Two-Tone Crochet Tote Bag
This free two-tone crochet tote bag uses worsted weight yarn in cream and dusty blush, a 5.5 mm hook, and single crochet in the back loop only to build a ribbed fabric sturdy enough for groceries, market days, or a beach afternoon. You work one flat rectangle for the body, fold and seam it, add a small oval base for structure, and finish with two matching crocheted straps. Around 500 yards total, 8 to 10 hours over a weekend, and you have a tote that reads as boutique but costs $10 in yarn.
Key Takeaways
- Single crochet in back loop only (BLO) is the entire pattern — one stitch, all the way through.
- Two colors, roughly 250 yards each of worsted #4 cotton or cotton blend.
- Finished size is 14 in wide × 13 in tall with a 10 in handle drop — the sweet spot between market bag and everyday carry.
- Beginner-friendly: if you can chain and single crochet, you can finish this bag.
- Free forever on Wavode. No email opt-in, no paywall.
Why this two-tone tote is the pattern to start with
I've made this tote three times now — once in the cream and blush you see in the photos, once in sage and cream for my mum, and once in mustard for a friend who wanted a market bag she could actually spot in a crowd. The reason I keep coming back to it is that the whole pattern is one stitch repeated in the back loop, which means the fabric does the design work for you. The ribs run vertically up the bag, catch the light, and make single crochet look like something much fancier than it is.
The two-tone color block is the other reason. You crochet a solid rectangle in your first color, switch to your second color mid-bag, and the seam disappears into the ribbing. No stripes to count. No color changes mid-row. Just: crochet, switch, crochet.
If you've been putting off making a bag because they look complicated, this is the one to start with.
What you'll need
Yarn (worsted weight #4, about 500 yd / 460 m total)
- Color A (top, cream): ~250 yd of Lily Sugar'n Cream in Cream or Paintbox Cotton Aran in Vanilla Cream.
- Color B (bottom, dusty blush): ~250 yd of Lily Sugar'n Cream in Rose Pink or Paintbox Cotton Aran in Blush Pink.
- Cotton is the right pick — it holds shape and washes cleanly. A cotton-acrylic blend also works if you want a softer hand.
Hook
- 5.5 mm (US size I/9). A wooden or bamboo hook keeps the tension even across the long rows.
Other tools
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming.
- Scissors.
- A stitch marker if you like to mark the start of a row (optional).
- Straight pins or clips for holding the base while you sew it on.
Abbreviations (US crochet terms)
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- BLO = back loop only
- st(s) = stitch(es)
Finished size
- Width: about 14 in (36 cm)
- Height: about 13 in (33 cm), not including the handles
- Handle drop: about 10 in (25 cm)
- Base: about 3 in (8 cm) deep once seamed
The pattern — step by step
The bag is built in four parts: the body rectangle (worked flat, then folded and seamed), a small oval base for structure, and two matching handles. Take it in that order and there's nothing to overthink.
Step 1 — Foundation chain
With Color B (blush), chain 41. That's your bag width. If you want a wider tote, chain any odd number that's a multiple of 2 + 1 (so 43, 45, and so on).
Give the chain a little tug to make sure it's not twisted, then lay it flat on the table.
Step 2 — Row 1
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, and sc in each ch across. Turn (40 sc).
Take a breath — that first row across a long chain is the fiddliest part of the whole bag. From here it gets easy.
Step 3 — Body in blush (BLO ribbing)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in the BLO of each st across. Turn.
Repeat Row 2 until the blush section measures about 6 ½ in (16.5 cm) tall. For me that's around 30 rows, but count height, not rows — worsted cotton varies.
Once you hit height, fasten off blush, leaving a 6-inch tail for weaving.
Step 4 — Change to Color A (cream)
Row 1 (cream): Join cream yarn at the beginning of the next row. Ch 1, sc in the BLO of each st across. Turn (40 sc).
The color change is invisible in the ribbing — the new color just picks up where the old one left off.
Step 5 — Finish the body
Repeat Row 1 (cream) in BLO until the total piece (blush + cream) measures about 13 in (33 cm) tall. That's usually 6 ½ in of blush and 6 ½ in of cream.
Fasten off cream, leaving a 12-inch tail — you'll use it to seam the side.
Step 6 — Fold and seam the sides
Fold the piece in half with right sides together so the cream sits over the cream and the blush over the blush. The fold is your bag bottom for now — the small oval base gets added afterwards.
Use the long cream tail to slip stitch (or whip stitch) up one side, from the bottom fold to the top opening. Repeat on the other side with a fresh length of matching yarn.
Turn the bag right side out. It should now be a soft rectangle open at the top.
Step 7 — Crochet the oval base
The base gives the tote its structure so it sits flat on a table instead of sagging.
With Color B (blush), ch 11.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (10 sc). Turn.
Row 2: Ch 1. 2 sc in the first st, sc in each st across, 2 sc in the last st (12 sc). Do NOT turn — rotate to work in the round.
Row 3: Sc in each st around the oval, working extra stitches at the two rounded ends to keep it flat. Continue until the base measures about 12 in long × 3 in wide (30 × 8 cm) — usually 3 or 4 rounds of increases at the ends.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail (about 30 in / 75 cm) for sewing.
Step 8 — Attach the base
Turn the bag inside out again. Line up the oval base with the bottom fold of the bag body, centering it so equal amounts of the body wrap around each long edge.
Sew or slip stitch the base to the bottom of the bag, going all the way around. Take your time on this seam — it's the one that carries the weight of everything you'll put in the tote.
Turn the bag right side out and press the base flat with your hand. It should now stand on its own.
Step 9 — Crochet the handles
Both handles are worked exactly the same. Make two.
With Color A (cream), ch 71 (or your desired length — 71 chains gives a 10 in handle drop once attached).
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (70 sc). Fasten off, leaving 10-inch tails on both ends for sewing.
Step 10 — Attach the handles
Count about 8 stitches in from each side seam along the top opening. Position the ends of your first handle at those two points on the front of the bag. Do the same on the back with the second handle.
Sew or slip stitch each handle end securely to the inside top edge of the bag using the leftover tails. Reinforce with a second pass — handles are the part that fails first on a tote you actually use.
Weave in every remaining end.
Your two-tone tote is done.
How long does this crochet tote take?
A confident beginner finishes this tote in about 8 to 10 hours of stitching, spread across a weekend. The body panel is the biggest time chunk — expect roughly 30 minutes per inch of height in BLO single crochet — so plan on 6 to 7 hours there. The base takes an hour, and the handles plus finishing take another hour or two.
If you're brand new to crochet, add a couple of hours for tension warm-up and one restart of the foundation row. Everyone restarts the foundation row.
What's the best yarn for a crochet tote bag?
Worsted weight cotton is the right choice for a tote that will actually carry weight. Lily Sugar'n Cream and Paintbox Cotton Aran are the two I keep buying — both machine-wash cleanly, both cost around $3 to $4 per skein, and both hold the ribbed shape without a lining. If you want the fabric a touch softer, a cotton-acrylic blend like Bernat Handicrafter also works. Skip pure acrylic — the fabric stretches under any real weight and the tote goes floppy within a week.
Can I make this tote bigger?
Yes, and it's the most common tweak I get asked about. To go wider, chain an extra 2 stitches for every additional inch of width — chain 45 for a 16 in tote, chain 49 for an 18 in beach bag. To go taller, add rows to both color sections equally so the color block stays balanced. To make the base deeper, chain 13 or 15 for the oval instead of 11 and add one more increase round at each end. Add roughly 100 yards of yarn to your total for every extra 2 inches in any dimension.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one color instead of two? Absolutely. Skip the color change and work the whole body in a single color. The BLO ribbing carries the design on its own — a one-color version reads as "quiet luxury" and takes exactly the same amount of yarn total.
Do I need to line the bag? Not for grocery runs, market days, or a beach afternoon. The cotton holds shape well and the base gives the bag structure. If you're going to carry a laptop or heavy books, sew in a simple cotton lining to stop the fabric from stretching over time.
What if my sides come out uneven? Count your stitches at the end of every fifth row until you trust yourself. It's almost always a missed stitch at the very edge — the last sc of a row hides under the turning chain if you're not careful. Slipping in a stitch marker on the first and last stitch of each row fixes it for good.
Can I add a pocket inside? Yes, and I recommend it. Crochet a small rectangle — chain 21, work 20 rows of sc BLO — and whip-stitch it to the inside of the bag before you attach the handles. Perfect for keys and a phone so you can find them without dumping the tote.
How do I clean it? Hand-wash in cool water with mild soap. Squeeze gently — don't wring. Lay flat on a towel to dry and reshape while damp. If the bag ever picks up a stain, spot-clean with a soft brush before it dries in.
Related patterns on Wavode
- Crochet mini bow bag pattern — the coquette phone-and-lipstick bag to pair with this everyday tote.
- Chunky striped crochet scarf pattern — a two-hour beginner accessory that uses the same two-color logic.
- Color block crochet cardigan pattern — the weekend cardigan to match the tote.