Project introduction
If you are dreaming of sunny days and sandy toes, this overview of the large summer beach bag tote from the designer at okiegirlblingnthings.com is a lovely place to start. Worked in a cheerful multicolored cotton yarn, the bag pairs the classic granny stitch with a roomy tote shape that is ready for trips to the shore. It is designed to hold beach essentials, from sunscreen and snacks to a full beach towel, while the sturdy cotton fabric keeps the bag practical when it gets damp.
This is a pattern overview, not the full tutorial. The design is described as fairly easy, leaning on familiar stitches like single crochet and double crochet through most of the work. Because the body grows through one simple repeating round, it is the kind of relaxing project you can work on while watching television or unwinding in the evening.
Yarn I Used
The sample bag is crocheted in Yarn Bee Sugarwheel Cotton in the Sprinkles on Top colorway, a cheerful multicolor yarn that reads pure summertime. It is a cotton yarn, which the designer chose because cotton stands up well when the bag gets wet at the beach. The yarn falls into the number 3 lightweight category.
A solid cotton color would look wonderful too, and the source lists favorite cotton yarns from We Crochet, Hobby Lobby, and Lion Brand as alternatives. Acrylic is possible, but the designer recommends cotton or a cotton blend, since acrylic stretches more, absorbs no water, and wears out faster in this kind of project.
Beach Bag Crochet Pattern Overview
Before you begin, note that all terms in this project use US crochet terminology, and the skill level is listed as Easy or Beginner. The full written pattern is published free on the designer’s website, while a downloadable, printable, ad-free PDF version is sold separately in the designer’s Etsy shop. You can explore the Original designer’s pattern and instructions to see the complete pattern and all construction details.
Things you will need
Gathering everything first makes the project smooth, so here is the complete checklist from the source. Every item below comes straight from the designer’s materials list, including the two optional extras, so you can shop your stash or buy exactly what you need.
- 2 skeins of Yarn Bee Sugarwheel Cotton in Sprinkles on Top, or approximately 670 yards of any cotton yarn
- G size 4.00 mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle, also called a tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch marker, optional
- Tape measure, optional
Size
Laid flat, the finished tote measures approximately 17 inches across and 15 inches tall without the straps. That generous width and depth leave plenty of room for a towel and everyday beach gear.
Abbreviation / Stitch Key
The pattern uses a compact set of standard abbreviations, and each one below keeps its exact meaning from the source key. Refer back to this list whenever a symbol or term is unfamiliar while you work. Most of the bag is built from chain, single crochet, and double crochet stitches, so the key stays refreshingly short.
- ch = chain stitch
- st = stitch (es)
- sk = skip
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- mc = magic ring / circle
- sp = space
- sl st = slip stitch
- yo = yarn over
- t = turn
Notes
Construction starts at the bottom of the bag and works upward in the round, which gives the tote a seamless body. The base begins with a magic ring, and the first section builds outward through joined double crochet rounds that gradually widen the circle. Once the base reaches its full width, the design shifts into the signature granny style texture with a repeat round worked into gap spaces, and this simple rhythm continues through the majority of the bag’s height.
Toward the top, several rounds of single crochet create a tidy finished edge, and the following round forms both straps by working sections of single crochet separated by long chain spaces with skipped stitches beneath them. A few more single crochet rounds work over every stitch and chain to strengthen the straps, then the yarn is cut with a long tail and all ends are woven in. The source also notes that extra guidance appears within the pattern wherever it is needed.
