There’s nothing quite like the iconic granny square. Add a little razzle dazzle to yours when making the Rose City Tote, a FREE crochet pattern.
Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of visiting Portland, Oregon for the first time. I totally fell in love with the city and their BYOB (bring your own bag) policy. To pay homage to a wonderful trip, I designed and made a granny square tote bag, named the Rose City Tote, in 24 hours. Take your time making yours with this free pattern!
PIN IT NOW, MAKE IT LATER
GET THE ROSE CITY TOTE
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Rose City Tote + inspiration video.
- YARN KIT: Get the Rose City Tote yarn kit in the original colors, or this alternative color scheme.
- RAVELRY: Share your Rose City Tote on the Ravelry project page.
TLYC In Portland
This yarn life has taken me to some pretty exciting places! One of my most recent trips was to Portland, Oregon for this year’s Our Maker Life event. I was the keynote speaker, and I had a blast talking about the trajectory of TL Yarn Crafts and how I’ve built a business that I love.
Once all of the work was done, my best friend and I got a chance to visit Portland International Rose Test Garden. This massive property has rows and rows of the most gorgeous roses in every shape and color. My best friend is obsessed with roses, so we took our time smelling and photographing them.
One feature of Portland that I loved is their bag policy. When visiting shops or the pharmacy, stores no longer offer free bags. Instead, most Portlandians bring their own bags (or buy them at the store). I’ve decided to adopt this policy for myself in Michigan, so I made the Rose City Tote. This granny square tote bag comes with me everywhere, to help save the environment in the most stylish way possible.
Granny Square Tote Bag
My design process always begins with the inspiration. This granny square tote bag needed to embody the bold joy of this best friend trip, explore the colors we witnessed in the Rose Garden, and be functional enough to hold a day’s worth of shopping.
I headed to my stash to see what I had and came across a real treat. Universe by Hobbii is an acrylic/polyester blend cake yarn. It has rosy pinks, deep teal, gray, tan, and purple with a thread of gold sparkle running through it. I paired it with Rainbow 8/8, Hobbii’s DK weight cotton, to give it some strength and durability.
The bag itself is constructed from 8 granny squares joined together. Additional rounds of single crochet along the top elongate the bag and set a suitable base for the thick handles. The finishing stitches around the handles add the necessary polish.
Get the Rose City Tote yarn kit in the original colors, or this alternative color scheme.
GET THE ROSE CITY TOTE
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Rose City Tote + inspiration video.
- YARN KIT: Get the Rose City Tote yarn kit in the original colors, or this alternative color scheme.
- RAVELRY: Share your Rose City Tote on the Ravelry project page.
Rose City Tote Details
MATERIALS
- (A) Hobbii Universe (category 3) DK weight yarn. 2 cakes in the color Voyager (20).
- (B) Hobbii Rainbow Cotton (category 3) DK weight yarn. 4 skeins in the color Nude (003).
- 4mm crochet hook (this is my favorite!)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Tape measure
- Garment steamer or steam iron
FINISHED SIZE
16″ wide, 17.5″ long, 18″ handles
GAUGE
One granny square measures 8″
ABBREVIATIONS
Ch = chain
Dc = double crochet
RS = right side
Sc = single crochet
Sl St = slip stitch
Sp = space
WS = wrong side
NOTE: When making the granny squares, carry the yarn up the wrong side of the work instead of cutting it at each color change.
Rose City Tote Pattern
Watch me design and make the Rose City Tote in 1 day!
Bag Pattern
Granny Squares – Make 8. Join using the Join as You Go method to create a tube that is 2 squares high and 4 squares around. Alternatively, make all squares individually and whip stitch seam them together.
ROUND 1 (RS): With A, make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as first double crochet), [2dc, ch 2, (3dc, ch 2) 3 times] in magic ring, close ring, join with a sl st in top of starting ch-3, turn.
ROUND 2 (WS): Ch 3, 2dc in same ch-2 sp, [(3dc, ch 2, 3dc) in next ch-2 sp] 3 times, 3dc in last ch-2 sp, ch 2, drop A, using B, join with sl st in top of starting ch-3, turn.
ROUND 3: Ch 3, 2dc in same ch-2 sp, 3dc sp after next 3dc group, [(3dc, ch 2, 3dc) in next ch-2 sp, 3dc in sp after next 3dc group] 3 times, 3dc in last ch-2 sp, ch 2, join with sl st in top of starting ch-3, turn.
ROUND 4: Ch 3, 2dc in same ch-2 sp, [(3dc in sp after next 3dc group) 2 times*, (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) in next ch-2 sp] around, ending last repeat at *, 3dc in last ch-2 sp, ch 2, drop B, using A, join with sl st in top of starting ch-3, turn.
ROUND 5: Ch 3, 2dc in same ch-2 sp, [(3dc in sp after next 3dc group) to next ch-2 sp*, (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) in next ch-2 sp] around, ending last repeat at *, 3dc in last ch-2 sp, ch 2, drop B, using A, join with sl st in top of starting ch-3, turn.
ROUNDS 6-9: Continue in pattern to 9 total rounds, changing color every 2 rounds. Finish with Round 9 worked with A. Fasten off both colors after Round 9.
Lay the bag flat so that 2 squares are centered. Using A, whip stitch seam the bottom of the bag closed.
Top, Part 1
ROUND 1: Using A, join with a slip stitch at the join of any two squares, ch 1, sc in same space, (sc in each stitch to the next space between squares, sc in the space between squares) around, join with a sl st in first sc of round.
ROUNDS 2-4: Ch 1, sc around, join with sl st in first sc of round. Fasten off after Round 4.
Lay bag flat and find the center stitch of the front and back of bag – mark these stitches (pink dots). Measure 6.5″ across the top opening, using the marked stitch as the midpoint. Place markers on either side of this measurement (teal dots).
Top, Part 2
ROW 1: Using A, join with a sl st at Marker A on either side. Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each st to Marker B, turn, drop markers.
ROW 2-4: Ch 1, sc in each st across row, turn.
NEXT ROW: Ch 1, sc 7, turn.
Repeat NEXT ROW until strap measures 8″. Fasten off.
Return to the end of Row 4. Using A, join with a sl st in the last st of Row 4. Repeat NEXT ROW instructions and beyond to make the other side of the strap.
Rotate bag to work between the remaining Markers A and B. Repeat instructions from ROW 1 and beyond to make the additional 2 straps.
Gather 2 straps on front of bag and whip stitch to join the short sides. Gather the 2 straps on back of bag and whip stitch to join the short sides. You should now have two straps – one across the front, and one across the back.
Finishing
Using A, sc evenly around the straps – both inside the straps, and around the bag opening. Pull handles to stretch slightly.
Weave in all remaining ends.
Lay bag flat. Using a garment steamer or the steam setting on your iron, lightly steam the entire bag to soften the stitches.
I’m so thankful for the chance to make a granny square tote to commemorate this exciting trip. How will you make the Rose City Tote special to you?!
Share your projects with me on Instagram @TLYarnCrafts. Then drop by my private Facebook group, TLYC Makers, and share there too!
Find more granny square patterns from TLYC:
Hi Toni! I was looking for the perfect Christmas present for my mom and this popped up. This pattern was a nice project to use up some of my leftover scrap yarn and it turned out great! My mom will love it when she gets it for Christmas. 😁
I adore this. And of course, you.
My crochet projects always tend to be stiff. For example, I made a kitchen towel from cotton, and went up 1.5 mm from the recommended hook size on the yarn. (Recommended 4 mm, used 5.5mm). The towel came out of the dryer stiff and with no drape at all.
I want to make this bag so badly, but I’m afraid it will come out without the drape that yours has. Do you have recommendations for this?
It may be the cotton you chose. I went for a softer cotton (compared to the “kitchen cotton” that’s sold in many craft stores). Experiment with different cotton yarns or cotton blends. You can also use the same yarn as I did. I’d recommend steaming it instead of washing it in the machine.