Cotton Granny Tote – Free Crochet Pattern

Granny Stripe Tote

I am revisiting a granny tote pattern that I initially put together several years ago. You can find my original Hotchpotch granny stripe purse pattern here on my blog. For that colourful version, I created a YouTube crochet tutorial on how to make a small size purse with no written pattern. It always felt weird (possibly lazy!) that I didn’t write the bag pattern at that time so that’s what I’ve done today (six years later!).

Last summer I worked up this new granny stripe bag but it has taken me a few months to sort out the blog post and free crochet pattern so that you can make one too.

A Strong Bottom for Your Bag

The new granny tote has a couple of changes. Firstly, I ditched the starting chain and replaced it with a Foundation Start.

If you don’t like using foundation stitches to start your crochet, you may wish to use chains instead, which is what I show in the old video tutorial. However, I LOVE foundation stitches to begin projects; they’re awesome. The benefit of a foundation start is that you don’t have to work into a chain (not my fave thing to do), and they have a nice elasticity to them. They are also especially good if you need to work long chains (a foundation start is not in quite so much danger of twisting as a chain is wont to do).

The other great thing about a foundation start is that you can work into both the top and bottom, as I do in this crochet pattern. It is more structurally sound than a flimsy chain too. Hopefully, that is enough to convince you to give it a try!

A Colourful Crochet Bag

No matter which way you look at it, both old and new granny totes are super colourful. For this new cotton version, I went less crazy on colour choices but it still looks fun and fabulous.

I used Paintbox DK cotton (affiliate link) and changed colour every row rather than it being an outrageous stream of clashing colours. As much I am an advocate of the magic knot, I don’t actually enjoy tying hundreds of knots and would rather sew in a handful of ends tbh.

How to Make a Crochet Granny Tote

Oky doky, here’s what you need to crochet your own colourful granny stripe bag (I think the list of tools & materials is actually longer than the bag pattern itself!).

FYI, my granny stripe bag measures approx 36cm / 14 inches across with a depth of 30cm / 11.5 inches.

Crochet Tools you Will Need

• Cotton DK (this is a bit finer than acrylic double knit, sturdier to). I used about 18 colours of Paintbox DK. I like the range of colours and it’s non-mercerised. (Mercerised = shiny, and it’s not my favourite).
• 3mm crochet hook.
• Handles of your choice. Try Amazon, Etsy or upcycle by extricating them from an old bag (a tote or similar, not the other kind of old bag).
• Fabric for lining. Whilst this is optional, I 99.9% recommend lining a crochet bag.
• Magnetic clasp. Another optional item.
• Needle and thread. If you have a sewing machine then great. But since you’re only sewing a few inches, you could get away with hand sewing. I quite enjoy hand sewing even though I now need reading glasses to do it. (this is how I discovered that I am the other kind of old bag).
• A pointyish needle with an eye that’ll fit the dk cotton (for sewing the handles).

Crochet Granny Tote Pattern

Note, for the set up row, watch the tutorial for how to work a foundation start HERE.
Also note that below I have added two sets of instructions. The first set is for US terms, the second are UK terms.

US Instructions

Set up row: Work 61 fsc, turn.
Rnd 1: Ch3, 2dc in first stitch, *sk 2 sts, 3dc in next st; rep from * to end, ch2, rotate work to continue along the underside, 3dc in first st, rep from * to end, ch2, join with a slip stitch (sl st) to the top of the 3ch, do not turn. [42 clusters around].
Fasten off and cut yarn.
Rnd 2: Join new yarn to 2ch-sp, ch3, 2dc in same sp, 3dc in each sp around, join with a sl st to the top fo the 3ch, do not turn. Fasten off and cut yarn.
Rnd 3: Join new yarn to any sp between clusters, ch3, 2dc in same sp, 3dc in each sp around, join with a sl st to the top of the 3ch, do not turn. Fasten off and cut yarn.
Rnds 4-30: As Row 3.
Rnds 31 – 34: Join new yarn to any st, ch1, hdc in each st around, do not turn.
Fasten off and cut yarn. Sew in ends.

UK Instructions

Set up row: Work 61 UK fdc, turn.
Rnd 1: Ch3, 2tr in first stitch, *miss 2 sts, 3tr in next st; rep from * to end, ch2, rotate work to continue along the underside, 3tr in first st, rep from * to end, ch2, join with a slip stitch (sl st) to the top of the 3ch, do not turn. [42 clusters around].
Fasten off and cut yarn.
Rnd 2: Join new yarn to 2ch-sp, ch3, 2tr in same sp, 3tr in each sp around, join with a sl st to the top fo the 3ch, do not turn. Fasten off and cut yarn.
Rnd 3: Join new yarn to any sp between clusters, ch3, 2tr in same sp, 3tr in each sp around, join with a sl st to the top of the 3ch, do not turn. Fasten off and cut yarn.
Rnds 4-30: As Row 3.
Rnds 31 – 34: Join new yarn to any st, ch1, htr in each st around, do not turn.
Fasten off and cut yarn. Sew in ends.

Lining A Crochet Bag

This is easier than it sounds. You can opt for just a simple pocket sewn up the sides to pop within your granny tote. That will stop anything from falling out of the holes between the granny clusters. It will also provide a bit of anchorage for the handles, which will make your bag last longer. By sewing the handles through the crochet fabric and the lining fabric it’s way more sturdy than solely relying on your precious crochet stitches to bear the weight.

I hope it’s OK but instead of writing specific instructions on how to add a lining here, pop across to my blog post for How to Crochet a Zigzag Bag. That blog post has an explanation of how I lined that chevron tote and I used the same method for this crochet granny stripe bag. There’s even the option to add a magnetic clasp too. I also have a YouTube version for crocheting the chevron tote. For the lining demo, jump to timestamp 30:36.

Take your time with lining your crochet bag, there’s no rush.

Adding Handles to a Crochet Tote

Once you’ve chosen whether to line your crochet granny tote or not, regardless, you need to add handles. Feel free to crochet some but I like to add leather ones (faux leather in this case). They really are very cheap and you can get them from Amazon or Etsy easily.

Again, I won’t use too many words here to describe this process because I used exactly the same method as I did for my Zig Zag Bag. Feel free to measure where you’re going to place them so they’re equidistant. I usually eyeball first and, if in doubt, get the tape measure out.

Use a decent needle for sewing through the handle’s holes. If it’s too blunt, you’ll have a fight on your hands.

Your Crochet Granny Tote is Finished!

And that’s it! Voila, you have made a colourful crochet bag!! Now it’s time to show off to everyone and galavant around town with your new striped granny tote, yay!

If you have enjoyed making this pattern, then please take a look at my other Free Crochet Patterns right here on my blog.