Granny Square Market Tote
Two big granny squares, three seams, done. The classic first bag.
Bag · Beginner · 6–8 hours · 18 cm x 18 cm body, 37 cm straps (fits a paperback, purse and phone)
Yarn and tools
- weight: Worsted / Aran (CYC 4)
- fibre: 100% mercerised cotton — holds the square's shape and does not stretch when loaded
- amount: 220 g total (approx. 150 g Blush Pink, 40 g Butter Yellow, 30 g Sage Green)
- examples: Paintbox Cotton DK held double, Ricorumi DK doubled, Lily Sugar'n Cream, Scheepjes Catona 50g x2
- hook: 4.5 mm
- gauge: No measured swatch is available. Work and block one 8-round square; use its actual width for the body and any lining. The 18 cm size is an estimate.
Notions
- Tapestry needle
- 4 stitch markers
- Scissors
Stitches used
- Chain (ch)
- Slip Stitch (sl st)
- Single Crochet (sc)
- Double Crochet (dc)
- Granny Cluster (3-dc cluster)
- Magic Ring (MR)
- Whip Stitch & Mattress Seam (seam)
Notes
- Every granny round is 4 corners x (3 dc, ch2, 3 dc) with ch-1 between side clusters. Round n always has 12 x n dc.
- Join each round with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3, then sl st across to the next corner space to start the new round.
Pattern
Square A (make 2)
Colour plan: rounds 1–2 Sage Green, rounds 3–5 Butter Yellow, rounds 6–8 Blush Pink. Fasten off and rejoin at any corner space when changing colour.
- MR, ch 3 (this counts as the first dc), then 2 dc in the ring — that is your first 3-dc cluster. [Ch 2, 3 dc in ring] x3, ch 2, join to the top of the ch-3. Pull the ring closed. (12 dc, 4 corner spaces sts)
- Sl st into the corner ch-2 sp. [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in that corner, then [ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner sp] x3, ch 1, join. (24 dc sts)
- Change to Butter Yellow. Corner: [3 dc, ch2, 3 dc] in each corner sp; along each side work 3 dc into each ch-1 sp with ch 1 between groups. Join. (36 dc sts)
- Repeat round 3 — corners get the doubled cluster, each side ch-1 space gets one 3-dc cluster. You now have 2 side clusters per side. (48 dc sts)
- Repeat — 3 side clusters per side. (60 dc sts)
- Change to Blush Pink. Repeat — 4 side clusters per side. (72 dc sts)
- Repeat — 5 side clusters per side. (84 dc sts)
- Repeat — 6 side clusters per side. Fasten off, leaving a 20 cm tail. Make a second identical square and measure both before joining. (96 dc sts)
Join the body
Hold both squares with WRONG sides together so the joining ridge sits on the outside as a design feature (or right sides together for a hidden seam). COUNT CHECK: one side of round 8 has 24 dc (8 groups of 3) plus the 7 ch-1 spaces between those groups — so working into every dc and every ch-1 space gives 31 sc per side.
- With Sage Green, sc through both squares along one side, working 1 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each ch-1 sp. (31 sc sts)
- 1 sc in the corner ch-2 sp, then 31 sc along the bottom edge the same way. (63 sts so far sts)
- 1 sc in the corner, 31 sc up the second side. Fasten off. Three sides closed, top open. (95 sts total sts)
Top edging
- With Sage Green, join at a side seam. Sc around the whole opening, 1 sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp: 31 sc across the front, 31 sc across the back. Join. (62 sc sts)
- Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (62 sc sts)
- Repeat round 2, then join and fasten off. (62 sc sts)
Handles (make 2)
Folding and seaming strengthens the strip, but cotton handles can still stretch. Check the length and reinforce each attachment.
- With Sage Green, ch 61. Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (60 sc sts)
- Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (60 sc sts)
- Repeat row 2 twice more (4 rows total). Fasten off with a 30 cm tail. (60 sc x 4 rows ≈ 37 cm sts)
- Fold the strip in half lengthways and whip stitch the long edge closed for a rounded, strong handle. (— sts)
- Pin each handle end 8 sc in from the side seam on the front, and mirror on the back — that leaves 15 sc between the two ends of each handle. Sew through all layers, going around each join twice. (— sts)