This free video tutorial will walk you through a beautiful Crochet Mesh Tote that’s equal parts practical and poetic. This open stitch pattern has the most satisfying rhythm of any bag pattern I have encountered!
The Mesh Tote
The Crochet Mesh Tote is an airy yet structured shoulder bag that holds everything you need without weighing you down. It’s for the maker who values slow fashion and wants a piece that breathes with the seasons. The openwork allows light to filter through, creating shadows that shift as you move, while the slouchy silhouette drapes beautifully over one shoulder.
Dusty rose gives this tote a vintage romance, but imagine it in sage green for farmer’s market runs or cream for a coastal summer. The beauty of this pattern is how it transforms with color. Try burnt orange for autumn or charcoal gray for year-round versatility.
Materials and Tools
You’ll want a worsted weight cotton yarn for this project, something with body that holds its shape but remains soft enough to drape. A 5mm crochet hook creates the perfect gauge for a mesh that’s roomy without being limp. Cotton breathes beautifully and washes like a dream, making it ideal for a bag that will see real use. Keep a tapestry needle handy for weaving in ends and seaming the handles.
Stitch by Stitch
The pattern relies on just a few foundational stitches worked in a simple repeat.
BULLET:Chain (CH) This creates the openwork spaces that give the mesh its breathable quality.
BULLET:Double Crochet (DC) The height of this stitch builds the bag quickly while maintaining an open, flexible fabric.
BULLET:Slip Stitch (SL ST) Used to join rounds and secure the handles without adding bulk.
BULLET:Single Crochet (SC) This stitch appears at the edges and handle attachments for stability.
The rhythm of chain and double crochet becomes almost hypnotic, row after row building into something both functional and lovely.
Construction
This Crochet Mesh Tote is worked flat in rows to create a rectangular panel that gets folded and seamed along the sides. The handles are either crocheted separately and attached or worked directly from the top edge, depending on your preference. Beginners will appreciate how forgiving the open stitch is, any tension variations blend right into the texture. You can easily adjust the width by adding or subtracting chain stitches in your foundation row, making this pattern adaptable to your exact needs.
Wearing Your Mesh Tote
Sling it over your shoulder for a trip to the bookstore, novels peeking through the mesh like a library in motion. Layer it over a linen dress for beach days, sunscreen and a paperback tucked inside, or use it as a produce bag that collapses flat when empty. This is the bag that goes everywhere once you finish it.
Keeping Your Mesh Tote Fresh and Ready
Cotton loves water, so don’t hesitate to hand wash your Crochet Mesh Tote in cool water with a gentle soap when it needs refreshing. Lay it flat to dry, gently reshaping the rectangle so it doesn’t stretch unevenly. Between uses, fold it loosely or hang it on a hook so the mesh maintains its drape. If the handles start to stretch over time, a quick row of slip stitches along the inner edge will reinforce them beautifully.
Your Crochet Mesh Tote will become the piece you reach for without thinking, the one that feels like an extension of your hands. Pin this pattern and share your finished bag so we can all celebrate the quiet power of making something useful and beautiful.
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Tutorial and photos of this mesh tote by: crochet daniela .