A free video tutorial by ViVi Berry Crochet is available to guide you through every step of this gorgeous Crochet Tote Bag, and the filet-style mesh pattern creates the most breathtakingly airy structure while still holding its shape beautifully!
The Tote Bag
This Crochet Tote Bag is the kind of thing you carry not just because it is useful, but because it feels like an extension of who you are. Worked in a creamy, off-white cotton, it has an open filet mesh body that catches the light and moves softly as you walk, airy yet structured in the most satisfying way. The long crocheted straps sit comfortably on the shoulder, and the generous size makes it equally at home at the farmers market, the beach, or a slow afternoon at a café. It is the bag that quiet, intentional people reach for without thinking.
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The natural off-white of this bag is deeply versatile, sitting beautifully against linen, denim, and florals alike. If you want to add a personal touch, a warm sand, sage green, or soft terracotta cotton would give this Crochet Tote Bag an entirely different but equally lovely mood. This is the kind of piece that feels like it belongs to every season, layering into your wardrobe without effort.
Materials and Tools
To recreate this Crochet Tote Bag, you will want to reach for a smooth DK weight cotton yarn, which gives the filet mesh its clean, crisp stitch definition without being too stiff or too floppy. A 4mm crochet hook is ideal for this weight and will produce the firm but supple fabric you see in the finished bag. Cotton is the natural choice here for both beauty and practicality, as it holds structure, washes well, and softens gently over time with use. A set of locking stitch markers, like the yellow plastic clips visible in the tutorial, will become your best friends when tracking the base construction and strap placement.
Stitch by Stitch
This bag draws on a handful of foundational stitches that work together to create its signature open mesh body and solid base.
BULLET:SC (Single Crochet) The compact, firm single crochet builds the solid base of the bag and the neat crocheted handles, giving structural strength exactly where it is needed.
BULLET:DC (Double Crochet) The double crochet is the workhorse of the filet mesh body, creating the open, airy grid pattern that makes this bag so visually light and breathable.
BULLET:CH (Chain) Chain stitches form the spacing between double crochets in the filet mesh, creating those small square openings that give the bag its beautiful lattice texture.
BULLET:SL ST (Slip Stitch) Slip stitches are used to join rounds cleanly and to move across the work without adding height, keeping the construction seamless and tidy.
Once you settle into the alternating rhythm of DC, CH, DC, the meditative quality of this pattern takes over completely, and rows begin to pass in a peaceful, almost effortless flow.
Construction
The bag begins with a flat rectangular base worked in rows of SC, which gives it that firm, stable bottom you can see in the finished piece. From there, stitches are picked up around all four edges of the base and the filet mesh body is built upward in the round, which means no seaming and a beautifully continuous fabric. The transition from dense base to open mesh is one of the most satisfying moments in the whole project, and even a beginner will find the logic of it easy to follow once the video tutorial walks them through it. If you want a slightly smaller or larger Crochet Tote Bag, simply adjust your starting chain count by multiples of two to keep the filet mesh repeat consistent.
Wearing Your Tote Bag
Sling this Crochet Tote Bag over a white linen shirt and wide-leg trousers for a market morning that feels both effortless and considered. It holds a beach towel and sunscreen with ease, or carries your library books with a quiet kind of charm that a nylon tote simply cannot replicate. Every time you reach for it, you will feel a small, private satisfaction knowing you made it yourself.
Keeping Your Crochet Tote Bag Looking Its Best
Because this bag is worked in cotton, it responds beautifully to a gentle hand wash in cool water with a mild soap, which keeps the fibers bright and the mesh open. Lay it flat on a clean towel to dry, reshaping the base and body gently so it holds its rectangular form as it dries, a light blocking that takes only a moment but makes a real difference. Avoid wringing or machine spinning, as cotton can distort under that kind of stress and the filet holes may stretch unevenly. When storing, fold it loosely or hang it so the straps keep their shape between uses.
You made something real, something with your own hands, and this Crochet Tote Bag will carry both your belongings and your quiet pride every time you take it out. Save this article to your crochet board on Pinterest and share your finished bag so others can find their way to this pattern too.
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Tutorial and photos of this tote bag by: ViVi Berry Crochet.