Project introduction
This pattern overview introduces the Sea Shells by the Sea Shore Market Tote Bag from Nana’s Crafty Home, a free market tote design shared in collaboration with Underground Crafter. Find the Original designer’s pattern and instructions for the free written pattern. It is not a full tutorial, so use that original page for complete stitch instructions.
Designer Tonya Bush of Nana’s Crafty Home created this tote after the popularity of her earlier Boho Market Bag, which used stacked granny or block stitch work and self-striping Caron Cotton Cakes for clear stitch definition. For this new bag, she wanted something extra special, spent time searching for the right stitch texture, and found inspiration on mypicot.com. The result is a beach-ready market tote with spring and summer color.
The featured sample uses Blush & Bloom, described as a perfect beach summer colorway, while the original sample was made in Caron Cotton Cakes color Morning Dew. Both examples show how self-striping cotton can carry soft seasonal color without changing yarn mid-project. This overview keeps the focus on planning, supplies, and access, so you can decide whether the tote fits your market bag needs before opening the full pattern.
The collaboration adds helpful context for new makers. Marie at Underground Crafter invited Tonya to share a free pattern on her blog, and the free written instructions live there rather than as a full pattern on the designer home page. That arrangement keeps the original pattern easy to find while letting readers explore other free patterns from Marie and guest designers. Use the original link above as your starting point, not a copied set of steps.
Pattern format and preparation
Access is straightforward. The free written pattern instructions are on the Underground Crafter blog, while the designer also offers a complete video tutorial with the original post. An ad-free, printable PDF is also available to purchase. That paid PDF is a separate format, so the free web version does not mean every format is free.
Gather the listed supplies before you begin, and check the yarn note carefully because cake size affects how much yarn the written pattern uses. The checklist below uses the source quantities exactly and keeps the old-cake and new-cake details together, so you can plan a standard bag or a larger version.
- 1 Caron Cotton Cake in Blush & Bloom
- Size H/8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook
- Pattern as written uses 2 of the old Caron Cotton Cakes, 7 oz / 422 yds total.
- If you make it with 1 of the new Cakes, you could make it larger and add several rounds to the sides of the bag.
For construction, follow the original designer instructions rather than treating this overview as row-by-row guidance. Plan around the yarn note first, since choosing one new cake and adding several rounds to the sides will change the finished bag. Keep your hook and yarn together, review the video tutorial if you want a visual reference, and confirm any unclear step in the original pattern before you continue.
Before you start, think about color and size as practical choices rather than pattern changes. Blush & Bloom gives a soft beach summer look, while Morning Dew shows the original sample and a different seasonal mood. If you use one new cake, plan for a larger bag and several extra rounds on the sides, and keep the same H/8 (5.0 mm) hook listed in the source unless the original pattern states another option. Small planning choices help the finished tote match your market trips.
If you enjoy tote projects, the Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag: Pattern Overview offers another market bag idea to compare for shape, yarn, and construction. Return to the original designer page for the Sea Shells instructions, then choose the colorway and size option that best fits your summer carrying needs.
