Last updated on May 5th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Crochet market bags are a wonderful option for a reusable grocery bag that is a little more stylish than a traditional cloth bag. Sometimes we call them mesh, net or French bags.
Brilliant solution for starting an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Update. I crocheted another market bag in brown color and at the end of the post I added a few more pictures.
Crafting your way into a self-sufficient life is more accessible than ever before. The internet is amazing, let me tell you. It has opened up so many new opportunities for people of all ages and genders.
Whether it’s learning a new skill, selling your favorite homemade creations on Etsy, or just Googling the answer to a question you didn’t even know you had, we can now do just about anything we put our minds to. This is especially true for those looking to live a more self-sufficient life, with no single-use items such as plastic bags.
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Crochet Market Bag YouTube
If you are a visual learner, I made a separate video instructions for crochet French (market) bag where I show all the key moments!
Before we go into written instructions, I would want you to look at the market bag’s schematics.
Crochet Shopping Bag
How much yarn do I need for a market bag?
- Cotton crochet thread, length: 150 meters per 50 gr. (US 164 yards/ 0.11 pounds) – please adjust
- I used 4 balls (600meters – 656 yards).
- Clover crochet hook 2.25 mm (US B-1).
Other materials
Scissors for snipping threads and stitch marker.
Gauge. 7 single crochet/10 rows per 1 inch (2.5cm)
Stitch Abbreviations
Slip Stitch – sl st
Chain Stitch – ch
Single Crochet – sc
Stitch (-es) – st, sts
Written Crochet Instructions
Crochet Market Bag Base
Step A.
Single Crochet (sc) edge strip
In short – we need to make a single crochet strip 1 inch by 6.3 inch (2.5cm by 16cm). If you need detailed description on how to do that – read below. Otherwise, move to forward to the mesh pattern.
- Make a slip knot and a foundation chain of 46 stitches. (45 foundation + 1 turning chain).
- Look at the chain – it looks different from both sides. One side is a nice braid, but on the other – slight bumps. We need to work into these bumps.
- Insert the hook into the second bump from the hook. You made your first sc. 44 sc more. (45 in total). Be sure to work in the very last bump. Ch1. Turn the work.
- Insert the hook into the second chain from the hook and make s, 44 sc more. (45 sts in total).
- Repeat step 4. six times (8 rows altogether or less if needed (1 inch wide – depends on your gauge).
Step B.
Simple Crochet Mesh Pattern.
Once we have made the strip, start with a net (mesh) pattern.
- Ch 1, *sc in next stitch, chain 7, sc right in the next stitch (don’t skip)*, rep from * 43 times. Turn the work. (44 mesh arches in total).
- Ch 7, sc in the last arch of previous row, *chain 7, sc in next arch of previous row*, repeat from * 42 times (44 mesh arches in total). Turn the work.
Repeat 2. row 62 more times.
64 rows in total or until you get 64 cm (25 inches).
You can make fewer or more rows – bag will be smaller or bigger.
Important note!
Do not get confused if mesh looks squeezed in the beginning. It is how it should be because we are crocheting in every stitch of the previous row. Once you continue, it will even out and look straight.
Step C.
Second strip.
We need to collect all mesh stitches and create second single crochet strip.
- Ch 1 (don’t count as a st), sc at 1st st, 44 sc in each arch (total 45 sc).
- Ch1 (don’t count as a st), 45 sc in each arch. (45 sts in total).
- Repeat step 2. six more times (8 rows in total)
Making the Handles
Step D.
Handles and Edges
From this point we start crochet in the round. Prepare stitch marker. Mark the last st , it will be the beginning of the round.
You are at the edge of second strip.
- Ch 1, sc into the first st of the strip, PM, ch 150, sc.
- 8 sc evenly over the strip side edge (1 sc in each of 8 rows).
- *Ch 1, sc in the mesh side arch* repeat all over the side.
- 8 sc evenly over the 2nd strip edge.
- ch 150, sc on the other strip side
- 8 sc evenly over the 2nd strip edge, sc.
- *Ch 1, sc in the mesh side arch* repeat all over the side.
- 8 sc evenly over the strip side, sl st to join in the round. PM
We finished our first round. From now only single crochet in every stitch for at least 8 rows. Don’t forget to work into crochet chain bumps if possible.
Imagine sitting on the beach…
With your creation
Additional pictures from latest market bag work in progress.
