What you need
| Finished size | Base about 20 cm across, body about 30 cm tall before it stretches, handles about 35 cm long |
|---|---|
| Yarn | 100% cotton in Aran (US worsted) weight, about 250 m (usually 3 × 50 g balls) |
| Hook | 5.5 mm (a 5 or 6 mm hook also works) |
| Also | 1 stitch marker, a tapestry needle and scissors |
| Tension (gauge) | Not critical for a bag; as a guide, about 14 dc (US sc) × 16 rows = 10 cm |
| Terms | UK terms, with the US terms in brackets |
Skills you’ll use
- A magic ring and trebles (US double crochet) in joined rounds
- Increasing evenly so the base lies flat
- A chain-loop mesh worked in a spiral
- Working into chain spaces
- Chaining across a gap to make handle openings
- Joining a new ball of cotton and wet-blocking
What’s in the PDF
- Materials, size, tension and abbreviations
- Part 1: the base, round by round with stitch counts
- Part 2: the mesh body, and how to close the last loop
- Part 3: the top band and handles
- Part 4: finishing, including an optional round to stop the handles stretching
Questions about this pattern
How much cotton do I need for the market bag?
About 250 m of 100% cotton in Aran (US worsted) weight, usually 3 × 50 g balls. Check the metres on the ball band, not the grams.
Is the market bag sewn together?
No. It’s made in one piece from the bottom up, with no seams.
Will the handles stretch?
The pattern includes an optional round of slip stitches along the inside edge of each handle to stop it stretching.
Is the bag pattern in UK or US terms?
UK terms with the US terms in brackets: dc is US single crochet and tr is US double crochet.