Harbour Market Tote
A sturdy oval-based tote with built-in handles, worked in a dense single crochet fabric that holds a week’s shopping.
Materials
- Worsted (Aran) cotton yarn: about 200 g (approx. 250 m / 270 yd) in a main colour, plus a little in a contrast colour for the band
- 4.0 mm crochet hook
- Stitch markers, yarn needle, scissors
Gauge
16 sc × 18 rounds = 10 cm (4 in). Cotton has no stretch and will loosen with use, so keep your tension firm.
Work in continuous spiral rounds. Mark the first stitch of each round. Cotton is unforgiving: if a stitch looks loose, undo it.
The handles grow out of the bag itself, so there is nothing to sew on.
Abbreviations
- ch chain
- sl st slip stitch
- sc single crochet (US)
- inc increase: 2 sc (or 2 hdc) in the same stitch
- st(s) stitch(es)
- * * repeat the instructions between asterisks as directed
- ( ) the stitch count at the end of a round
Base
Main colour. The base is an oval with 28 straight stitches on each long side.
- Rnd 1Ch 31. 3 sc in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in each of the next 28 ch, 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate the work and sc in the 28 free loops on the other side of the chain(62)
- Rnd 2inc in each of the 3 end sts, sc in the next 28 sts, inc in each of the next 3 sts, sc in the last 28 sts(68)
- Rnd 3(*1 sc, inc*) × 3, sc in the next 28, (*1 sc, inc*) × 3, sc in the last 28(74)
- Rnd 4(*2 sc, inc*) × 3, sc in the next 28, (*2 sc, inc*) × 3, sc in the last 28(80)
- Rnd 5(*3 sc, inc*) × 3, sc in the next 28, (*3 sc, inc*) × 3, sc in the last 28(86)
- Rnd 6(*4 sc, inc*) × 3, sc in the next 28, (*4 sc, inc*) × 3, sc in the last 28(92)
Walls
- Rnd 7Sc in the back loops only of every st around. This turns the corner.(92)
- Rnds 8–45Sc in every st around (38 rounds, about 21 cm). Change to the contrast colour for rounds 30–33 if you want a band, then return to the main colour.(92)
Handles
Find the centre of each long side (46 sts each side, so the middle falls between st 23 and 24).
- Rnd 46*Sc in the next 13 sts, ch 50, skip 20 sts, sc in the next 13 sts*, repeat once more on the other side.(—)
- Rnd 47Sc in every st and 50 sc in each ch-50 space (152 sts in all).(152)
- Rnds 48–50Sc in every st around. Sl st in the next st, fasten off.(152)
For longer or shorter handles, change the number of chains in Rnd 46. Keep the number of skipped stitches the same.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Block gently: dampen the bag, stuff it with a towel to hold its shape, and let it dry flat.
For personal use. See our terms for what you may do with finished items.
