An airy mesh bag with an oval base and two crocheted straps – perfect for the beach, the market or as an everyday companion.
This bag starts with a simple foundation chain that turns into an oval base thanks to a fan-shaped curve at the end of the chain. From there, the body grows upwards in continuous rounds of double crochet before the straps are worked directly on at two marked spots.
In the first rounds, count once too often rather than too little – once the 42 stitches are right, the rest almost works itself. If terms like “dc” or “turning chain” don't mean anything to you yet, take a look at the Crochet Basics first. This pattern uses US crochet terms.
| ch | Chain |
| fch | Foundation chain |
| dc | Double crochet |
| sl st | Slip stitch |
| st(s) | Stitch(es) |
| R | Row / round |
This small fan-shaped curve at the tip of the chain is the key point: from here you work back along the underside of the starting chain, and the base becomes oval instead of square.
Place a stitch marker at the start of the round and move it up with each new round – with 14 identical rounds it's easy to lose track of the transition otherwise.
From the two markers, you only continue working over the marked stitches – for each strap separately, in two sections.
Both straps are worked the same way: first the five decrease rows for the slope, then the eight straight rows for the length. Measure the second strap against the first so both end up the same length.
Carefully pull all loose yarn ends from the base, body and both straps inside and weave them in.
Lay the ends of the straps on the opposite side and check the length before you sew.
Sew both straps onto the inside of the bag with the yarn needle – that way the seam stays invisible from the outside.
A thin cotton fabric sewn in from the inside makes sure nothing slips through the mesh.
With 14 rounds of 42 double crochets each, it's worth a quick count at the end of every round – that way a misplaced stitch shows up right away.
Place the markers while counting and leave them in until the end of the strap rows, so you can always find your way.
Work both straps alternately row by row instead of finishing one first – that way they're guaranteed to be the same length.