Scrap Fabric Market Bag

Hello! The idea of crocheting a bag without having to crochet the -boring- bag handles is very appealing to me. It came to me when I received a gift from a dear friend and it was wrapped with a beautiful piece of scrap fabric. I kept it and managed to incorporate it in my crochet project. And now, here is the free pattern for you to make and skip a few plastic bags from the super market!

Materials

2 metres scrap fabric (a long and narrow piece of fabric) –you may want to adjust the length later on

225-250m of your preferred weight cotton yarn

A hook that matches your yarn of choice

Stitch markers

Needle for sewing in ends

Safety pins

Abbreviations (UK terms)

st =stitch

ch = chain

ch sp = chain space

dc = double crochet

ss = slip stitch

F.O. = fasten off

[ ] = work instructions within brackets as many times as indicated

( ) = in the end of each row, means number of st and ch in the row

Tension: not important for this project

Finishing size: depends on the yarn and hook used.

Level: intermediate

Preparing the fabric

Note that the fabric will be somewhat visible under the yarn. It’s up to you if you’d like to have the same colour fabric, so it’s less visible, or not.

1. Find the middle of your scrap fabric by folding it in half lengthwise; mark that point with a safety pin.
2. Count 60cm in the middle of the fabric: 30cm on either side of the safety pin that you’ve placed.
3. Mark the beginning and end of the 60cm with safety pins.
4. Remove the safety pin in the middle of the fabric.
5. Tie the ends of your scrap fabric in a semi-loose knot (so you can adjust the height later).

Incorporating the fabric into the crochet

If your fabric has a right and a wrong side make sure you start crocheting with the wrong side facing you.

You will crochet the bag within the area between the two safety pins, keeping the fabric inside your crochet stitches.

Ch1 in the beginning of rounds does not count as st.

1. Starting from one of the two safety pins, make a slip knot, working around the fabric

2. ch1, dc all the way to the second pin, while keeping the fabric inside your crochet (150st),

3. ch4 behind the fabric, (4ch),

4. remove safety pins,

5. continue crocheting on the other side of the fabric by double crocheting on the back side of the dcs you’ve crocheted previously (going under two posts each time) to the end of the side, (150st) ch4 behind the fabric, ss on the 1 dc of the previous round, (4ch),

6. ch4 behind the fabric, ss on the 1 dc of the previous round, (4ch),

7. ch1, dc around (308st)

8. ch1, dc around (308st), F.O. sew in ends.

Making the bag

Make sure the handles are not twisting as you crochet.

Separate the dcs on each side by 3 (150/3=50st+50st+50st), marking the beginning and end of each 50st piece with stitch markers, -take notice that the 4st that you’ve crocheted on each side behind the fabric are not counted here.

1. Attach yarn in one of the sides in the beginning of the 50st of the middle part (i.e. 51st st in the whole), [ch5, skip 4st, dc]x9, ch5, skip 4st, dc in the 1^st stitch of the handle (i.e. 101st in the whole), (50ch+10st)
2. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 2nd stitch of the opposite handle, (50ch+11st)
3. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 3rd stitch of the handle,
4. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 4th stitch of the opposite handle
5. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 5th stitch of the handle,
6. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 6th stitch of the opposite handle,u
7. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 7th stitch of the handle,
8. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 8th stitch of the opposite handle,
9. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 9th stitch of the handle,
10. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 10th stitch of the opposite handle,
11. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 11th stitch of the handle,
12. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 12th stitch of the opposite handle,
13. Turn your work, [ch5, dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 13th stitch of the handle,
14. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 14th stitch of the opposite handle,
15. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 15th stitch of the handle,
16. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 16th stitch of the opposite handle,
17. Turn your work, [ch5, dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 17th stitch of the handle,
18. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 18th stitch of the opposite handle,
19. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 19th stitch of the handle,
20. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 20th stitch of the opposite handle,
21. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 21^st stitch of the handle,
22. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 22nd stitch of the opposite handle,
23. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 23^rd stitch of the handle,
24. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 24th stitch of the opposite handle,
25. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 25th stitch of the handle,
26. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 26th stitch of the opposite handle
27. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 27th stitch of the handle
28. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 28th stitch of the opposite handle
29. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 29th stitch of the handle
30. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 30th stitch of the opposite handle
31. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 31^st stitch of the handle
32. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 32nd stitch of the opposite handle
33. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 33^rd stitch of the handle
34. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 34th stitch of the opposite handle
35. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 35th stitch of the handle
36. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 36th stitch of the opposite handle
37. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 37th stitch of the handle
38. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 38th stitch of the opposite handle
39. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 39th stitch of the handle
40. Turn your work, [ch5,dc in next ch sp]x10, skip 1st, dc in the 40th stitch of the opposite handle, F.O.

Repeat procedure on the opposite side of the bag.

Sew in ends.

Tighten up the knot on the fabric that you originally made, having first adjusted it at your preferred height.

You are done! Enjoy your new Scrap Fabric Market Bag and say No to plastic bags!

Don’t forget to tag me @eliso._ on Instagram and use hashtag #scrapfabricmarketbag, so I can see and share your work.

Please keep in mind that this pattern cannot be sold, shared with other makers or used for a YouTube or photo tutorial without my permission! You can sell the finished item made from this pattern under the condition that it is handmade by yourself and you give credit to me, Eliso Logotheti, as the designer. Thank you.