I call this one the Sage Garden Tote, and it has a little backstory I want to share with you. A few years ago, I sketched out this design in a worn notebook after spotting a gorgeous vintage bag at a flea market. The original was falling apart at the seams, but the color combination stuck with me. Sage green, dusty rose, and cream. I knew I had to recreate it in crochet.
That notebook sketch sat untouched for longer than I care to admit. Life got busy, other projects took over, and the idea just waited. But this year, I finally pulled it out, dusted off the concept, and brought the Sage Garden Tote to life. The moment I attached those olive leather handles and stepped back to look at the finished piece, I knew the wait was worth it.
This tote is everything I hoped it would be. Structured enough to stand on its own, roomy enough for everyday essentials, and absolutely stunning with those classic granny squares framed by coordinating stripes. If you have been looking for a crochet bag pattern that feels both bohemian and refined, you are in the right place.
About This Crochet Tote Bag Pattern
The Sage Garden Granny Square Tote combines traditional granny square motifs with solid half double crochet panels to create a bag that holds its shape beautifully. The construction method is clever. You work the decorative front and back panels separately from granny squares and half triangles, then attach them to a sturdy base and side gussets.
Skill level: Advanced beginner to intermediate. You should be comfortable reading multi-round patterns, working granny squares, joining motifs, and seaming pieces together.
Time estimate: Plan for 12 to 18 hours if you have experience with motif work. Newer crocheters should allow 20 to 25 hours.
Finished dimensions:
Materials You Will Need
Yarn
This pattern uses DK weight yarn in three colors. A cotton or cotton blend works best for structure and stitch definition.
Color A (Sage Green): 310 yards / 284 meters
Color B (Dusty Rose): 180 yards / 165 meters
Color C (Cream/Natural): 220 yards / 201 meters
Total yardage: approximately 710 yards / 649 meters
Recommended yarns:
Avoid fuzzy or halo yarns. They obscure the lovely granny square structure.
Hooks
Notions
Hardware and Embellishments
Optional
Gauge
Using G-6 / 4.0 mm hook and DK weight cotton:
1 large granny square (through Round 7) = 7 inches x 7 inches / 18 cm x 18 cm after blocking
For solid hdc fabric: 16 hdc x 12 rows = 4 inches x 4 inches / 10 cm x 10 cm
Gauge matters here because the motif size controls your final bag dimensions. Block your gauge square before starting.
Abbreviations
Special Stitches
Granny Cluster (3-dc cluster)
This is the building block of your granny squares. Yarn over, insert hook into the designated chain space, pull up a loop. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops. Repeat this two more times into the same space, giving you 4 loops on hook. Yarn over and draw through all 4 loops. One cluster complete.
For corners, you work (3-dc cluster, ch 2, 3-dc cluster) into the corner chain space. For sides, work (3-dc cluster, ch 1, 3-dc cluster).
Flat Join
This creates an invisible seam between motifs. Instead of chaining, insert your hook into the corresponding chain space on the adjacent finished motif. Draw up a loop and pull it through the loop on your hook. Continue working your current motif.
Pattern Notes
The bag uses 4 large granny squares and 4 half-triangles joined into front and back panels. A solid hdc base and two side gussets complete the structure.
Color sequence for granny squares:
Fasten off and change color after every round.
Section 1: Large Granny Square (Make 4)
Using Color A and G-6 hook, make a magic ring.
Round 1 (Color A):
Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 2 dc into ring, ch 2, (3 dc into ring, ch 2) 3 times, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (4 clusters, 4 ch-2 corner spaces)
Round 2 (Color C):
Join Color C with sl st into any ch-2 corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc into same sp, ch 2, 3 dc into same sp (corner made), ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into next ch-2 sp, ch 1) 3 times, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (8 clusters, 4 ch-2 corner sps, 4 ch-1 side sps)
Round 3 (Color B):
Join Color B with sl st into any ch-2 corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc into same sp, ch 2, 3 dc into same sp, ch 1, 3 dc into ch-1 side sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into next ch-2 corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc into ch-1 side sp, ch 1) 3 times, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (12 clusters, 4 ch-2 corner sps, 8 ch-1 side sps)
Round 4 (Color C):
Join Color C into any ch-2 corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc into same sp, ch 2, 3 dc into same sp, (ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 sp) twice, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into ch-2 corner sp, (ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 sp) twice, ch 1) 3 times, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (16 clusters, 4 ch-2 corner sps, 12 ch-1 side sps)
Round 5 (Color A):
Join Color A into any ch-2 corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc into same sp, ch 2, 3 dc into same sp, (ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 sp) 3 times, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into ch-2 corner sp, (ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 sp) 3 times, ch 1) 3 times, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (20 clusters, 4 ch-2 corner sps, 16 ch-1 side sps)
Round 6 (Color B):
Join Color B into any ch-2 corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc into same sp, ch 2, 3 dc into same sp, (ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 sp) 4 times, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into ch-2 corner sp, (ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 sp) 4 times, ch 1) 3 times, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (24 clusters, 4 ch-2 corner sps, 20 ch-1 side sps)
Round 7 (Color A):
Join Color A into any ch-2 corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc into same sp, ch 2, 3 dc into same sp, (ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 sp) 5 times, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc into ch-2 corner sp, (ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 sp) 5 times, ch 1) 3 times, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (28 clusters, 4 ch-2 corner sps, 24 ch-1 side sps)
Checkpoint: Each blocked square should measure exactly 7 inches x 7 inches.
Section 2: Half-Granny Triangles (Make 4)
These fill the side corners of each panel.
Using Color A and G-6 hook:
Foundation: Ch 6.
Row 1 (WS, Color A):
In 4th ch from hook: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) for corner, ch 1, 3 dc into last ch. Turn. Fasten off. (2 clusters, 1 ch-2 sp, 1 ch-1 sp)
Row 2 (RS, Color C):
Join Color C to top of turning ch. Ch 3, 2 dc into same st, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into ch-2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc into top of ch-3. Turn. Fasten off. (4 clusters, 1 ch-2 sp, 2 ch-1 sps)
Row 3 (WS, Color B):
Join Color B to top of ch-3. Ch 3, 2 dc into same st, ch 1, 3 dc into ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into ch-2 center corner, ch 1, 3 dc into ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc into top of ch-3. Turn. Fasten off. (6 clusters, 1 ch-2 sp, 4 ch-1 sps)
Row 4 (RS, Color C):
Join Color C to top of ch-3. Ch 3, 2 dc into same st, (ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 sp) twice, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into ch-2 center corner, ch 1, (3 dc into next ch-1 sp, ch 1) twice, 3 dc into top of ch-3. Fasten off. (8 clusters, 1 ch-2 sp, 6 ch-1 sps)
Checkpoint: Each triangle spans approximately 3.5 inches across its widest row.
Section 3: Assembling the Panels
Layout for each panel: One half-triangle on the left, one large granny square in the center, one half-triangle on the right. All pieces sit side by side horizontally with top and bottom edges aligned.
Use the flat join method or sc through both layers to attach the vertical edge of each half-triangle to the corresponding vertical edge of the large square.
Panel Strip Border
After joining, work a border around the entire perimeter of each panel.
Border Rounds 1 to 3 (Color B):
Join Color B. Work 1 sc into each dc, 1 sc into each ch-1 sp, 2 sc into each ch-2 corner sp. Work (sc, ch 1, sc) into each outer corner. Continue for 3 rounds, maintaining corners.
Border Rounds 4 to 5 (Color A):
Switch to Color A. Work 2 rounds sc, maintaining corners.
Fasten off both panels.
Checkpoint: Each panel should measure approximately 15 inches wide x 8 inches tall.
Section 4: Base Rectangle
Using Color A and G-6 hook:
Ch 61.
Row 1:
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (60 hdc)
Rows 2 to 20:
Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in each st across. Turn. (60 hdc per row)
Fasten off after Row 20, leaving a 36-inch sewing tail.
Checkpoint: Base should measure 15 inches wide x 5 inches tall.
Section 5: Side Gusset Panels (Make 2)
Using Color A and G-6 hook:
Ch 21.
Row 1:
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (20 hdc)
Rows 2 to 36:
Ch 2, hdc in each st across. Turn. (20 hdc per row)
Fasten off after Row 36, leaving a 36-inch sewing tail.
Checkpoint: Each gusset should measure 5 inches wide x 11.5 inches tall.
Section 6: Assembling the Bag Body
Step 1: Hold front panel and base rectangle with RS together. Sc through both layers along the bottom edge. (Approximately 60 sc)
Step 2: Repeat on the opposite long edge, attaching the back panel.
Step 3: Attach side gussets. Sc the short bottom edge of each gusset to the short edge of the base. Then sc up each long edge to join the front and back panels.
Step 4: Reinforce all corners with 2 to 3 extra sl sts.
Turn bag RS out.
Section 7: Top Border
Using Color A and F-5 / 3.75 mm hook:
Round 1:
Join Color A. Work 1 sc in each st around the top opening, working (sc, ch 1, sc) at each corner. Join. (168 sc)
Round 2:
Ch 1, sc in each sc, (sc, ch 1, sc) into each corner sp. Join. (176 sc)
Round 3:
Ch 1, sc in each sc, (sc, ch 1, sc) into each corner sp. Join. Fasten off. (184 sc)
Handle Placement
Mark positions 4 inches in from each upper corner on both front and back. Thread handle ends through the border at marked positions. Secure with Chicago screws or rivets.
Tassel Loop
At the right front corner, join Color A. Ch 5, sl st back into the same sp. Fasten off. Attach lobster clasp through this loop.
Section 8: Tassel
Cut 30 strands of Color A, each 12 inches long. Hold together and fold in half twice. Tie a strand tightly around the bundle about 0.75 inch from the top to form the head. Loop a separate strand through the top for hanging. Trim ends to 4.5 inches.
Finishing and Blocking
Weave in all ends securely. Wet block by submerging the bag in cool water for 10 minutes, then pressing out excess moisture. Lay flat to dry, shaping to finished dimensions.
If using a base insert, cut plastic canvas to 14.5 inches x 4.5 inches and place inside the bag.
For optional lining, cut fabric to 32 inches x 28 inches, sew into a bag shape, and hand stitch to the inside of the top border.
Care Instructions
Hand wash in cool water with gentle detergent. Do not wring. Lay flat to dry. Do not bleach or tumble dry.
Size Customization
For a smaller bag (approximately 12 inches x 9 inches): Work granny squares through Round 5 only. Work triangles through Row 3. Reduce base to ch 49. Reduce gussets to ch 17.
For a larger bag (approximately 18 inches x 13 inches): Add Rounds 8 and 9 to granny squares. Increase base to ch 73. Increase gussets to ch 25.
I hope you enjoy making this crochet tote bag pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it. This project brings together so many satisfying techniques, and the finished bag is genuinely useful and beautiful. Thank you for choosing to spend your crafting time here with me.
If you make your own Sage Garden Tote, I would absolutely love to see it. Tag me on Instagram or share your photo in our Facebook group. Seeing your finished projects is the best part of sharing patterns.
Go ahead and save this pattern to your Pinterest boards so you can find it when you are ready to start. And please drop a comment below if you make one. I read every single comment, and hearing about your projects makes my day.
