as to how many commenters wrote in with their success stories.How DID they get a bag?Why does mine keep becoming a doily?
Thanks for your patience.
Hi Sandy,
It's been so long since I made this bag, that I took your advice and decided to make another! I believe that you and everyone else who fears that his or her bag is a doily rather than a tube has just not worked far enough along. It's true that for quite awhile it seems that the shape is going to remain flat, but after you have worked up the slack from the center bottom increases, things really do start to take proper shape!
I've added a note to the pattern so that people will be prepared for the journey. I hope this explanation resolves your problem. If not, then we'll take another look! Thank you so much for your question and good luck!
Whitney
I, too am having the above issue with the doily look. I am not increasing stitches at the SC then chain 8. I am new to crocheting~~~at what place in the next chain do you SC? Does it matter? Maybe that is why I have the doily look. I have been SC in the 3rd or 4th loop of the chain. I am 6ish inches in to the bag~~~~ Doily 🙂
Thank you.
Hi Penny,
You don't actually make the single crochet in a chain stitch. Instead (and much more easily), you make the single crochet into the chain loop, which means that you put your hook below the chain into the space created by the previous round's chain. Just right into that hole!
And as far as the doily problem goes, I think you still haven't worked far enough along. Your bag should take on its tube shape in the next few inches or so!
Thanks for your questions and please let us know if you have any more!
Whitney
Just made this bag and absolutely love it! Thank you for the perfect market bag pattern!
I thank you and agree with everyone. I have been looking for a fast, inexpensive pattern to make market bags. I plan to make many to give to the local food bank in my location. When I had to start making use of their services, they donated two light weight totes to use. They eventually broke and I thought that I had a skill I could give back to them. I will have to look at the cost of linen or strong cotton ply yarn to use I think. What ply would you suggest? Also I plan a few for family to gather clams, muscles and oyster during the season. Any suggestions about my goals would be welcome.
Thanks
Love this bag, but I have a question. For the first few rounds, do you slip-stitch to end the round?
Thanks!
Hello Sarah,
The base of the bag is created with a spiral effect, so you’re not required to slip stitch each round closed. Happy crocheting! -Alyson
This is a great pattern and bag. I’m making one using plastic bag yarn and it’s turning out great using a size J hook. It is true that it appears to be a flat doily for quite a while. Just keep going!
Hello Emma!
We’re so glad you’re enjoying this pattern! Best of luck finishing! -Alyson
I love that you are using plarn and recycling the old plastic bags! Thank you for reminding me that I have numerous balls of this material ready for use in my materials closet. I have made bags with it, but more on the lines of a solid sided bage which took a lot of material and was not as pliable to take to market as the open weave bag would be. Thank you for the idea, and thank you Purl Bee for the pattern!
Hello Tessa!
It feels so good to use your stash of materials at home, however unconventional they are! We’re so happy you like this pattern! Best of luck! -Alyson
I love the look of this bag, and the eco-friendliness is right up my alley! I have looked all through the posted instructions, and don’t see copyright information. I am seeking your permission to sell finished bags made with this (and maybe the knit bag, too) pattern, in my Etsy shop and locally at a Farmer’s Market or craft fair. I will, of course, give full credit to you as the pattern designer. Would appreciate so much hearing back from you! Thanks!
Hello, Juanita!
Thank you for writing in! And thank you so much for your interest in our tote pattern. Unfortunately, all items made from our patterns cannot be sold. All of our patterns are copyrighted and are intended for personal home use only. We hope you understand.
Thank you for getting in touch.
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I can’t find the knit bag pattern linked in the instructions. Can you provide a working link, please? Thanks!
Hi Juanita,
Thank you for bringing this to our attention! We have fixed the link and I am including it here for you: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2007/06/28/elisas-nest-tote/
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Bonjour, Je viens de réaliser ce magnifique sac. Merci de ce partage.
Am almost finished making this simple and practical bag while sitting in airports waiting for flights. Great pattern, easy to follow instructions, and, while the linen is a bit of a rascal to control, I am loving the look and strength of it. With my thanks and appreciation!
Thank you for the explications. I did it and it’s wonderful!
Ciao from Italy
Hi! Many thanks for the pattern! I love these bags. I made three of them so far and I use them a lot as market bag, beach bag, gym shoes bag …. ❤️
Love your other patterns too!
Greatings from Germany,
Bärbel
hi! i m from Algeria….i m so happy that i could realise this pattern…i ve choosed three colors together …the result is so cute..thanks a lot..^^
hello purl! i was wondering how much yarn this takes up? how many bags will one skein of euroflax make? thanks so much! 🙂
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for writing in! While you probably couldn’t get two bags out of one skein, you should be able to make a second, smaller bag. If you eliminate Round 6 of the “Bottom” section and Chain 6 (instead of 8) around and around, you’ll end up with a cute bag for smaller loads!
Best,
Cassy
I’d love to try to make this bag in field linen, is that possible? Could you let me know if there’s any alternations of the pattern, and possible changed sized of a crochet hook that I need to watch out for? Thank you!
Hi Hazel,
Thanks for writing in! We actually already had the same idea – great minds think alike! Please note that the size of the crochet hook, the gauge, and the finished size are all a little different for this version than for the original, but the pattern remains the same!
Best of luck and happy crocheting!
Julianna
Thank you for the reply! I already saw the version with field linen with a bottom part to make the bag more studier. Actually I was going to make that but I only have 1 skein of field linen on hand, so I wonder if I could make this bottomless version instead. Do you think 1 skein is enough for this version?
Hi Hazel,
I’m so sorry, I saw the first few pictures in the pattern and assumed it was our Market Bag that I had made a few years ago! We don’t have an exact weight or yardage for this version, but after checking a few projects that others have made from this particular pattern, you should have more than enough yarn with one skein of Field Linen, and the two yarns are close enough in gauge that you shouldn’t have to make any adjustments. Sorry again for the confusion!
Best,
Julianna
No worries! So happy to hear that it should be enough yarn! I actually no longer live in New York or even the states, so it’d be too much trouble with the international shipping to do any exchange/return. Looking forward to crocheting this bag with my linen!
Hi,
I’ve been working on this project for a few hours now. I’ve been crocheting for years so I’m not a beginner. But I noticed in the beginning the circle was curling/bunching like there were too many stitches, even though I followed the pattern exactly. Would that affect how long it takes for my circle to begin to tube? I haven’t increased stitches, but my circle has close to a foot diameter and has yet to work up into a tube?
Hi Michaela,
Thanks for reaching out! Because the netting is so loose, it does take quite a while for the sides to begin pulling up into a tube, and it is totally normal for the beginning to look quite full. You still have about ten inches to go, so it should turn out just fine!
I hope that helps, and happy crocheting!
Julianna
Just made this bag with ease. I must admit I had to frog a few times in the beginning, because I’m so used to slip stitching at the end of each round, but once I got the spiral going, my bag started tubing by the 15th row. I used regular cotton yarn. I also kept the pattern at the 6 ch because I felt the holes were too big at 8 ch. Thanks for a well written pattern & can’t wait to use my bag!!!
I haven’t started crocheting this bag yet, but I read through all the comments and marvel at your caring assistance in helping people work through the pattern. That’s what make PurlSoho so unique. You are all so wonderful.
Just keep going! I started to notice the doily was loosing its “ruffle” around row 11 or so, and starting to tube definitely by row 15. I was worried at first, too.
Hi. I want to make this bag and am a complete beginner. But this pattern features beautiful yarn that you no longer sell. Can you recommend another yarn in a beautiful color like this as well as quantity and hook size? Thanks!
Hi Charlene,
Thanks for reaching out! This is such a cute bag! I would suggest using our lovely Field Linen! It is the same weight as the original yarn we used so you could use the same size D crochet hook and it is also 100% linen so it will be durable as well as beautiful! The only downside is that we don’t have it available in a shade similar to the one we used here, however, there are some absolutely beautiful colors that Field Linen comes in! We used one skein of the original yarn (270 yards), so you would need one skein of Field Linen (295 yards!)
If you are set on the green shade, then I would suggest Spectrum Silk, it doesn’t have the exact same green color but there are a few greens to choose from! With this yarn, you can also use a D hook and you would need 2 skeins for the bag. Or you could use Cattail Silk, it’s a bit lighter but the D hook should still work and this yarn comes in a color very similar to the original, in the shade Young Grass Green and you would only need 1 skein.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna