The Audrey Tote – Crochet Tote Bag Free Pattern

Classic meets modern in this crochet tote bag free pattern. Made with very basic crochet techniques, this purse is a perfect project for a confident beginner to practice seamless color changes and crocheting in the round. The free pattern is below or you can purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.

This crochet tote bag free pattern is part of a collaboration with my friends at Lion Brand. This post contains affiliate links.

Some people think crochet is kinda a winter gig. I get it. If all you like to crochet is sweaters, afghans and boots, then this is definitely your off season. Since starting this blog though, I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of dreaming up patterns that are both beautiful and functional during the warmer months. I mean, who wants to make something and then wait five months to use it? Not this impatient girl.

The Audrey Tote pattern was born out of the desire to make a crochet tote bag that could really be useful. Like for your real life. Not just for holding down the hooks in your closet. 🙂

Thanks to this totally tubular Lion Brand Fast-Track yarn, this bag feels strong, soft and appropriate for the beach, the mall or even, work. Really, I can’t think of a better yarn to make a bag like this because Fast-Track is more sturdy than stretchy and it’s flat tube shape compresses nicely, creating great stitch definition. (Lion Brand created a kit with all the yarn you need to make this bag and you can get it here!)

Even loaded down with a day’s worth of necessities, this crochet tote bag really doesn’t feel like it’s going to stretch to be six feet long by the time you arrive home in the evening. If you want to make it even stronger, you can always add a simple fabric lining on the inside, which will keep the bag from stretching at all.

I’m a big fan of mixing different materials with yarn, so of course I had to try an option of this bag with some DIY leather handles. Don’t they add such a pretty mix of color and texture to this bag?

Later this week I’ll be sharing a step-by-step tutorial for how to add leather handles to any crochet or knit bag like I did here. (UPDATE–find the step-by-step leather strap tutorial here.) I’m so in love with these handles that I  kind of want to see what else I can hammer leather to! (If you love the look of crochet & leather look too, you’ll definitely want to check out the free Urban Gypsy Boho Bag pattern and the free Dollar Store Twine + Thrifted Belt Basket pattern.) 

Since changing colors in the round can be a little tricky (I literally screw it up almost every time I try), I put together a little photo tutorial about they way I like to change colors to create jogless stripes. If you have a favorite way of changing colors, feel free to do it your way and just scroll down for The Audrey crochet tote free pattern below. If nothing else, this tutorial will be here next time I need to reference it for my own project!

How To Crochet Jogless Stripes in the Round

• I first learned this technique from this helpful video. Check it out if you need to see someone’s hands in action doing these color changes.
• In photos above, marker is in sl st at the end of the round previous round.

1. Work last single crochet of round.
2. Remove hook. Insert hook in first single crochet of round.
3. Place loop back onto hook. Yarn over with new color.
4. Pull yarn-over through loop on hook and first single crochet to create a slip stitch. (Rounds joined.) Proceed with next round as instructed.

Alright, everyone ready to crochet an awesome bag/purse/diaper bag/catchall? Let’s do it!

Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, please link back to this post. Do NOT use my photos as your own sales photos. ­­You can read my policies here. 

The Audrey Tote
Crochet Tote Bag Free Pattern

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.

Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.

Pin this pattern for later here.

Explanation:
This classic crochet tote bag is sure to become a staple of your wardrobe. Very simple techniques combine with Lion Brand Fast-Track yarn to make a bag that transitions between seasons effortlessly and looks like something from a high-end store—only better. Add basic crochet straps or snazz up your bag with leather and gold accents, either way, you’ll have a functional and stylish way to tote your life around.

Supplies:
So you can spend more time crocheting and less time shopping, this pattern contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
Purchase a kit with all the yarn for this bag plus a black and white copy of the pattern here!
• Lion Brand Fast-Track (Weight: 6/super bulky – 149 yds, 8 oz)|
– Color A: Jet Black (2 full skeins)
– Color B: Airstream White (1 full skein)
• Tapestry needle
• Size L (8 mm) crochet hook
• Stitch markers or safety pins
• Needle and sewing thread to match Color A (if adding crochet handles)
• Straight pins (if adding crochet handles)
• Approx 50” long,1.5” wide leather strap (if adding leather handles–see the detailed tutorial here)
• 16 gold rivets + rivet tools, size: 8mm cap, 10mm post (if adding leather handles)
• Hammer (if adding leather handles)
• 6” square of plastic canvas (if adding leather handles)

Measurements:
19” wide
13” tall
handle height: approx. 9.5”

Gauge:
11 sc = 4”
12 rows = 4”

Abbreviations and Glossary (US Terms):
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
st – stitch
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
rep – repeat
PM – place marker

Overall Pattern Notes:
• The bag base is worked first and the body is added on top.
• IMPORTANT: The gauge is intentionally quite tight so as to create a bag that won’t be too stretchy. Please check gauge to ensure you will have enough yarn to complete the pattern.

BAG BASE

Foundation Row: Using Color A, ch 37.

Row 1: Sk first ch, sc in each ch; turn. (36 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc; turn.

Rep Row 2 ten more times for a total of 12 rows. Do not cut yarn.

BAG BODY

Notes:

• The bag body is worked in the round, beginning with Round 1 which is crocheted along all four sides of the bag base.

• Follow instructions above for crocheting jogless stripes for each color change.

• Work with the RS of the bag facing you as you crochet so as not to make an inside-out bag.

• I find it helpful to place a stitch marker in the sl st at the end of each round in order to keep track of where the round began. (See Photo B.) Be sure not to crochet into this sl st when you come back around to it.

• When beginning Rounds 2 and on, begin single crocheting into the first single crochet (the same st you slip stitched into the previous round.)

Round 1: Using Color A, ch 1, sc 1 into the same corner st the last sc of Row 12 was worked into, sc 10 along shorter rectangle side, sc 2 into corner st, sc 34 along longer rectangle side, sc 2 into corner st, sc 10 along shorter rectangle side, sc 2 into corner st, sc 34 along longer rectangle side, sc 1 into same corner st round began in, sl st to first sc of round to join (PM in sl st). (96 sc)

Round 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sk marked sl st from previous round, sl st to first sc of round to join (PM in sl st).

Rep Round 2 six more times for a total of eight rounds in Color A. At the end of Round 8, switch to Color B using the technique described on page 7.

***
Using Color B, rep Round 2 three times. At the end of the third round, switch to Color A using the jogless stripes technique described above.

Using Color A, rep Round 2 three times. At the end of the third round,switch to Color B using the jogless stripes technique described above.

Rep from *** four more times to create a total of five Color B stripes and five Color A stripes (plus the Color A base). Do not switch to Color B at the end of the final round. Instead, fasten off and weave in tail.

HANDLES

Notes:

• You may choose to crochet handles with the instructions below or add leather handles with this step-by-step tutorial.

• If you crochet your handles and plan to carry very heavy items, you might like to sew webbing similar to this to the back of the handles before sewing them onto the bag.

• Handles measure about 30” each. To adjust the length, create additional or fewer chain stitches in the foundation.

• Round 1 is worked in the round, first along foundation chain and then along the underside of the chain. Row 2 is worked similarly to the first half of Round 1, but ends before working the underside.

Make 2.

Foundation Row: Using Color A, ch 74.

Round 1: Sk first ch, 2 sc in second ch, 1 sc in each ch until 1 sc remains, 2 sc in last ch, (PM) (now begin working along bottom side of chain), 2 sc in first ch, 1 sc in each ch until 1 sc remains, 2 sc in last ch, sl st to first sc of round to join.

Row 2: 2 sc in first sc, sc in each sc until 1 sc remains before marker, 2 sc in next two sc, 1 sl st. Fasten off.

FINISHING

Using straight pins, pin handles to bag as pictured in photo A. Space handles so that they line up with the bottom of the third black stripe and there is about 8” between the handles.

With sewing thread that matches Color A, securely sew handles to bag.

Weave in remaining ends. If planning to line bag, there is no need to weave in the remaining ends inside the bag. (Hooray!)

Fill your new stylish tote with…your next crochet project, of course!

If you’re a bag lady or a leather lover, you might also enjoy these free crochet patterns from Make & Do Crew:

1. Dollar Store Twine + Leather Belt Basket free pattern

2. Clothesline Rope Trivet free pattern

3. Urban Gypsy Boho Bag free pattern

4. Suzette Bag free pattern (excellent for beginners!)