Color-Block Striped Crochet Tote Bag Pattern Free: Sturdy Cotton-Hemp Carryall

A great everyday crochet tote bag needs two things: bold visual structure and a stitch density that won’t stretch down to your ankles once you load it up. The Color-Block Striped Crochet Tote Bag achieves both by pairing natural cotton-hemp blend yarn (Patons® Hempster™) with a tight 3.5 mm (US E/4) hook. Starting from an oval foundation base in Navy, the body rises in the round across four crisp 8-round color blocks—Ecru, Jungle, Deep Ocean, and Lime Punch—separated by single-round Navy pin stripes and crowned with a corded reverse single crochet (crab stitch) top rim and double-thick folded handles.

Why Working `Hdc Between Stitches` Makes a Stronger Bag

After completing the oval base and the back-loop turning ridge on Round 3, Rounds 4 through 42 instruct you to work 1 hdc in sp between each hdc around rather than under the top two loops. Dropping your hook into the vertical space between posts locks the stitches together like woven canvas, prevents gaps when the tote is full, and keeps the horizontal color stripes crisp.

Materials & Stripe Sequence Breakdown

To crochet the 16″ × 13½” striped carryall, gather:

• Contrast A (Base, Pin Stripes, Top Edge & Straps): 2 balls of Patons® Hempster™ in Navy (11010).
• Contrast B (Stripe Block 1): 1 ball in Ecru (11014).
• Contrast C (Stripe Block 2): 1 ball in Jungle (11006).
• Contrast D (Stripe Block 3): 1 ball in Deep Ocean (11008).
• Contrast E (Stripe Block 4): 1 ball in Lime Punch (11004).
• Hook & Notions: Size U.S. E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook, stitch markers, blunt tapestry needle, and scissors.

Abbreviations & Special Stitch Guide (US Crochet Terms)

• Beg = Beginning
• Ch = Chain(s)
• Hdc = Half double crochet
• Reverse Sc (Crab Stitch) = Working from left to right (instead of right to left as usual), insert hook into next stitch to the right, yoh and draw up a loop, yoh and draw through both loops on hook. Creates a twisted, rope-like border.
• Rnd(s) = Round(s)
• Sc = Single crochet
• Sl st = Slip stitch
• Sp(s) = Space(s)
• St(s) = Stitch(es)

Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions

Note: Ch 2 at the beginning of a round does not count as a stitch. Join all rounds with a slip stitch to the first hdc, changing colors on the join where indicated.

Part 1: Crocheting the Oval Base & Turning Round

1. Foundation Chain: Beginning at the base with Contrast A (Navy), ch 58.
2. Round 1: Work 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Work 1 hdc in each of next 54 ch. Work 5 hdc in last ch (first curved end). Working along the opposite side of the foundation chain, work 1 hdc in each of next 54 ch. Work 4 hdc in last ch. Join with sl st to first hdc. (118 hdc)
3. Round 2: Ch 2. Work 1 hdc in same sp as last sl st. Work 1 hdc in each of next 56 hdc. Work 5 hdc in next hdc (center corner st). Work 1 hdc in each of next 58 hdc. Work 5 hdc in next hdc. Work 1 hdc in last hdc. Join Contrast B (Ecru) with sl st to first hdc. (126 hdc)
4. Round 3 (BLO Turning Round): With Contrast B, ch 2. Work 1 hdc in same sp as last sl st. Working into the back loop only (BLO) of each stitch around, work 1 hdc in each of next 58 hdc, 3 hdc in next hdc, 1 hdc in each of next 62 hdc, 3 hdc in next hdc, and 1 hdc in each of last 3 hdc. Join with sl st to first hdc. (130 hdc — this count remains constant for the rest of the bag!)

Part 2: Crocheting the Striped Tote Body (Rounds 4–43)

1. Rounds 4–11 (Ecru Block): With Contrast B, ch 2. Work 1 hdc in the space between each hdc around. Join with sl st to first hdc at the end of each round, joining Contrast A (Navy) at the end of Round 11.
2. Round 12 (Navy Pin Stripe 1): With Contrast A, ch 2. Work 1 hdc in sp between each hdc around. Join Contrast C (Jungle) with sl st to first hdc.
3. Rounds 13–21 (Jungle Green Block): With Contrast C, ch 2. Work 1 hdc in sp between each hdc around for 9 rounds. Join Contrast A at the end of Round 21.
4. Round 22 (Navy Pin Stripe 2): With Contrast A, ch 2. Work 1 hdc in sp between each hdc around. Join Contrast D (Deep Ocean) with sl st to first hdc.
5. Rounds 23–31 (Deep Ocean Block): With Contrast D, ch 2. Work 1 hdc in sp between each hdc around for 9 rounds. Join Contrast A at the end of Round 31.
6. Round 32 (Navy Pin Stripe 3): With Contrast A, ch 2. Work 1 hdc in sp between each hdc around. Join Contrast E (Lime Punch) with sl st to first hdc.
7. Rounds 33–41 (Lime Punch Block): With Contrast E, ch 2. Work 1 hdc in sp between each hdc around for 9 rounds. Join Contrast A at the end of Round 41.
8. Round 42 (Top Navy Rim Base): With Contrast A, ch 2. Work 1 hdc in sp between each hdc around. Join with sl st to first hdc.
9. Round 43 (Crab Stitch Corded Border): With Contrast A, ch 1. Working from left to right instead of right to left, work 1 reverse sc in each hdc around. Join with sl st to first sc and fasten off.

Part 3: Double-Thick Folded Shoulder Straps (Make 2)

1. Foundation Chain: With Contrast A (Navy), ch 111.
2. Row 1 (RS): Work 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and 1 sc in each ch across. Turn. (110 sc)
3. Rows 2–5: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each sc to end of row. Turn.
4. Fold & Seam Handle: Fold the strap in half lengthwise. Working through both thicknesses to join Row 5 to the foundation chain edge, work 1 sc in each stitch across to the end of the row. Fasten off.
5. Attach Straps: Pin the two straps evenly to the inside top rim of the front and back of the bag (approx. 4″ in from each side fold) and sew securely with Contrast A yarn.