Do you remember those plastic bag/baskets which had holes and used to be quite popular for carrying grocery shopping?- It’s baskets like the green one shown below that I remember seeing commonly used by housewives doing their grocery shopping at the corner grocer shop. Today, there are very few little grocers left – being replaced by the large supermarkets or chains of mini-marts. Also, few people have baskets like this – often opting for totes or other branded shopping bags which you can buy from the supermarket when checking out.

 

This bag is inspired by the plastic one above. I have lined it as well so that it stays sturdy, but this is not a requirement. But if you do line it, then it’s perfect for carrying a laptop and notebooks/books. Here is my bag:

 

I used Katia’s multicolour cotton yarn (Funny rainbow star) for this using a 3.0mm hook. You will need approximately 100g. The instructions are written using US terms.

Abbreviations:

CH – chain stitch
SlSt -Slip Stitch
SC – single crochet
HDC – half double crochet
DC – double crochet
TR – triple crochet

Instructions:

Bag Body

CH 101

Row 1 – 100 HDC in front loop of each chain starting from the 2nd chain.

Row 2 – 100 HDC in back loop of each chain and SlSt into the 1st HDC made in Row 1.

Row 3 – CH 2, DC in each HDC all the way round , joining with a SlSt into the 2nd chain you started this row with.

Rows 4-5 – Repeat Row 3.

Row 6 –  CH 2, DC 4, (CH 3, skip 2 stitches) x 30 times. 10DC, (CH 3, skip 2 stitches) x 30 times, 5 DC, and join with SlSt into 2nd chain you started this Row with.

Rows 7-10 – repeat Row 6.

Row 11 – CH 2, 199 DC all the way round and join with SlSt.

Rows 12-16 – repeat Row 6.

Row 17 – Repeat Row 11.

Rows 18-22 – repeat Row 6.

Row 23 – repeat Row 11.

Rows 24-28 – Repeat Row 6.

Row 29 – Repeat Row 11.

Rows 30-34 – Repeat Row 6.

Row 35-36 – Repeat Row 11. Cast off.

Lining

I took some cream coloured cotton fabric and cut and sewed it into a bag that would fit. Then, I sewed it to the crochet bag at the bottom, and also at intervals – I chose to do so through Rows 11, 17. 23 and 29, making sure as much as possible that there are no creases in the fabric inside bag and it sits straight. Fold the top of the bag over the inner fabric bag and sew along the edge.

To finish this off nicely, using a very small hook (I used a 1.1 mm), 200 SC over the top and into the fabric all the way round the rim of the bag. SlSt to close and cast off.

Button flap

I’ve used a double crochet method to have a nice and sturdy flap. This is how it’s done:

Using the 3.0 mm hook, skip 38 SC from previous step.

Step 1 – 26 SC in back loop of SCs from the Lining Instructions above. Turn.

Step 2 – CH 1, 26 SC through front loop of  SC just made + loop which you didn’t use from the previous SC (lining Instructions).  Turn.

Repeat Step 2 until the flap measure 6 cm.

Now, we will make the button hole.

Step 3 – CH1, 11 SC (through front loop of previous SC + loop from the row before), CH4, 11SC (through front loop of previous SC + loop from the row before). Turn

Step 4 – CH 1, 11 SC (through front loop of previous SC + loop from the row before), 4 SC in back loop of CHs , 11 SC (through front loop of previous SC + loop from the row before). Turn.

Repeat Step 2 twice. Cast-off.

Find an appropriately sized button and sew it onto the bag, making sure that it lines up with the button hole.

Strap

I decided to make a braided strap. To do this,  crochet 3 cords measuring around 70 cm as follows:

In a magic ring, 3CH, 6 DC. Join to 3 CH with SlSt.

Repeat 3 CH, 6 DC, join to 2CH with SlSt  – until cord measures around 70 cm.

Once you have made 3 cords, braid them – securing them by sewing together along the way, so make sure they don’t unravel. Then sew each end of the braid to opposite ends on the inside of the opening of the bag.

Flower 

Here is how to crochet the flower:

Step 1 – In a magic ring, CH3, 12 DC, and close by joining with SlSt.

Step 2 – Repeat (CH 4, skip 1 DC, SlSt into the next Stitch) all the way round – you should have 6 loops.

Step 3 – Repeat (CH 5, skip 1 DC, SlSt into the same Stitch as in step before this) all the way round.

Step 4 – Repeat (CH 6, skip 1 DC, SlSt into the same Stitch as in step before this) all the way round.

Step 5 – Working in the 4 Ch loops formed in Step 2, Repeat (SlSt into loop, SC, DC, SC, SlSt) in each 4 chain loop. Close by SlSt into first SC.

Step 6 – Working in the 5 Ch loops formed in Step 3, Repeat (SlSt into loop, SC, DC, TR,DC, SC, SlSt) in each 5 chain loop. Close by SlSt into first SC.

Step 7 – Working in the 6 Ch loops formed in Step 4, Repeat (SlSt into loop, SC, DC, 2TR, DC, SC, SlSt) in each 6 chain loop. Close by SlSt into first SC. Cast off.

Sew the flower onto the bag.