Peruvian Market Tote

The big challenge when designing a tote bag is creating something that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also sturdy! So many crochet totes get stretched out the second they’re filled with heavy pieces of fruit or a carton of milk. Your bag needs to be made with lots of sturdy stitches (hello, single crochet stitch!) and requires a strong handle. This Peruvian Market Tote is great at addressing these issues – Its teardrop silhouette extends from the base all the way through the tips of its reinforced straps. Not only that, this tote is colorful and strong, made with a classic, durable, easy-to-care-for yarn. 

Peruvian Market Tote – free crochet pattern

Supplies
2 skeins (approx. 236 yds/skein) Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Peruvian Print
size I9/5.5mm crochet hook
scissors
Scotch Guard (optional)

Abbreviations
ch – chain
rnd – round
st/sts – stitch/stitches
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip stitch
hdc – half double crochet
sc2tog – single crochet 2 sts together

Gauge & finished dimensions
12 stitches and 15 rows = 4 inches in single crochet
opening at top of bag: 10 inches measured flat
measurement at widest point of base: 16 inches
each strap: 12 inches

The Pattern
Note: The oval base of bag is worked first in rounds, the body of bag is worked in rounds, and then the straps are worked in rows.

Base

Ch 27 sts.

Rnd 1. sc in second st from hook and all the way across, working in back loops only (25 sts). Add 3 scs to last loop and turn so bottom of the chain is facing up. sc 25 across, weaving in the tail as you go, sc 3 in last loop, join with sl st to first sc.
Rnd 2. ch 1, sc in next 25 sts, 2 sc in next 3 sc, sc 25, 2 sc in next 3 sc, join with sl st.
Rnd 3. ch 1, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 4. ch 1, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 5. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 6. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 4 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 4 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 7. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 5 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 5 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 8. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 6 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 6 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 9. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 7 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 7 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 10. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 8 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 8 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 11. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 9 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 9 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 12. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 10 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 10 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 13. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 11 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 11 sc) 3 times, join with sl st.
Rnd 14. ch 1,  sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 12 sc) 3 times, sc in next 25, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 12 sc) 3 times, join with sl st. There should be 134 sts total.

 

Body of the Bag

Rnd 15. ch 1, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 12) 3 times, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 12) 3 times, join with sl st. 128 sts
Rnds 16-19. ch 2, hdc around, join with sl st.
Rnd 20. ch 1, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 11) 3 times, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 11) 3 times, join with sl st. 122 sts
Rnds 21-24. ch 2, hdc around, join with sl st.
Rnd 25. ch 1, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 10) 3 times, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 10) 3 times, join with sl st. 116 sts
Rnds 26-29. ch 2, hdc around, join with sl st.
Rnd 30. ch 1, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 9) 3 times, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 9) 3 times, join with sl st. 110 sts
Rnds 31-34. ch 2, hdc around, join with sl st.
Rnd 35. ch 1, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 8) 3 times, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 8) 3 times, join with sl st. 104 sts
Rnds 36-39. ch 2, hdc around, join with sl st.
Rnd. 40. ch 1, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 7) 3 times, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 7) 3 times, join with sl st. 98 sts
Rnds 41-44. ch 2, hdc around, join with sl st.
Rnd 45. ch 1, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 6) 3 times, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 6) 3 times, join with sl st. 92 sts
Rnds 46-49. ch 2, hdc around, join with sl st.
Rnd 50. ch 1, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 5) 3 times, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 5) 3 times, join with sl st. 86 sts
Rnds 51-54. ch 2, hdc around, join with sl st.
Rnd 55. ch 1, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 4) 3 times, sc 25, (sc2tog, sc in next 4) 3 times, join with sl st. 80 sts
Rnds 56-57. ch 1, sc 80, join with sl st.

 

The Straps
Feel free to construct the straps using an alternative technique. The pictured straps are accomplished using the following technique, which was chosen for the resulting sturdy straps.

Rnds 58 – 107. ch 1, sc 5, flip work. (50 rows)
Rnd 108. Skipping 10 sts from starting edge of base of strap, join to 5 sts on opposite side of bag with sl st. sc 25, flip work.
Rnd 109 – 157. ch 1, sc 5, flip work. (49 rows)
Rnd 158. Skipping 15 sts from outside edge of strap, join strip of scs to 5 sts with sl st.

sc 10 back toward base of strap you just finished, you should be right at the starting side of the second strap you crocheted.

[Fold the strap in half and sc 1 to secure the strap’s fold.
sc 65 around the folded strap, sc 1 at the other end of the strap to reinforce the strap’s fold.]
sc 20 back toward the first strap you created and repeat from [ to ] to complete the strap.

Weave in ends to finish.
Optional: seal and protect your tote long term with a coat of Scotch Guard.