Crocheted bag from granny squares—you'll definitely love this summer tote
A crocheted bag from granny squares is the perfect leftover-yarn project. Crochet delightfully colorful squares for your bag or make a simple single-color version. Piece by piece, the bag comes together fairly quickly.
Size: about 36 × 37 cm (height × width), strap width is just over 2 cm and length is about 48 cm.
Crocheted bag from granny squares—supplies
- Scheepjes Catona yarn (100% mercerized cotton, 50 g = 125 m) in shades 105 Bridal White (100 g), 124 Ultra Marine (50 g), 201 Electric Blue (100 g), 247 Blue Bird (100 g), 527 Midnight (100 g)
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- scissors and a tapestry needle
- (optional lining fabric and sewing supplies)
The sample bag used about 330 grams of yarn total: 80 g white, 60 g light blue, 75 g electric blue, 100 g dark blue, and 15 g ultramarine blue.
Crocheted bag from granny squares—instructions
1. First, crochet all the granny squares. Each one has 6 rounds: 5 rounds of double crochet, plus a finishing round of single crochet. One square measures about 9 × 9 cm. In the sample bag, the color order varies, but you can crochet identical squares if you prefer.
You’ll need 27 granny squares in total for the bag:
- Front and back: 3 × 3 squares for each side = 18 squares
- Base: 3 squares
- Sides: 3 squares for each side = 6 squares
Assembling the granny square bag
2. After you finish crocheting all the squares and weaving in the ends, lay them out and arrange them in the order you want.
3. Sew the granny squares together using alternating stitches. You’ll need yarn that matches the edges and a blunt tapestry needle.
Joining granny squares with alternating stitches
First, join the squares for the front and back panels. You can sew them vertically or horizontally. In this example, the squares are joined horizontally. Next, assemble the base (3 squares side by side) and the side panels (3 squares in a row). Finally, attach them to the front and back panels.
Bag opening and shoulder straps
4. Crochet 2 rounds of double crochet in Midnight around the top of the bag, working one double crochet in each stitch. Continue with the same color and crochet 2 rounds of single crochet. These single crochet rounds help the top keep its shape, and tighter stitches also reduce sagging or stretching.
5. Next, crochet the straps. Take another strand of the same yarn and work with a double strand. Continue using a 2.5 mm hook so your stitches stay firm.
Starting at the beginning of the round, crochet 36 single crochet stitches until you reach the midpoint of the first square on the front panel. Then chain 100. Attach the other end of the chain with a single crochet at the midpoint of the last square on the front panel. Make sure the chain isn’t twisted before joining.
Crochet 48 single crochet stitches and make another strap: Chain 100 and attach the end with a single crochet to the midpoint of the last square on the back panel. Then crochet 12 single crochets to finish the round.
For the next round, start with 36 single crochets along the edge, then work 100 double crochets along the strap, 48 single crochets along the edge, 100 double crochets along the second strap, and finally 12 single crochets. Work one more round the same way. You can keep using the same color or switch to a different one. If you want wider straps, continue crocheting until the straps are your desired width. Weave in the ends.
Lengthening the shoulder straps
In the sample bag, the straps are about 48 cm long. You can lengthen them by adding more chains. Two chains is roughly 1 cm, so for example, 110 chains produce straps about 53 cm long. Remember that crocheted straps can stretch easily, especially if the bag is carrying heavier items.
Tips!
- Mercerized cotton yarn is a fantastic choice for a bag because it’s smoother and more durable than regular cotton, so the bag won’t stretch or pill as easily. It’s also easier to crochet since the hook is less likely to split the yarn.
- There are many ways to join granny squares. You can also crochet them together with single crochet stitches.
- If you like, sew a lining into the bag to provide extra support and prevent stretching.
