A great farmers market tote needs two distinct personalities: a tightly crocheted, sag-resistant bottom base that keeps small items from slipping through, and an airy, expandable mesh body that holds fresh produce, baguettes, or beach towels with ease. This free In the Market crochet tote bag pattern is worked seamlessly from the bottom up in a single 250-gram ball of bulky tubular cotton-nylon yarn—complete with reinforced dual shoulder straps and an optional stuffed crochet ball-and-tassel bag charm.
Pattern Terminology & Studio Notes: Written in standard US crochet terminology. The Bag Base is worked in continuous spiral rounds around both sides of the foundation chain without joining. Once you transition to the 9-round Treble Crochet (`tr`) Mesh Section, you join each round with a slip stitch to the 4th chain of the beginning `ch-5` and turn your work at the end of every round so the vertical mesh columns stay laser-straight without spiraling!
How the 3-Zone Bottom-Up Tote Architecture Prevents Sagging
Many mesh market bags stretch down to your ankles as soon as you load them with groceries. This studio design prevents over-stretching through three engineered transitions:
- Zone 1 (78-Stitch Solid Spiral Base + 84-Stitch Increase Round): Starting with Chain 39 and working around both sides of the chain creates a seamless 78-stitch oval base over 8 rounds. On Round 9, you increase by 6 stitches to 84 sc to compensate for the slight inward pull of the mesh section.
- Zone 2 (9 Joined-and-Turned Treble Mesh Rounds): Alternating
1 tr, ch 1, skip 1over 84 stitches creates 42 tall vertical windows per round. Turning after every joined round cancels out the natural right-leaning slant of crochet in the round. - Zone 3 (78-Stitch Decreased Top Collar & Integrated Straps): After working 84 sc along the top of the mesh, you decrease 6 stitches (`sc2tog`) back down to 78 sc for a snug upper collar and cast on two 68-chain shoulder handles reinforced with 3 full rounds of single crochet.
Materials, Tubular Yarn Specs & 5-Size Market Tote Matrix
The original tote is crocheted in Bernat Maker (Category #5 Bulky tubular cord yarn, 72% cotton / 28% nylon; 8.8 oz / 250 g, 317 yds / 290 m per ball) in colorway Aqua (14016) or Clay (11008) using a U.S. Size J/10 (6.0 mm) crochet hook. Because Bernat Maker has a knitted tubular cotton exterior with a nylon core, it never splits on the hook and holds heavy market loads with minimal stretch.
Materials & Tools Checklist
- Yarn: Bernat Maker (Category #5 Bulky, 8.8 oz / 250 g; 317 yds / 290 m) in Aqua (14016) — 1 ball (approx. 270 yds / 246 m used for the entire bag; remaining 47 yds makes the optional Ball & Tassel Keychain!).
- Crochet Hook: Size U.S. J/10 (6.0 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Notions: Locking stitch marker (for tracking the spiral base rounds), large-eye yarn needle, and optional small handful of polyfill stuffing + 6-inch cardboard piece for the keychain charm.
- Official Pattern Gauge: 13 single crochet and 14 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) with a 6.0 mm hook.
Swipe left or right on mobile to view all 5 market tote size conversions.
| Market Bag Size | Finished Width × Body Height | Foundation Chain (Base Oval Count) | Mesh Round Count (After +6 Inc) | Strap Chain Length | Bulky Tubular Yardage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Produce / Project Tote | 9 × 10.5 in. (23 × 26.5 cm) | Ch 29 (58 sc base) | 64 sts (6 mesh rnds) | Ch 48 handles | 165 yds (1 ball) |
| Everyday Café Book Bag | 10.5 × 12.5 in. (26.5 × 32 cm) | Ch 34 (68 sc base) | 74 sts (8 mesh rnds) | Ch 58 handles | 215 yds (1 ball) |
| Official Farmers Market Tote (Sample) | 12 × 14 in. (30.5 × 35.5 cm) | Ch 39 (78 sc base) | 84 sts (9 mesh rnds) | Ch 68 handles | 270 yds (1 ball / 250g) |
| Large Weekend Grocery Shopper | 14 × 16 in. (35.5 × 40.5 cm) | Ch 45 (90 sc base) | 96 sts (11 mesh rnds) | Ch 74 handles | 365 yds (2 balls) |
| Jumbo Family Beach & Towel Tote | 16.5 × 18 in. (42 × 45.5 cm) | Ch 53 (106 sc base) | 112 sts (13 mesh rnds) | Ch 80 handles | 490 yds (2 balls) |
US Stitch Abbreviations & Treble Stitch Guide
- Ch = Chain(s) — Ch 5 at beginning of mesh rounds counts as 1 tr and ch 1.
- PM = Place marker
- Rnd(s) = Round(s)
- Sc = Single crochet
- Sc2tog (Single Crochet 2 Together) = Draw up a loop in each of the next 2 stitches, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.
- Sl st = Slip stitch
- Tr (Treble Crochet) = Wrap yarn twice around hook (`yoh` twice), insert hook in indicated stitch and draw up a loop (4 loops on hook);
(yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times.
Round-by-Round Market Bag, Mesh Body & Handle Instructions
Stage 1: Continuous Spiral Bag Base
Foundation: With U.S. J/10 (6.0 mm) crochet hook and Bernat Maker yarn, chain 39.
- Round 1 (RS): Work 2 sc in the 2nd chain from hook. Work 1
scin each of the next 36 chains to the last chain. Work 3 sc in the last chain to rotate around the corner. Do not turn; working into the remaining opposite loops along the underside of the foundation chain, work 1scin each of the next 36 chains to the last chain, then work 1 sc in the last chain (the same chain that holds your first 2 sc). Do not join. Place marker (PM) on first sc of round. (78 sc). - Rounds 2–8: Work 1
scin eachscaround in a continuous spiral, moving your stitch marker up at the start of each round. (78 sc; base naturally curves upward into a sturdy boat-shaped bottom). - Round 9 (Increase Round): Work 2 sc in the first sc, then 1
scin each of the next 12 sc. *Work 2 sc in next sc, then 1scin each of the next 12 sc. Repeat from * around. Join with asl stto the first sc. (6 stitches increased = 84 sc total).
Stage 2: 9-Round Joined-and-Turned Treble Mesh Section
- Mesh Round 1 (RS): Chain 5 (counts as
1 tr, ch 1). Skip next sc, work 1trin next sc. *Chain 1, skip next sc, work 1trin next sc. Repeat from * to the last sc. Chain 1, skip the last sc, and join with asl stto the 4th chain of the beginning ch-5. Turn work. (42 tr posts and 42 ch-1 spaces = 84 sts). - Mesh Round 2 (WS): Chain 5 (counts as
1 tr, ch 1). *Skip nextch-1space, work 1trinto top of nexttr, chain 1. Repeat from * to the lastch-1space. Skip lastch-1space and join with asl stto the 4th chain of the beginning ch-5. Turn work. - Mesh Rounds 3–9: Repeat Mesh Round 2 seven more times (9 Mesh Rounds total), alternating RS and WS. At the end of Mesh Round 9 (a RS round), join with a
sl stto the 4th chain of the ch-5 and do not turn.
Stage 3: Top Collar & Integrated Dual Shoulder Handles
- Collar Round 1 (RS): Chain 1. Work 1
scin the same space as the joining sl st. *Work 1scin nextch-1space, then 1scin top of nexttr. Repeat from * around, ending with 1scin the lastch-1space. Join with asl stto first sc. (84 sc). - Collar Round 2 (Decrease Round): Chain 1. Work
sc2togover the first 2 stitches. *Work 1scin each of the next 12 sc, then worksc2tog. Repeat from * to the last 12 sc. Work 1scin each of the last 12 sc. Join with asl stto first sc. (78 sc restored). - Collar Rounds 3–6: Chain 1. Work 1
scin each stitch around. Join with asl stto first sc. (78 sc). - Handle Round 7 (Cast On Handles): Chain 1. Work 1
scin each of the first 10 sc. Chain 68 (First Handle), skip the next 19 sc, and work 1scin each of the next 20 sc. Chain 68 (Second Handle), skip the next 19 sc, and work 1scin each of the last 10 sc. Join with asl stto first sc. - Handle Round 8: Chain 1. Work 1
scin each of the first 10 sc, work 1 sc in each of the 68 chains of the First Handle, work 1scin each of the next 20 sc, work 1 sc in each of the 68 chains of the Second Handle, and work 1scin each of the last 10 sc. Join with asl stto first sc. (176 sc around outer perimeter). - Handle Rounds 9–10: Chain 1. Work 1
scin eachscaround all 176 stitches. Join with asl stto first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends!
Mary’s Studio Tips for Tubular Cotton Market Bags
- Work Into the Back Bump of the two 68-Chain Handles on Round 8: Working your 68 single crochets into the back ridge bump of each handle chain leaves a clean braided chain along both the top and bottom edges of your shoulder straps.
- Bonus Stuffed Crochet Ball & Tassel Charm: With your leftover 45 yards of yarn, chain 2, work 8 sc in 2nd ch, increase to 16 sc on Round 2, work 3 rounds even (Rounds 3–5), work `(sc2tog) 8 times` on Round 6, stuff lightly, work `(sc2tog) 4 times` on Round 7, and attach a 25-wrap 6-inch yarn tassel underneath!
Washing & Care
- Machine Wash Cold & Air Dry Flat: Bernat Maker cotton-nylon tubular yarn is machine washable in cold water on a gentle cycle; reshape flat to dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we turn at the end of every mesh round instead of working in one direction?
Tall treble crochet stitches lean slightly in the direction of work. If you work 9 rounds of treble mesh in the same direction, the vertical bars twist into a diagonal barber-pole spiral. Turning at the end of every joined mesh round keeps every vertical post stacked straight above the one below!
READER COMMENTS & PATTERN QUESTIONS
Have a question about stitch counts, yarn substitutions, or sizing? Leave a comment below — Mary Ward reads and replies to every maker question!