The buckle bag is a free crochet tote bag pattern for a roomy tote created with a textured stitch pattern, purchased handles, and front pocket with buckle accent.
I love roomy crochet tote bags, and this one is by far my favorite! Next time you need a free crochet pattern for a tote bag, make this your go-to pattern.
Be sure to check out the lining tutorial for help assembling this crochet tote bag!
Design Story and Inspiration for the Crochet Tote Bag
I created this beautiful bag to take to the CGOA conference in Indianapolis, IN. I wanted a large tote (this measures 11″ tall x 14 1/2″ wide and 5″ deep) that I could carry all of my class info and papers in.
I like chunky textures so I used three strands of yarn held together with a P hook – it worked up super fast. The pocket on the front carried business cards and keys. Since I wanted it to keep its shape I gave it a fabric lining and added real handles instead of crocheting them.
Overall I am really pleased with how this handbag turned out and got great reviews of it at the conference from other crochet lovers. The skill level on this is easy and it makes a good project for beginners since there is no shaping – simply hdc and slip stitches!
This is a great reusable bag that could be used as a beach bag, market tote, or to save a plastic bag or two!
About the Yarn
For this free pattern I used Lion Brand Cotton Ease , which was one of my all time favorite yarns. It has since been discontinued, but there are a lot of other awesome options out there!
Lion Brand came out with their 24/7 Cotton not long after Cotton Ease was discontinued and it is one of the substitutions that I recommend for this project.
Holding three strands together gives you more of a super bulky yarn gauge, so if you want to skip holding the three strands together, you can try a bulky or super bulky yarn.
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Crochet Tote Bag Pattern Details
The Buckle Bag is a super easy crochet project. It is made from four pieces of crocheted fabric, a front and back (which are constructed the same), a side panel and a pocket.
For this pattern I used purchased handles, which you can pick up at JoAnn, or you can buy a strap for this bag if you prefer.
I really needed a large bag to take with me to the conference, but if you don’t need such a large bag, you can easily adjust the stitch count.
Chain an odd number of stitches and work the instructions as written in the pattern, working to your desired height. If you go this route, adjust the length of your side/bottom panel as well.
Free Crochet Tote Bag Pattern
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease , 3.50oz/100g each approx. 207 yarnds/188 meters (worsted weight yarn #4): 6 skeins Snow
**Please see note above for yarn substitutions if you need help. This yarn has been discontinued.
Crochet Hook: US Size P (11.50mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions:
- Yarn needle (tapestry needle)
- Lining and Backing Fabrics (optional) – 1 yard each
- Purse Handles
- 1/2 yard 1 ½” ribbon
- 1 slide buckle 1 ½”
Gauge: 9 sts and 11 rows = 4.5″ in stitch pattern
Notes
Hold 3 strands together.
Ch 2 at beginning of row counts as hdc.
If you would like to make this bag larger or smaller, make sure your stitch count is an even number and you could work this stitch pattern over any number of stitches.
Stitch Pattern (St Pat)
Row 1: Ch 2, skip next st, *sl st in next hdc, hdc in next sl st; repeat from * to end, slip st in top of turning ch; turn.
Repeat row 1 for pattern.
Front
Ch 31.
Row 1: Slip st in third ch from hook, *hdc in next ch, slip st in next ch; repeat from * to end; turn (30 sts).
Work even in St Pat (see above) until piece measures 11″ from beginning. Fasten off.
Back
Work same as front.
Sides and Bottom
Ch 11.
Row 1: Slip st in third ch from hook, *hdc in next ch, slip st in next ch; repeat from * to end; turn (10 sts).
Work in St Pat on 10 sts until piece measures 36″ from beginning.
Fasten off.
Ch 17.
Row 1: Slip st in third ch from hook, *hdc in next ch, slip st in next ch; repeat from * to end; turn (16 sts).
Work in St Pat for 16 rows. Fasten off.
Finishing
Sew ribbing in place around pocket, placing slide buckle through ribbon before stitching. Sew lining fabric to back of pocket, if desired.
Center pocket on front and stitch in place on three sides, leaving top open.
For the lining tutorial, click here
Lined Bags Only: Create backing for panels by cutting backing fabric same dimensions as crocheted pieces and hand stitching to backs. Create lining for bag by cutting lining fabric 1″ wider and taller than crocheted pieces and sewing together by hand or machine with 1/2″ seam allowances on all sides.
Lined and Unlined Bags: Sew front and back to side/bottom strip.
Lined Bags Only: To attach lining, fold down 1/2″ on top, press with iron if desired, and hand sew to top of crocheted bag with a whip stitch with right sides of fabrics showing inside bag. Attach handles.
Common Questions about Crochet Tote Bags
The crochet tote bag is super easy because a tote bag is simply a rectangular bag that has no shaping to it. For this easy tote bag, we make a front, back, and a center panel that serves as the bottom and sides. Some bags will have you make the sides and bottom separately, but they serve the same purpose.
Once the pieces are crocheted, you assemble your crochet tote bag by slip stitching or seaming it together. Then you add handles and you’re good to go!
Most crochet tote bag patterns are easy! They use simple basic crochet stitches to create the textured panels that are assembled into a tote bag. Sometimes you will find a bag that is worked without seams, which is really neat!
Anything! Especially if you give it a simple fabric lining, you can carry just about anything in your tote bag. Make it a crochet beach bag or crochet market bag. Carry your projects (my favorite!) or even carry it as an everyday purse, which is what I did with this bag, until it met with an unfortunate sweet tea incident and a two-year-old!
Crochet Tote Bag
The buckle bag is a free crochet bag pattern for a roomy tote created with a textured stitch pattern, purchased handles, and front pocket with buckle accent.
Materials
- Worsted weight yarn held 3 strands together, or super bulky yarn
- Us Size P (11.50mm) hook
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
- Purchased Handles
- 1/2 yard 1.5" ribbon
- 1.5" slide buckle
- Lining fabric and craft interfacing (if desired)
Tools
- Crochet hook, yarn needle, scissors
Instructions
- Create bag using instructions above or
- purchase inexpensive ad-free pdf
Notes
See "how to line a crochet bag" tutorial for how to line this bag with craft stabilizer and lining fabric.
I can not wait to make one of these bags!!!
Thanks! Send me pictures when you do – I would love to post them!
Wow!! I will put it on my looong to do list..lol..very pretty!
I love this! I just started crocheting this week So this is a project for down the road.
Beautiful! I am opening a shop on etsy for crochet/ crafts and i would love to make this to sell. Please let me know if that would be ok with you. I will make and sell the purse but give credit to you for the pattern? I am going to specialize in purses for the crochet part of my store and i think that this pattern and tutorial are amazing. This purse is very functional and i think it will sell very well. I plan to make one for myself as well. i will be checking your blog for a response back. thank you! (I will post pics of any and all purses i make for you too!)
Jessica,
I think it would be great to sell these on Etsy! I've always wanted to do that but find that once I make an item I am ready to move on and design another pattern so I never get around to it. 🙂
Feel free to make and sell these with credit for the pattern. I would also advise that you add interior pockets as that was the thing I wished I had done! If you need help I could walk you through it – not much more work and so much more functional. With two small kids I was always searching for the small things I didn't put in the front pocket!
Please share pictures when you make these – and you can add them to the project page on ravelry, too so everyone can see them there.
Good luck with your Etsy shop!!
I am waiting on 6 skeins of the charcoal cotton ease yarn to arrive any day now and am going to make the first one for my sister her bday is on the 19th of nov. I so i will def. post pics when i'm finished but i am going to definitely make a few for my etsy shop and i'm sure they will sell great.. I would love a tutorial on making the pockets on the inside lining. i've made purses before and lined them but i have yet to attempt the pocket so if you have it figured out i would greatly appreciate a tutorial on the inside pocket. thanks so much you are already contributing greatly to my shop and i really can't thank you enough! (ps.. do you drink wine?) my family owns a winery a thank you bottle i believe is in order…?
So beautiful I also love crochet this wonderful and useful work
thank you! I love this
You're so welcome! 🙂
Really beautiful !!!!
Anna
Thank you! 🙂
Thank you for this lovely pattern and am looking to make one for myself.
You are so welcome! 🙂 If you make one I would love to see pictures.
Beautiful! I love making crochet purses, bags, totes, etc. I can’t wait to give this one a go!
Thanks Courtney! If you make it, I would love to see pics! 🙂
I made the purse this weekend and I love it! I’m not fully finished (Need to sew on the insert and handles) and won’t be for a couple of weeks. (Hurt my hand) I ended up using acrylic yarn. I couldn’t find 24/7 Cotton (I was too impatient to buy on-line 🙂 ) which is the comparable to the yarn used in the pattern. But, I still think it came out really good! To get the correct gauge I used an N hook (10 mm) with 2 strands of yarn. I have no idea how to post pics, but would love to show you. When finished, it will be my new favorite purse! Thanks for the pattern!
Yay!! So glad it turned out well 🙂 Let me know when you are done because I would love to see it.
Hello Amanda, I just want to say that I love your patterns, and video tutorials, thank you so much. I specially want to thank you for allowing us to sell our finished items while giving you the credit for the patterns, I have search and is hard to find people that are ok with reproduction of their work. thank you and hope to see all the new things you will be creating.
Thanks Teresa! Before I began designing I wanted to make and sell items and it always frustrated me when I would find a cute pattern and was not allowed to sell the finished items. Once I started making my own patterns I wanted everyone to feel free to make and sell the finished products – crochet and knit items are great for craft fairs and things like that! Unfortunately I get bored after making something once so I am always ready to move on to the next and couldn’t make myself knit or crochet to sell the items themselves – patterns have been the way to go for me. 🙂 Good luck in your endeavors!
Love the crochet buckle bag. what did you use for the handles. looks like a bias tape of some kind can not see from picture. Thank you
Yes! This is bias tape. I have a tutorial for the lining where you can get more info here. 🙂 I realized that somehow all the pictures were missing from the lining tutorial but I have fixed it!
Do you have a video on how to make this bag? I can’t follow the written instructions that well. It’s easier for me to see a video.