How to crochet a market bag – free pattern

A new way to look at crochet produce bags. A crochet market bag with a vintage stitch and modern aesthetic!

I have always struggled with summer items and cotton yarn and this crochet produce bag was no different. And I have made quite a few things in the past with cotton, especially when I was selling on markets.

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How to get this crochet pattern:

• If you are looking for the free version, scroll down below.
• You can purchase the ad-free pdf for easy printing in any of my shops, below.

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I even made some jewelry! They were very pretty in my opinion and the colors were fantastic, but summers in Greece and anything that is knitted (or crochet) don’t go well together. People felt that they were getting hotter. Which is not true, but…

Back to my summer tote bag. I have had this yarn since last summer and I knew I wanted to make a crochet bag. But every design I could think off just wasn’t clicking or it was made too many times in too many variations.

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I wanted something different. And finally, a couple of months ago it hit me! I have seen in the past a vintage crochet stitch that isn’t used much these days and have wanted to try it since.

Long story short, I finally found a perfect match for both of them. The stitch I used is called the x stitch because of its shape. I have seen a couple of variations for the placement of the stitch in the second row and I will show you which one I chose in a photo below.

You can easily learn how to make the x stitch by following the video or the photo tutorial below. It looks complicated and I wouldn’t recommend it to someone that is just starting out with crochet, but it’s really not that difficult. Once you got the hang of it you are getting into a nice repetitive rhythm and you just don’t want to put this project down.

If you would like a smaller bag that can double down as a handbag and a project bag for small items, be sure to check out my Japanese knot bag.

The yarn I used is a called Buddy Hemp by Wool and the Gang, and it’s a mix of 45% organic cotton and 55% hemp. It’s all natural and it holds up really well. Hemp is known for making really durable fabrics that don’t stretch. You can also use your favorite cotton yarn if you like. I believe Lionbrand’s 24/7 cotton would be a perfect fit for this market bag.

How to crochet the vintage X stitch

X stitch photo tutorial

1. Yarn over twice, insert hook into the indicated stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop.

2. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.

3. Yarn over, skip one stitch, insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop.

4. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.

5. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.

6. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.

7. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.

8. Chain 1.

9. Yarn over and insert the hook in the middle of the stitches as shown below.

10. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.

11. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook and chain 1. X stitch made!

Let’s get into making this pattern. You are going to need:

Yarn: Buddy Hemp by Wool and the Gang or any DK yarn
Use this link to receive 15% off, if you are trying Wool and the Gang yarns for the first time.
Hook: US G/4.0 mm
Yardage: approximately 348 m (380 yds)

Gauge swatch:

The swatch below must measure 4” (10 cm) in diameter in order to achieve gauge.

R1: MR, 12 dc in ring (12)
R2: 2 dc in each st around (24)
R3: *dc, 2 dc * repeat from * to * around (36)
R4: * dc 2, 2 dc * repeat from * to * around (48)

If your gauge is correct, just rip out the last 2 rounds and continue with the pattern.

Abbreviations

R: round
MR: magic ring
dc: double crochet
st(s): stitch(es)
sc: single crochet
sc2tog: single crochet two stitches together (decrease)
sk: skip
ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
bpsc: back post single crochet

Feel free to look up any of the terms above that are unfamiliar to you and learn a new stitch. I try to provide tutorials for the stitches I believe are the most uncommon, or difficult, or new to my patterns.

Notes:

1. The crochet market bag pattern uses standard US terms.
2. The second round of x stitches is not placed directly above the x stitch of the previous round, as in some variations, but in between. You can see what I mean in the closeup photo below, and it is explained in R13 of the pattern.
3. Also in R13, and in every other round, you will be asked to make half an x stitch. You will do this by following steps 1-2 of the photo tutorial. In step 3, instead of skipping a stitch and inserting your hook in the next stitch, you will complete step 3 around the initial chain, follow steps 4-7, and sl st in the initial chain.

Crochet market bag pattern

R1: MR, 12 dc in ring, sl st (12)
R2: ch 2, 2 dc in each st around, sl st (24)
R3: ch 2, 2 dc in each st around, sl st (48)
R4: ch 2, 2 dc in each st around, sl st (96)
R5: ch 2, * dc 7, 2 dc * repeat from * to * around, sl st (108)
R6-11: ch 2, dc in each st around, sl st (108)
R12: ch 4, x stitch around, sl st in 4th ch (36 x sts)
R13: ch 6, sk first dc and ch 1 of the previous round, and make x stitch in next dc, make 34 more x sts, make half an x st in last dc, sl st in 4th ch (35 ½ x sts)
R14-24: repeat rounds 12 and 13
R25: ch 1, sc 108 sts evenly around (3 sc’s for each x stitch), sl st (108)
R26: ch 1, * sc 7, sc2tog * repeat from * to * around, sl st (96)
R27: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st (96)
R28: ch 1, sc 14, ch 70, sk 20, sc 28, ch 70, sk 20, sc 14, sl st to join (196)
R29-32: ch 1, sc 14, bpsc 70, sc 28, bpsc 70, sc 14, sl st to join (196)

That’s it! Weave in your ends and you are done!

What are you going to use your new bag for? Tell me in the comments below.

Do you want more patterns with cotton yarn?

Check out my crochet bunny teether, Celia baby blanket, and Last days of summer top (from left to right).

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