Free Crochet Market Bag Pattern | Easy Mesh Bag Tutorial

Crochet Market Bag Tutorial

Looking for a free crochet market bag pattern that’s easy and quick? This mesh bag is light, stretchy, and strong enough for fruit, vegetables, and books. It’s also a great alternative to plastic bags, and it folds small enough to keep in your purse.

You only need basic stitches: single crochet, chain, and increases. First you make a flat round base, then you work the mesh body in rounds with no seams. Want more ideas? Browse our full list of free crochet bag patterns for beginners.

Stay updated!

Don’t lose this pattern! Save it to Pinterest so you can come back to it anytime. Want more? Follow our Crochet Bags board for new free patterns every week.

Pattern Information

Materials

• 100% cotton worsted weight yarn (#4 medium), about 150 to 200 g (roughly 280 to 340 yards / 260 to 310 m)
• 4.5 mm (7) crochet hook
• Stitch markers
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• inc: increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
• sp: space
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd: round

Gauge

16 sc = about 4 inches (10 cm). After rnd 16, your base should measure about 7.5 inches (19 cm) across. If yours is smaller or bigger, change your hook size.

Dimensions

About 7.5 inches (19 cm) wide at the base and 11 to 12 inches (28 to 30 cm) tall, not including the straps. The mesh stretches to about 12 x 14 inches (30 x 35 cm) when the bag is full. Each strap is about 22 inches (56 cm) long.

Notes and Tips

• The base is worked in a flat circle and the body is worked in joined rounds, so you won’t need any seams.
• Use cotton yarn, because it’s stronger than acrylic and holds weight better.
• Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round so you don’t lose your place.
• Don’t pull your chains tight. Loose mesh stretches better.
• Ch 1 at the beginning of a round doesn’t count as a stitch.

Free Crochet Market Bag Pattern Video Tutorial

Prefer to watch? Follow along with this step-by-step video tutorial, or scroll down for the full written pattern.

Crochet Market Bag Pattern

Base

Make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in the ring. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: Sc in the next st, inc in the next st. Repeat from * 5 more times. (18)
Rnd 4: Sc in the next 2 sts, inc. Repeat from * 5 more times. (24)
Rnd 5: Sc in the next 3 sts, inc. Repeat from * 5 more times. (30)

Continue like this, adding 1 more sc before each increase in every round, until you finish rnd 16:

Rnd 6: Sc in the next 4 sts, inc. (36)
Rnd 7: Sc in the next 5 sts, inc. (42)
Rnd 8: Sc in the next 6 sts, inc. (48)
Rnd 9: Sc in the next 7 sts, inc. (54)
Rnd 10: Sc in the next 8 sts, inc. (60)
Rnd 11: Sc in the next 9 sts, inc. (66)
Rnd 12: Sc in the next 10 sts, inc. (72)
Rnd 13: Sc in the next 11 sts, inc. (78)
Rnd 14: Sc in the next 12 sts, inc. (84)
Rnd 15: Sc in the next 13 sts, inc. (90)
Rnd 16: Sc in the next 14 sts, inc. (96)

Join with a sl st to the first sc. Don’t fasten off.

Body

Rnd 17 (first mesh round): Ch 1, sc in the next st, ch 2, skip the next 2 sts. Repeat from * around (32 repeats). Join with a sl st to the first sc. (32 sc and 32 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 18: Sl st into the next ch-2 sp. Ch 1, sc in the same sp, ch 2. Sc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 2. Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (32 sc and 32 ch-2 sps)

Rnds 19 to 54: Repeat rnd 18 until the bag measures about 11 inches (28 cm) from the center of the base (about 36 more rounds). Measure your bag instead of counting rounds, because the mesh stretches.

Rim

Rnd 1: Sl st into the next ch-2 sp. Ch 1, 2 sc in the same sp. Sc in the next sc, 2 sc in the next ch-2 sp. Repeat from * around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (96)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a sl st. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Marking Straps

Lay the bag flat. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of the rim as your starting point. Count the stitches and place the other markers in these stitches: 12 and 37 for the front, 60 and 85 for the back. Each pair of markers shows where the 2 ends of one strap will go (25 stitches apart, about 6 inches).

Straps (Make 2)

Ch 85 (or to the length you want).
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn.
Rows 2 to 4: Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Sewing Straps

Place one end of a strap on the inside of the rim, centered on a marker, overlapping the rim by about 1 inch (2.5 cm). Sew it securely with your yarn needle, passing through the strap several times. Repeat with the other end of the strap on the second marker. Sew the second strap on the back in the same way. Remove the markers and weave in all your ends.

Finished Crochet Market Bag

And that’s it! Your free crochet market bag is ready for the farmers’ market. It’s light, it folds flat, and it stretches to hold all your groceries. Make a few in different colors, and you’ll never need a plastic bag again.

Loved this pattern? Share your finished bag with us and save this post to Pinterest. Don’t forget to check out more free crochet bag patterns and our classic granny square bag pattern.