A mesh tote bag is the practical choice for produce shopping, beach days, and anything involving wet items that need to drain.
The open mesh body lets sand fall through, allows air to circulate around damp towels, and makes the bag weigh almost nothing when empty. It stuffs into a purse or glove compartment without adding bulk.
This version has a solid single crochet base that provides structure and durability where the bag touches surfaces. The body transitions to an open mesh of alternating double crochets and chain-1 spaces. The straps taper from the body width down to a narrower, comfortable shoulder width.
The entire bag is worked in one piece from the base up. The straps are integrated—no sewing separate handles. When you fasten off the final strap seam, the bag is complete.
Why You'll Love This Crochet Tote
The solid base handles the wear and tear.
Market bags get set down on concrete, asphalt, and grocery store floors. The single crochet base is dense enough to withstand abrasion without developing holes. The mesh body doesn't touch the ground, so it stays intact.
The mesh stitch pattern is memorizable within one round.
Alternating a double crochet round with a (dc, ch 1, sk 1) round creates the open grid. The pattern alternates every round: solid dc round, mesh round, solid dc round, mesh round. Your hands learn the rhythm quickly.
The tapered straps are comfortable on the shoulder.
Wide at the attachment point for strength, narrowing through the middle for comfort, and sewn together at the top. The taper reduces bulk where the strap sits on your shoulder.
The sizing is adjustable at multiple points. Wider base? More foundation chains and base rows. Taller bag? More body rounds. Longer straps? More strap rows.
Materials Needed
- Approximately 150 grams / 270 yards of worsted weight (#4) cotton yarn
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
Cotton is essential for market bags. It doesn't stretch under weight, handles moisture without degrading, and is machine washable when produce leaves a mark. Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton ($4.99 per 186 yards) or Lily Sugar 'n Cream ($2.49 per 120 yards) are both good choices.
The mesh uses less yarn than solid fabric of the same dimensions. One ball of 24/7 Cotton covers the entire bag.
Best Yarn Choices for Mesh Market Bags
Cotton is the only practical choice for a bag that carries food.
It's washable, durable, and doesn't contain synthetic fibers that might leach chemicals when wet produce sits against them. Kitchen cotton or mercerized cotton both work.
Cotton blends with mostly cotton content are acceptable. Big Twist Favorite Cotton (cotton-acrylic blend) is softer on hands while still providing good structure.
Avoid 100% acrylic for market bags. It stretches under weight and the mesh pattern will distort over time. My yarn selection guide covers fiber properties in detail.
Gauge, Size Guide & Must-Have Tools
Gauge: 8 rows of 15 double crochets = 4 inches square.
Finished dimensions (adjustable):
- Base: about 9.1 inches wide x 2.2 inches deep
- Body: about 10 inches wide x varies by round count
- Strap: about 2 inches wide x 7.9 inches long (each side)
Foundation chain must be a multiple of 4, plus 2. For a wider bag, increase the chain count.
Must-have tools:
- 5.0 mm hook: Standard worsted weight hook.
- Stitch markers: Mark strap placement.
Pattern Notes & Tips Before You Start
The base is worked in turned rows of double crochet. The body is worked in rounds around the base perimeter. The transition from flat base to tubular body happens in round 1 of the body.
The turning chain at the start of each row/round counts as a double crochet. This differs from many patterns where the turning chain doesn't count. Adjust accordingly.
The mesh round alternates (ch 1, sk 1, dc). The solid round works a dc into each dc and each chain-1 space. Count your stitches at the end of solid rounds to verify accuracy.
Mark the strap placement before beginning the strap section. Flatten the bag so exactly half the squares are on the front and half on the back. Mark evenly from the edges.
Abbreviations Explained
- ch – chain: Yarn over, pull through loop.
- ch-sp – chain space: The gap under a chain.
- dc – double crochet: Yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, (yarn over, pull through two loops) twice.
- dc3tog – double crochet 3 together: Decrease over three stitches.
- rep – repeat: Work the instruction set again.
- sk – skip: Move past without working.
- sl st – slip stitch: Insert hook, yarn over, pull through stitch and loop.
Step-by-Step Mesh Market Tote
Base
Foundation: Chain 34 (multiple of 4, plus 2).
Row 1: Dc in the 4th chain from hook and in each chain across. (32 stitches)
Rows 2–4: Chain 3, turn. Dc across. (32 stitches)
Body
Round 1: Chain 3, turn. Dc across. Work 8 dc along the side of the base. Dc across the bottom of the base. Work 8 dc along the other side. Slip stitch. (80 stitches)
Round 2 (Mesh): Chain 4. (Sk 1, dc, ch 1) repeat around. Sk 1, slip stitch to the 3rd chain of the starting chain-4. (40 squares)
Round 3 (Solid): Chain 3. Dc in each stitch and chain-1 space around. Slip stitch. (80 stitches)
Rounds 4–16: Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 alternately. Stop after a solid round.
Fasten off.
Straps
Flatten the bag. Mark the stitch after 6 squares from each edge on both sides.
First Strap: Attach yarn at the left marker. Chain 3. Dc across until 1 stitch before the next marker. Dc3tog. Dc across until after the next marker. (23 stitches)
Mark the center stitch. Continue in pattern, decreasing at the center marker every solid round. The strap tapers from 23 stitches to 9 stitches over 15 rows.
Fasten off with a long tail.
Second Strap: Repeat identically on the other side.
Sew the strap tops together with the long tail.
Finishing
Weave in ends. The bag is ready to use.
Easy Variations & Custom Ideas
Longer body: Add more mesh-solid round pairs for a deeper bag.
Crossbody length: Work the straps even (no decreases) for additional length, then sew together.
Striped mesh: Change colors on solid rounds for horizontal color bands.
Drawstring closure: Thread a chain through the top mesh round for a cinchable opening.
Common Troubleshooting and Fixes
Mesh squares are uneven: Check that you're alternating solid and mesh rounds correctly. The mesh round creates the grid. The solid round fills it in.
Straps are too short: Add more even rounds (no decreases) to the strap section before beginning the decreases.
Bag stretches too much: Cotton at a tighter gauge helps. For the next bag, try a 4.5 mm hook.
Base curls: The base is worked in rows. Blocking flattens any curl.
Final Thoughts
A mesh market bag is the project that justifies itself the first time you skip a plastic bag at the grocery store.
It's practical, washable, and genuinely better for carrying produce than disposable alternatives. The mesh lets you see what's inside. It drains if something leaks. It folds flat when empty.
Make one in a neutral for everyday and a bright one for farmers' market Saturdays.
Tag me if you post yours. Market bags full of produce are my favorite thing.
