Think Green Bag

Crochet an environmentally-friendly bag in Red Heart Eco-Cotton yarn with this free bag crochet pattern. Use this attractive, reusable bag for trips to the local farmer's market or shopping.  This is a great pattern for beginners and advanced crocheters, and it's great for all kinds of uses.  You can also use this bag to tote all your necessities as you head to the beach our out for a picnic.  Easy to make and fun to use, this simple crochet bag pattern is a must have for all us Earth-loving crochet fans!

Materials:

• 2 skeins Red Heart® Eco-Cotton™ Blend yarn in Almond
• 3.75 mm [US F-5] crochet hook
• Stitch marker
• Yarn needle

Gauge: Rounds 1-9 = 4” diameter.

Special Abbreviation:  Sc2tog = Single crochet decrease – insert hook in first st, draw up a loop; insert hook in next st, draw up a loop, yo, draw through all loops on hook.

Instructions:
Bag measures 12” wide x 14” tall, unstretched. Bag has considerable stretch.

Base

1. Round 1 (Right Side): Using adjustable loop technique, work 8 sc in ring – 8 sts. Mark beginning of round, moving marker up each round.
    
2. Round 2: 2 sc in each st around – 16 sts.
    
3. Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around – 24 sts.
    
4. Round 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around – 32 sts.
    
5. Round 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around – 40 sts.
    
6. Round 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around – 48 sts.
    
7. Round 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around – 56 sts.
    
8. Round 8: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around – 64 sts.
    
9. Round 9: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around – 72 sts.
    
10. Round 10: *Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around – 80 sts.
     
11. Round 11: *Sc in each of next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around – 88 sts.
     
12. Round 12: *Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around – 96 sts.

Mesh Section

1. Round 1: Sc in first st, *ch 5, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * to last 2 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, dc in first st to join – 32 spaces.
    
2. Round 2: (Dc just made is first st of rnd), *ch 5, sc in next ch-5 space; repeat from * around, end ch 2, dc in first st to join – 32 spaces.
    
3. Rounds 3-30: Repeat Round 2.

Top

1. Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc around length of joining dc, hdc in same place, *3 hdc in next ch-space; hdc in next sc; repeat from * around, end hdc in last space, slip st in top of beginning ch to join – 128 sts.
    
2. Round 2: Sc2tog, *sc in next st, sc2tog; repeat from * around – 85 sts.
    
3. Rounds 3-5: Sc in each st around.

First Handle

1. Row 1: Working in back loop only, sc in each of next 4 sts, turn – 4 sts.
    
2. Row 2: Ch 1, working in back loop of previous row and unused loop of row below, sc in each st – 4 sts.
    
3. Repeat Row 2 until 14” or desired length.
    
4. Fasten off leaving a long tail. Skip next 8 sts. Sew short end of handle to next 4 sts.

Second Handle

1. Skip next 26 sts. Working in back loop only, join with sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts – 4 sts.
    
2. Work as for First Handle.
    
3. Weave in ends.