The Sugarwheel Market Bag is an airy, eco-friendly tote designed for everyday produce runs, beach trips, and casual outings.
Featuring a uniquely constructed bottom, it starts as a decorative circular center that seamlessly transitions into a sturdy square base.
The body builds upward using a flexible mesh pattern that allows the bag to expand comfortably under weight, while a firm thermal-stitch border and solid straps prevent excessive stretching.
Crafted with a single skein of worsted-weight cotton, this durable project balances detailed lace texture with structural integrity, offering an elegant, reusable alternative to single-use plastic bags.
Pattern Overview
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Skill Level: Intermediate
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Finished Dimensions: 11 inches tall by 12 inches wide (excluding handles)
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Gauge: 27 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches in single crochet mesh
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Materials: 1 skein of worsted weight cotton yarn (approx. 350–400 yards), 4.00 mm crochet hook, yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers
Special Stitches & Abbreviations
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ch: chain
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sc: single crochet
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dc: double crochet
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sl st: slip stitch
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blo: back loop only
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sc2tog: single crochet two together (decrease)
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2-dc Cluster: (Yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch/space, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops) two times in same stitch/space. Yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook.
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3-dc Cluster: (Yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch/space, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops) three times in same stitch/space. Yarn over and pull through all four loops on hook.
Bag Instructions
Decorative Base
Form a adjustable magic ring to begin.
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Round 1: Ch 3, dc in ring (counts as first 2-dc cluster). *Ch 3, work 2-dc cluster into ring; repeat from * four more times. Ch 3, sl st into top of initial cluster to join. (6 cluster groups, 6 ch-3 spaces)
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Round 2: Sl st into the first space. Ch 1, *(sc, ch 3, sc) in space, ch 3; repeat from * around to final space. Work (sc, ch 3, sc) in last space, ch 1, hdc into the starting sc to complete the round. (12 spaces)
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Round 3: Ch 3, 2-dc cluster over the side of the closing hdc, ch 3, sc in next space. *Ch 3, 3-dc cluster in next space, ch 3, sc in next space; repeat from * around. Ch 3, sl st to the initial cluster. (5 3-dc clusters, 1 2-dc cluster, 6 sc)
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Round 4: Ch 1, *sc in ch-space, ch 3; repeat from * around, sl st to first sc. (12 chain spaces)
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Round 5: Ch 1, sc in first space. *Ch 4, sc in next space, (ch 3, sc in next space) twice; repeat from * around, omitting the final sc. Join with sl st to first sc.
Square Base Expansion
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Rounds 6–20: Ch 1, sc in corner ch-4 space. *Ch 4, sc in same corner space, (ch 3, sc in next space) across to next corner, ch 3, sc in corner space; repeat from * around, omitting final sc. Sl st to first sc. (60 chain spaces total by Round 20)
Lower Body (Single Crochet Mesh)
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Rounds 21–28: Ch 1, *sc in next space, ch 3; repeat from * around, sl st to first sc.
Upper Body (Double Crochet Mesh)
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Round 29: Ch 5 (counts as dc and ch 2). *Dc in next space, ch 2; repeat from * around. Sl st to 3rd chain of initial ch-5.
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Rounds 30–39: Ch 5. *Dc in next dc, ch 2; repeat from * around. Sl st to 3rd chain of initial ch-5.
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Rounds 40–44: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1). *Dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * around. Sl st to 3rd chain of initial ch-4.
Top Band (Reinforced Thermal Stitch)
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Round 45: Ch 1. *Sc2tog over dc and ch-1 space, sc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 space; repeat from * to last two stitches, sc2tog. Join with sl st to first stitch. (100 stitches)
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Round 46: Ch 1, sc in back loop only around each stitch. Turn work.
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Rounds 47–50: Ch 1, sc entering the back loop of the active row and the unworked front loop from the row directly below. Repeat around, sl st to join, turn after each round.
Handles (Make 2)
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Row 1: Attach yarn to top band. Ch 1, work thermal sc across 5 stitches (inserting hook into back loop of working row and open loop of row below). Turn.
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Row 2 onward: Continue in thermal sc across 5 stitches until the strap reaches 12 inches in length. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing.
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Second Strap Placement: Count 22 stitches along the top rim away from the base of the first strap. Attach yarn and work the second strap identically to 12 inches.
Assembly & Finishing
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Align strap ends across the bag opening, ensuring handles are straight and not twisted.
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Securely attach loose ends of handles to the top band using a yarn needle and mattress stitch.
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Weave in all remaining yarn tails on the interior side of the bag and trim cleanly.
