The Dappled Sunlight Market Tote: A Free Crochet Pattern for a Textured, Color-Blocked Everyday Bag

Introducing the Dappled Sunlight Market Tote

Carry a piece of dappled sunlight with this textured, color-blocked market tote, perfect for farmers' markets or a day at the beach. The unique stitch pattern creates a beautiful interplay of light and shadow, while the sturdy construction ensures it holds all your essentials. This free crochet pattern is beginner-friendly and ideal for spring and summer projects. The combination of warm sand, sage green, and pale peach gives it a natural, earthy, modern aesthetic that will complement any outfit.

Materials Needed

To create this beautiful tote, you will need the following materials:

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn (e.g., Lily Sugar'n Cream or Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton) in three colors:
  • Color A (Main - Warm Sand): Approximately 100g
  • Color B (Contrast 1 - Sage Green): Approximately 75g
  • Color C (Contrast 2 - Pale Peach): Approximately 75g
  Total approximately 250g.
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
• Gauge: 14 stitches and 10 rows in pattern stitch = 4 inches (10 cm). Gauge is not critical for this project, but consistency is key for even sizing.
• Other: Yarn needle for weaving in ends and sewing handles, scissors.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Notes and Abbreviations

Notes: The bag is worked in the round from the bottom up. The pattern stitch is a simple combination of single crochet and chain spaces that creates a lovely, airy texture.

Abbreviations: ch = chain, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, sl st = slip stitch, st(s) = stitch(es), rnd(s) = round(s).

Pattern Stitch (worked in the round)

Rnd 1: *Sc in next st, ch 1, skip next st; repeat from * around.

Rnd 2: *Sc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next sc; repeat from * around.

Repeat Rnd 2 for pattern.

Bottom (worked in continuous rounds, do not join)

With Color A, ch 2.

• Rnd 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (18 sts)
• Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (24 sts)
• Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (30 sts)
• Rnd 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (36 sts)
• Rnd 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (42 sts)
• Rnd 8: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (48 sts)
• Rnd 9: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (54 sts)
• Rnd 10: *Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (60 sts)
• Rnd 11: *Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (66 sts)
• Rnd 12: *Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (72 sts)
• Rnd 13: *Sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (78 sts)
• Rnd 14: *Sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (84 sts)
• Rnd 15: *Sc in next 13 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (90 sts)
• Rnd 16: *Sc in next 14 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (96 sts)
• Rnd 17: *Sc in next 15 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (102 sts)
• Rnd 18: *Sc in next 16 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (108 sts)
• Rnd 19: *Sc in next 17 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (114 sts)
• Rnd 20: *Sc in next 18 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (120 sts)

Fasten off Color A.

Body (worked in joined rounds, ch 1 does not count as a st)

• Rnd 1: With Color B, join with sl st in any st. Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (120 sc)
• Rnd 2: Ch 1, *sc in next st, ch 1, skip next st; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (60 sc, 60 ch-1 spaces)
• Rnd 3: Ch 1, *sc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next sc; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (60 sc, 60 ch-1 spaces)
• Rnds 4-6: Repeat Rnd 3. Fasten off Color B at end of Rnd 6.
• Rnd 7: With Color C, join with sl st in any ch-1 space. Ch 1, sc in same space, *ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next ch-1 space; repeat from * around, ending with ch 1, skip last sc. Join with sl st to first sc. (60 sc, 60 ch-1 spaces)
• Rnds 8-10: Repeat Rnd 3. Fasten off Color C at end of Rnd 10.
• Rnd 11: With Color A, join with sl st in any ch-1 space. Ch 1, sc in same space, *ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next ch-1 space; repeat from * around, ending with ch 1, skip last sc. Join with sl st to first sc. (60 sc, 60 ch-1 spaces)
• Rnds 12-14: Repeat Rnd 3. Fasten off Color A at end of Rnd 14.
• Rnd 15: With Color B, join with sl st in any ch-1 space. Ch 1, sc in same space, *ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next ch-1 space; repeat from * around, ending with ch 1, skip last sc. Join with sl st to first sc. (60 sc, 60 ch-1 spaces)
• Rnds 16-18: Repeat Rnd 3. Fasten off Color B at end of Rnd 18.
• Rnd 19: With Color C, join with sl st in any ch-1 space. Ch 1, sc in same space, *ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next ch-1 space; repeat from * around, ending with ch 1, skip last sc. Join with sl st to first sc. (60 sc, 60 ch-1 spaces)
• Rnds 20-22: Repeat Rnd 3. Fasten off Color C at end of Rnd 22.
• Rnd 23: With Color A, join with sl st in any ch-1 space. Ch 1, sc in same space, *ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next ch-1 space; repeat from * around, ending with ch 1, skip last sc. Join with sl st to first sc. (60 sc, 60 ch-1 spaces)
• Rnds 24-26: Repeat Rnd 3. Do not fasten off.

Top Edging

• Rnd 27: Ch 1, sc in each sc and in each ch-1 space around. Join with sl st to first sc. (120 sc)
• Rnd 28: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Handles (make 2)

With Color A, ch 6.

• Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. (5 sc)
• Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (5 sc)
• Repeat Row 2 until handle measures approximately 18 inches (45 cm) from beginning. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly

Fold each handle in half lengthwise and sew the long edges together to create a sturdy strap. Position the handles on opposite sides of the bag, about 4 inches (10 cm) apart from each other. Sew the ends securely to the inside of the bag, reinforcing with a few extra stitches. Weave in all ends.

Your Dappled Sunlight Market Tote is now complete! Enjoy carrying your essentials in this beautiful, textured bag that captures the essence of dappled sunlight.