Granny Stripe Market Bag

  -This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.- 

Crochet projects in the summer is kind of an interesting topic. Traditionally I think most people associate crochet with fall and winter, colder weather seasons, making things like hats, scarves, and blankets. But the truth is there are so many things that you can make and use during the summer, as well as plenty of things that you can make year round. Some of my favorite summer projects to make are things like bags, water bottle carriers, dishcloths, and other small, quick to make projects. Then there is always amigurumi that is fun to make anytime!

The project I am sharing today is one of those summery projects, a market bag. I have several market bag patterns on my blog that I have designed using the same base pattern but switch up the stitches used. Market bags are fun to make because they are a great opportunity to use more open or lacy stitches that I don't often use in other projects, however this time I just went with a basic granny stitch. 

The base of the bag is made with double crochet stitches worked in the round. The body of the bag uses granny stitch, and then the top edge and straps are made with single crochet stitches. 

I like to use cotton yarn for my market bags, in the past I have usually used something like Sugar 'n Cream, Peaches & Cream, or similar store brands. This time I decided to use Caron Cotton Cakes yarn. I actually made this bag, and another I will share soon, several months ago in the spring just before Easter and I thought the colors were fun for Easter or spring. Then I drug my feet getting the post up on my blog so now we are way past spring, but the colors are still bright and fun. I also thought it would be fun to have the stripes of different colors without having to change colors and weave in ends. The only thing that I didn't love about the yarn is that although it is a medium #4 weight yarn just like the others it definitely felt a little thinner and the finished bag came out just a little bit smaller. That isn't a huge deal but just something to be aware of depending on the brand of yarn you use. 

As I mentioned above I chose a granny stitch for this bag. I feel like the granny stitch is such a basic traditional stitch that you can't really go wrong with it. It works well for this type of bag. It has holes but not big enough to let anything fall out. I think because it is such a common stitch I have avoided using it for my market bags in the past in order to try things that were more unique, but this time I decided to go more traditional.

How to Crochet a Granny Stripe Market Bag

Finished Size- about 12" across when laid flat and about 12" tall not including handles 

You will need:

• 1 Caron Cotton Painterly Cake (sample made with Fuchsia Fun)
• I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
• scissors
• yarn needle

Instructions:

Notes:

*Beginning ch only counts as a stitch when specified (it will only count in the granny rounds, not in the double and single crochet rounds)

Begin with a magic ring 

Round 1: in mr, ch 2, 12 dc, sl st to first dc to join (12 dc)

Round 2: ch 2, 2 dc in each stitch, sl st to first dc to join (24 dc)

Round 3: ch 2, [2 dc in first stitch, 1 dc in next stitch] repeat around, sl st to first dc to join (36 dc)

Round 4: ch 2, [2 dc in first stitch, 1 dc in next 2 stitches] repeat around, sl st to first dc to join (48 dc)

Round 5: ch 2, [2 dc in first stitch, 1 dc in next 3 stitches] repeat around, sl st to first dc to join (60 dc)

Round 6: ch 2, [2 dc in first stitch, 1 dc in next 4 stitches] repeat around, sl st to first dc to join (72 dc)

Round 7: ch 2, [2 dc in first stitch, 1 dc in next 5 stitches] repeat around, sl st to first dc to join (84 dc)

Round 8: ch 2, dc in each stitch, sl st to first dc to join (84 dc)

Round 9: ch 2, dc in each stitch, sl st to first dc to join (84 dc)

Round 10: ch 2, dc in each stitch, sl st to first dc to join (84 dc)

Round 11: ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in same st, sk 2, [3 dc in next st, sk 2] repeat around, sl st to first dc to join (28- 3 dc granny clusters)

Rounds 12-23: sl st across first granny cluster and in between the first and second clusters from the previous round, ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in same sp between clusters, sk 3 sts, [3 dc between clusters, sk 3 sts] repeat around, sl st to first dc to join (28- 3 dc granny clusters)

Round 24: ch 1, sc in each stitch, sl st to first sc to join (84 sc)

Round 25: ch 1, sc in each stitch, sl st to first sc to join (84 sc)

Round 26: ch 1, sc in each stitch, sl st to first sc to join (84 sc)

In the next round you will make the handle by skipping some stitches around the top of the bag and adding chains to make the handle. You will then work single crochet stitches in those chains in the next round to make the straps. I made the straps 50 chains long, to make a longer strap add more chains, for a shorter handle work fewer chains, just make sure you work the same number of chains on both sides. 

Round 29: ch 1, 9 sc, ch 50, sk 24 stitches, 18 sc, ch 50, sk 24 stitches, 9 sc, sl st to first sc to join (36 sc, 100 ch)

Round 30: ch 1, sc in each stitch, sl st to first sc to join (136 sc)

Round 31: ch 1, sc in each stitch, sl st to first sc to join (136 sc)

Finish off, weave in ends