If you have been looking for an easy crochet project made for women over 55, this mesh market bag is the one to start with.
Crochet for women over 55 should feel calm, useful, and a little bit proud, and this free pattern gives you all three.
It works up in about an hour, uses half a skein of cotton, and turns into a sturdy, washable bag that quietly replaces a whole drawer of plastic ones.
The whole bag rests on one simple repeat, the V stitch, worked in the round. You chain a short base, single crochet around it, then settle into an easy rhythm of V stitches until the bag is as tall as you like. Two straps, weave in your ends, and you are finished.
No fiddly shaping, no seaming, no counting marathon.
Make one in cream for the market, one in coral for the beach, and one in soft grey for the car.
They fold down small enough to tuck inside a purse, yet they stretch to hold far more than they look.
The full written pattern is below for free, and there is an optional printable version if you would rather not work from a screen
This pattern is part of the 2024 Holiday Stashdown Crochet Along with CAL Central – Scroll down for details⬇️
There are 2 ways to get this pattern:
Option 1: You can purchase the individual pattern as an easy-to-read, print-friendly PDF from Ravelry
Option 2: Scroll down to get the written instructions for this pattern for free
Pin this to your crochet bags board so it is waiting for you when the yarn mood strikes.
What is a crochet mesh market bag?
A crochet mesh market bag is a lightweight, open weave tote made from cotton or a cotton blend.
The open holes let air move through, which keeps fruit and vegetables fresher on the walk home, and the stretch lets the bag hold far more than its small folded size suggests.
Because you are making it yourself, you choose the color, the size, and exactly how deep it goes.
Why crochet your own market bag?
There is the practical answer and the real answer.
The practical answer is that a handmade cotton bag is strong, washable, and folds down small enough to live in your purse or glove box, so you always have one when you need it.
It replaces plastic without any fuss, and it makes a thoughtful little gift when you have made one too many.
The real answer is what happens while you make it. One quiet hour, one calm repeat, and something useful in your hands at the end.
For many of us crocheting through our fifties, sixties, and beyond, that steady rhythm is the part that matters most. The bag is lovely. The hour is the gift.
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Gauge Ruler – so you always land on the right size
Pattern Designed By: Sandra Stitches This pattern is copyright protected; it is unlawful to distribute this pattern in any form (free, sale or trade).
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What you’ll need
Sport weight number 2 cotton blend yarn, 100 gram skein. I used half a skein. You can work this pattern with any yarn weight and hook size, and it will change the measurements.
Hook: US size 4.5 mm
Yarn needle, scissors, measuring tape
Let’s get to the pattern, shall we? Making the Mesh Market Bag
Gauge
- 5 st X 8 rounds ( 4” X 4”) for the V st pattern
Sizes
- This sample is 9.5” in height without straps X 16” in circumference
Stitch Key
- Ch = Chain
- Sc = Single Crochet
- St = Stitch
- Dc = Double Crochet
- Slst = Slip stitch
Specialty Stitches
VSt = V stitch
(dc+ch+dc) in the next st, skip 2 st
Tips before you begin
- Cotton or a cotton blend gives the best mix of strength and stretch for a market bag.
- Keep your tension relaxed. The mesh is meant to have a little give.
- Want a bigger bag? Keep repeating the V stitch round until it is the depth you want.
Sandra’s tip: count your V stitches at the end of the first few rounds, not every single stitch. Once the rhythm settles in, the bag almost makes itself, and you can crochet while you chat or watch your show.
Notes
- This pattern is written in US terminology
- This pattern is worked in rounds.
- Ch 1 at the beginning of the row does not count as st
Instructions
For this size Ch 29
The first round will start with a row and turn into a round by working stitches on both sides of the row.
Round 1: Sc 1 in 2nd ch from hook, sc 1 in next and across to end of row, sc 2 more on last ch (total of 3 sc in last ch), sc 1 in next st ( working around the row, sc 1 in next 27 st to 1st st, sc 2 more in 1st st, SlSt to 1st sc to close the round ( total of 60 st around)
Round 2+3: Ch 1, sc 1 in 1st st from hook, sc 1 in next and around to end of the round, SlSt to 1st sc to close the round (60 st)
Round 4: Ch 1, dc 1 in 1st st from hook, skip 2 st, Vst in next st , V st around to end of the round, Slst to 1st dc to close the round.
Repeat round 4 for a total of 14 times for this size. If you wish to work this bag bigger continue repeating round 4 to your desired size.
Round 18+19: Ch 1, sc 1 in 1st st from hook, sc 1 in next and around to end of the round, SlSt to 1st sc to close the round
Let’s continue
The straps
Round 20: ch 1, sc 1 in next 8 st, ch 2( work 1 sc in the 2nd ch, sc 1 in the 1st loop of the sc, continue to the strap length desired I worked 40 stitches, skip 14 stitches from the body of the bag and sc1 in next st, sc 1 in next 13 st, repeat strap pattern, skip 14 st and attache the strap with a sc in the next st, continue sc 1 in each st to close the round
2024 Holiday Stashdown CAL hosted by Marie from Underground Crafters
From September 30 through December 16, 2024, we will share new patterns every Monday and Thursday.
Find all patterns for this CAL HERE
Finishing
Weave in all ends, cut yarn, and enjoy!
That is it. Your first mesh market bag is ready for the market, the beach, or a stroll through town. Once you have the rhythm, the second and third go even faster.
Stitch with us in the V-Stitch Club
If you love the calm that comes with an hour of easy crochet, you will feel right at home in the V-Stitch Club. It is a gentle little membership built around making time for yourself, with members only patterns and a community of women who crochet for the joy and the quiet of it. Come stitch with us.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to crochet a mesh market bag?
About an hour, sometimes closer to two if you make it taller or stop to chat along the way. It is one of the quickest finished projects you can make, which is exactly why it is so satisfying.
What yarn is best for a crochet market bag?
Cotton or a cotton blend is the best choice. It is strong, it washes well, and it has just enough stretch for the mesh to do its job. This sample uses a sport weight number 2 cotton blend, and about half a 100 gram skein is plenty.
Is this mesh market bag good for beginners?
Yes. If you can chain, single crochet, and double crochet, you can make this bag. The only special stitch is the V stitch, which is simply double crochet, chain, double crochet worked into the same stitch. Once you have done a few, your hands remember it.
How big is the finished bag?
The sample measures 9.5 inches tall without the straps and 16 inches around. Loaded up, the mesh stretches to hold much more than that.
Can I make the bag bigger or smaller?
Easily. Keep repeating the V stitch round for a deeper bag, or stop sooner for a smaller one. Changing your yarn weight and hook size will change the measurements too, so feel free to experiment.
Will it hold heavy groceries?
Cotton mesh is surprisingly strong and stretches to fit a real shopping load. For heavier trips, choose a firm cotton and keep your tension a little tighter so the stitches stay snug.
DISCLOSURE
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