Crochet Market Bag
This stretchy bag will expand to humongous size when in use, yet can be folded up and slipped into your coat pocket when empty. Using just 175 to 200 yards of DK or light worsted cotton, you can crank a bag out in just a few hours, so the next time you go to the grocery store you can say "neither!" when they ask "paper or plastic?"
Materials -
175 to 200 yards of DK or light worsted weight cotton.
Size F crochet hook
Split ring markers or coil-less safety pins
Note - Do not join the bag as you go, simply continue working in a spiral. As you reach the end of the round, you will mark the last sc as the end of the round and the marker will move to the right as you work (you will always end the round before the marker, never after)
Bag -
Make an adjustable loop, and work 8sc into loop.
1 - *Ch2, sc in next sc* around (8 spaces)
2 - *Ch3, sc in next ch2 space* around (8 spaces)
3 - *Ch4, sc in next ch3 space* around(8 spaces)
4 - *(Ch4, sc) twice in next ch4 space* around(16 spaces)
5 - *Ch4, sc in next ch4 space* around (16 spaces). Repeat this round 2 more times.
6 - as Round 5
7 - as Round 5
8 - *Ch5, sc in next ch4 space* around (16 spaces)
9 - *(Ch5, sc) twice in same ch5 space, ch5, sc in next ch5 space* around (24 spaces)
10 - *Ch5, sc in next ch5 space* around (24 spaces)
11 - as Round 10
12 - as Round 10
13 - as Round 10
14 - as Round 10
15 - *(Ch5, 1sc) twice in same ch5 space, ch5, sc into next ch5 space* around (for remainder of bag you will have 36 spaces in each round)
16 - *Ch5, sc in next ch5 space* around
17 - as Round 16
18 - as Round 16
19 - as Round 16
20 - as Round 16
21 - as Round 16
22 - as Round 16
23 - as Round 16
24 - as Round 16
25 - *Ch4, sc in next ch5 space* around
26 - *Ch3, sc in next ch4 space* around
27 - *Ch2, sc in next ch3 space* around
28 - *(sc in next sc, 2sc into next ch2 space; repeat from * to end of round (108sc) Do not fasten off.
Handles
Divide bag into quarters, and mark each corner.
Ch40 and attach to next marker with a slip st. Work sl st in next sc, turn, sc two rows, working an additional slip st before turning if needed to secure handle to bag. Slip across to next marker, and work second handle as for first.