This beachy crochet tote is perfect for Summer with a roomy interior and interchangeable fabric straps. Great for a trip to the beach or stroll around the market this light weight bag is a fun and beautiful Spring or Summer project. Designed with beginners in mind the pattern uses only one stitch, includes step by step pictures, and a video tutorial. The fabric straps are easily constructed and are the star of the classic crochet design. Scroll down for the free pattern or purchase an inexpensive downloadable PDF from Etsy HERE or Ravelry HERE!
The reaction to this design on social media blew me away! The fabric straps clearly stole the show and I love it! The pattern details exactly how to make them and my friends it’s E A S Y! Even if you’ve never sewn before. In fact you don’t even have to sew them . . you can just use fabric glue if you’d like! Because the weight falls on the knots there’s no tension on the seam and so it doesn’t need to be perfect or even very sturdy (and you can’t even see the seam because of the way the fabric lays when you wear the purse). Win, win!
A bonus is that the fabric straps can EASILY be interchanged so if you want to make extra straps in different materials to swap out for a different look you can! Wouldn’t a light pink gingham be sweet! Or a pretty floral! Oh . . or a nautical print!! What about a bright yellow!? Gosh, I can’t wait to see what fabric and yarn combinations you come up with!!
Speaking of yarn, I used Lion Brand’s Rewind Tape yarn in ‘Greige’ for this project. I love the light grey-beige colour . . I think it’s the quintessential Summer look. It’s also lightweight and comes in 8 different shades! I love the idea of the ‘Marble’ (light blue) with white + grey gingham straps OR the bright yellow (called ‘Make Lemonade’) with some type of navy nautical material. I also used this yarn for my Miller Market Bag and I love how soft and versitile it is. I’m already dreaming up another project for it as I type. : )
This pattern is very beginner friendly . . if you can single crochet in the round you’ve got this! And again, the sewing is minimal and can even be avoided all together. SO, who’s ready to make one!? I can NOT WAIT to see your bag online so please don’t forget to tag me (@lakesideloops) . . I know you’ll have the most creative and beautiful fabric + yarn combinations!
SPENCER BAG - Free Crochet Pattern
F I N I S H E D S I Z E
One size {adult} – 12” height, 19” width
M A T E R I A L S
Hook – US H / 8 – 5.00mm crochet hook
Yarn – Any bulky weight yarn (size 5 / ‘chunky’ / 12 ply)
◦ Lion Brand® Rewind Tape Yarn was used
– Greige (SKU: 523-123)
▪ Amount needed: 567 yards or 518 meters
Fabric – Any medium weight woven fabric (Linen, Chambray, Cotton Blends)
◦ Fabricville – ALEXA Chambray Stripes was used
– Blue (SKU: VR611-008 – 65% Polyester 35% Cotton)
▪ Size needed: 56” width x 24” length
Extras – Fabric glue or needle & thread or sewing machine (to create straps)
– Straight pins optional (to hold fabric in place when cutting/sewing)
– Ruler or measuring tape
– Pencil or sewing chalk or fabric marker
G A U G E
10 stitches = 3 inches
11 rounds = 3 inches
P A T T E R N A B B R E V I A T I O N S
English (US) terms
ch – Chain: Yarn over, pull through loop on hook
sc – Single Crochet: insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops
sl st – Slip Stitch: insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch and loop on hook
sts – Stitches
N O T E S
- Beginning chain does NOT count as a stitch in stitch counts
- Beginning in Round 2 you will hold a second strand of yarn behind your work and crochet over it to increase the strength and stiffness of the bag
- Join all rounds with a tight sl st into the first stitch from that round
- Begin next round with a small chain 1 and work first stitch into same stitch that you joined into (first stitch from previous round)
• Stitch count is in [ ] at the end of each round/row
V I D E O T U T O R I A L
There is a video tutorial available for this pattern on YouTube:
W R I T T E N P A T T E R N
English (US) terms
CROCHET BODY
Round 1 |
Ch 2, 6 sc into 2nd chain from hook,
join with a sl st to first sc
[6 sc]
Hold a second strand of yarn behind your round and work over it to stiffen bag for remaining rounds
Round 2 |
Ch 1, *(2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[12 sc]
Round 3 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[18 sc]
Round 4 |
Ch 1, sc in next stitch,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 2 stitches)
Repeat from * until 1 stitch remains, sc in last stitch,
join with a sl st to first sc
[24 sc]
Round 5 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[30 sc]
Round 6 |
Ch 1, sc in next 2 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 4 stitches)
Repeat from * until 2 stitches remain, sc in last 2 stitches,
join with a sl st to first sc
[36 sc]
Round 7 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[42 sc]
Round 8 |
Ch 1, sc in next 3 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 6 stitches)
Repeat from * until 3 stitches remain, sc in last 3 stitches,
join with a sl st to first sc
[48 sc]
Round 9 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[54 sc]
Round 10 |
Ch 1, sc in next 4 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 8 stitches)
Repeat from * until 4 stitches remain, sc in last 4 stitches,
join with a sl st to first sc
[60 sc]
Round 11 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[66 sc]
Round 12 |
Ch 1, sc in next 5 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 10 stitches)
Repeat from * until 5 stitches remain, sc in last 5 stitches,
join with a sl st to first sc
[72 sc]
Round 13 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 11 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[78 sc]
Round 14 |
Ch 1, sc in next 6 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 12 stitches)
Repeat from * until 6 stitches remain, sc in last 6 stitches,
join with a sl st to first sc
[84 sc]
Round 15 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[84 sc]
Round 16 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 13 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[90 sc]
Round 17 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[90 sc]
Round 18 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[90 sc]
Round 19 |
Ch 1, sc in next 7 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 14 stitches)
Repeat from * until 7 stitches remain, sc in last 7 stitches,
join with a sl st to first sc
[96 sc]
Round 20 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[96 sc]
Round 21 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[96 sc]
Round 22 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[96 sc]
Round 23 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 15 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[102 sc]
Round 24 to Round 27 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[102 sc]
Round 28 |
Ch 1, sc in next 8 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 16 stitches)
Repeat from * until 8 stitches remain, sc in last 8 stitches,
join with a sl st to first sc
[108 sc]
Round 29 to Round 33 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[108 sc]
Round 34 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 17 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[114 sc]
Round 35 to Round 40 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[114 sc]
Round 41 |
Ch 1, sc in next 9 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 18 stitches)
Repeat from * until 9 stitches remain, sc in last 9 stitches,
join with a sl st to first sc
[120 sc]
Round 42 to Round 48 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[120 sc]
Round 49 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 19 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) repeat from * around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[126 sc]
Round 50 to Round 57 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[126 sc]
Round 58 |
Ch 1, sc in next 10 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 20 stitches)
Repeat from * until 10 stitches remain, sc in last 10 stitches,
join with a sl st to first sc
[132 sc]
Round 59 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[132 sc]
Round 60 |
Ch 1, sc in next 15 stitches,
Ch 5, skip the next 5 stitches and sc in the following 26 stitches,
Ch 5, skip the next 5 stitches and sc in the following 30 stitches,
Ch 5, skip the next 5 stitches and sc in the following 26 stitches,
Ch 5, skip the next 5 stitches and sc in the following 15 stitches,
Join with a sl st to first sc
[132 sts]
Round 61 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[132 sc]
Round 62 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[132 sc]
Round 63 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[132 sc]
Round 64 |
Ch 1, sc in each stitch around,
join with a sl st to first sc
[132 sc]
FABRIC STRAPS
• Iron fabric and fold in half (making a 12” x 56” rectangle) with good/right side of material facing in
• Cut so that you have four 5½” x 56” strips
- Measure 2” over from the corner of each end and draw a diagonal line to opposite corner, cut so that the ends of the strips are angled (as shown)
- Sew or glue two strips together leaving 2” gap to turn strap inside out when finished
- repeat for second set of strips
- turn straps right side out
- sew 2” gap closed
ASSEMBLY
- Fold bag at seam so that it lays flat
- Insert one end of first strap into first hole in bag (from inside to outside) and knot
• Insert other end of strap into second hole in bag (from inside to outside) and knot
• Flip bag over and repeat on the opposite side
Thank you for L O O P I N G together this L A K E S I D E inspired project with me! Again, I’d love to see your finished bag (or WIP) so please tag me! – @LakesideLoops
