Crochet Tote Bag in Cotton with a Lined Base and Long Handles

This crochet tote bag is worked in cotton with a fabric lined base and handles long enough to sit on a shoulder. It measures about 35 cm across and 38 cm deep, which takes a laptop, a stack of books or a market shop. It is made to order in the colours you pick.

How the crochet tote bag is built

1. The base goes first. We work an oval base in a doubled strand, then back it with cotton fabric so the corners cannot stretch out.
2. The body is worked up. The sides are crocheted in one piece from the base, with no seam to split along the bottom edge.
3. The handles are set in. Each handle is worked into the top edge over several stitches rather than sewn on, so the load spreads.

How a crochet tote bag behaves in use

The cotton loosens slightly in the first week and then settles. The stitch opens a little when the bag is full and closes again when it is empty, which is why crochet holds odd shapes better than a stiff bag. The lined base stops small items dropping through and keeps the bottom flat when you set it down.

Cotton washes well and gets softer rather than shabbier. Colour holds through a season of daylight, although deep navy and red fade a little faster than pale shades. If you want a smaller bag for evenings, the shoulder bags in our clothing and bags section are built the same way.

Crochet tote bag specification

Made to order and shipped worldwide

Each crochet tote bag is made after you order, which takes 5 to 10 working days, and then it is posted tracked from Hanoi. The shipping page sets out the rest.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap, empty and unfolded. Press the water out with a towel, pull the bag square while it is damp and dry it flat away from direct sunlight. Do not hang it wet, because the handles will stretch. See our amigurumi care guide.

Questions people ask

Can a crochet tote bag take a laptop?

A 13 or 14 inch laptop fits and the lined base protects it from the ground. There is no padding, so use a sleeve if you carry it daily.

Can I ask for a full lining?

Yes. A full cotton lining with an inside pocket can be added for a small charge. Ask before you order and we will quote it.

Will the handles stretch?

They settle by a centimetre or two and then hold. Hanging the bag up while it is wet is the one thing that stretches them badly.

Can I choose a different size?

We can work it up to about 40 cm square. Larger than that and the cotton sags under its own weight, so we do not offer it.

If you want to see the other cotton pieces we make, the new arrivals page is where the latest ones land first. Message us on Facebook Messenger if you want a colour matched to something you already own.