This tote bag design brings to mind the Flower Power generation, the 60s, hippies and Boho-chic. I think of music festivals, painted Volkswagen Beetles and vans — even the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine! 😊

So now I’ll share with you my pattern for making this gorgeous tote. I used a variegated yarn by Katia for the bag and handle, but you can mix your own colours. The little daisies were made using acrylic yarn.

All in all, one 150g ball (approximately 540m) was sufficient to make a bag measuring approximately 32 × 32cm, plus the handle, with yarn left over.

For the sake of illustrating the pattern, however, I decided to use a lighter-coloured yarn so that the photographs are clearer. The pattern used for the main bag pictured above is exactly the same.

You can then decorate yours however you fancy — with little flowers, beads or anything else you like.

N.B. This pattern is written using US crochet terms.

ABBREVIATIONS

CH – chain

SC – single crochet

DC – double crochet

Step 1 – CH 73

Step 2 – 72 SC

Step 3 – Work all the way round the row from Step 1, making another 72 SC across from what you made in step 2. Join to first SC from step 2 with a slip stitch

Step 4 – CH 1. 144 SC in the back loop of SC from steps 2 and 3. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 5 – CH 1. Repeat (DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 10 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row)) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 6 – CH 1. Repeat (SC in back loop. DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 8 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row), skip 1 SC, SC in back loop) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 7 – CH 1. Repeat (2 SC in back loop. DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 6 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row), skip 1 SC, 2 SC in back loop) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 8 – CH 1. Repeat (3 SC in back loop. DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 4 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row), skip 1 SC, 3 SC in back loop) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 9 – CH 1. Repeat (4 SC in back loop. DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 2 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row), skip 1 SC, 4 SC in back loop) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 10 – CH 1. Repeat (6 SC in back loop. 2 DC in front loop of next 2 SC from previous row. Skip 2 SC. 6 SC in back loop) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 11 – CH 1. Repeat (4 SC in back loop. DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 2 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row), skip 1 SC, 4 SC in back loop) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 12 – CH 1. Repeat (3 SC in back loop. DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 4 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row), skip 1 SC, 3 SC in back loop) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch. (N.b. photos from this point on show one side of the bag only)

Step 13 – CH 1. Repeat (2 SC in back loop. DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 6 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row), skip 1 SC, 2 SC in back loop) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 14 – CH 1. Repeat (SC in back loop. DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 8 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row), skip 1 SC, SC in back loop) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 15 – CH 1. Repeat (DC in front loop of SC from previous row. Skip 1 SC. 10 SC in back loop of SC. DC in front loop of SC under the next SC (i.e. DC is in SC from previous row)) 12 times. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 16 – Repeat from Step 6 to Step 15 6 more times.

Step 17 – CH 1. 144 SC in the back loop of SC . Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 18 – CH 1. 144 SC in the front loop of same SCs in whose back loops you used in step 17. Join to first SC with a slip stitch.

Step 19 – CH 1. 144 SCs through SCs made in step 17 and 18 – i.e. the SCs you make now are through both SCs from previous 2 steps. Join to first SCs with slip stitch.

Now the body has been completed, but don’t cast off yet, as you will make the handle.

Step 20 – 2 slip stitches in 2 SC from previous step.

Step 21 – CH 151. Slip stitch into SC on top of bag main part on the opposite side

Step 22 – 150 SC into chains from step 21. Slip Stitch into top of bag.

Step 23 – Turn and make another 150 SC across into same Chain from step 21 – so you will have two SCs in each chain from step 21. Slip stitch into SC on main bag to secure.

Step 24 – CH 1. Slip stitch into SC on main bag. 150 SC through back loop of SC from step 23 and SC from step 22. Slip stitch into SC on main bag to secure.

Step 25 – CH 1. Slip stitch into SC on main bag. 150 SC through back loops of SCs from step 23 and 24. Slip stitch into SC on main bag to secure.

Step 26 – Repeat Step 25  12 times.

Step 27 – CH 1. Slip stitch into SC on main bag. 150 slip stitches into the  SCs from last 2 steps . Slip stitch into SC on main bag to secure. Cast off and weave in the ends.