evil eye granny square tote bag

I was scrolling through Pinterest for new crochet projects and stumbled across a picture of this bag.  I couldn’t find a pattern so I decided to try and make my own.  This is by far one of my favorite items I have crocheted. 

While I was in line at Joann’s buying more yarn (big surprise), the lady behind me asked if I had made it myself.  We started talking about crochet and how she had tried it but couldn’t get into the swing of it.  She was so sweet and wanted to give me some of her mother’s yarn but I told her she should give it another go!  Shout out to that lady at Joann Fabric.

Project time: 12 hours

I used Big Twist acrylic yarn from Joann’s!

Materials:

• 3.75 mm hook

• White weight 4 yarn

• Light blue weight 4 yarn

• Navy blue weight 4 yarn

• Cream weight 4 yarn

• Sewing Needle

• Scissors

Abbreviations:

• ch = chain

• st = stitch

• sp = space

• yo = yarn over

• sl st = slip stitch

• sc = single crochet

• hdc = half double crochet

• dc = double crochet

• tc = triple crochet

• dc3tog = double crochet three together

Special Stitches:

• puff stitch - yo, pull up a loop loosely so that there is some slack between your project and the working yarn, yo, pull up a loop loosely, yo, pull up a loop loosely, yo,  pull through all loops (there should be 7 loops) on your hook.

• dc3tog - yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through the first 2 loops, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull up a loop (you should have 4 loops on your hook), yo, pull through all 4 loops.

Part 1:  The Granny Squares

Round 1:  With the Navy Blue yarn, magic circle, ch 2 (this will count as the first dc), 15 dc into the circle, sl st to the 2nd ch and finish off. (16 sts)

Round 2:  Switch to light blue yarn, ch 2, yo, pull up a loop loosely so that there is some slack between your project and the working yarn, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through all loops (there should be 7 loops) on your hook, * 1 puff st, ch 1 *, *repeat in the next 15 sts, sl st into the first st of the round, and finish off.  (16 sts)

Round 3:  Switch to white yarn, we will be working the ch sps for this round.  Ch 2, yo, insert your hook into the ch sp, pull up a loop, yo, pull through the first 2 loops, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through last 3 loops on your hook, ch 1, * 1 dc3tog, ch1 *, *repeat in the next 15 sps, sl st to the first st in the round, and finish off.  (16 sts)

Round 4:  Switch to navy blue yarn, we will be working in the ch sps.  Into a sp ch 3, 2 tc in the same sp.  * 3 dc in the next sp, 3 hdc in the next sp, 3 dc in the next sp, 3 tc in the next sp, ch 3, 3 tc in the same sp to create a corner of the granny square. *, *repeat 2 more times.  3 dc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, 3 tc, ch 3, sl st into the first ch 3.  (I’m more of a visual person, so refer to the image to the left/above if you are too)  (72 sts, including the chs)

Round 5:  Switch to cream yarn, ch 2, 2 dc in the same sp, 3 dc in each of the next 3 sps.  When you get to a corner;  3 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc in the same sp.  3 dc in each of the next 4 sps, repeat until you’ve crocheted in each space, sl st into the 2nd ch, and finish off.  (84 sts, including the chs)

You’re going to need 14 of these squares  —  each one took me about 40 minutes.

Part 2:  Stitching the Squares Together

When stitching the bag together, try to use long threads to make the bag more sturdy.  Refer to the image above, each color represents one singular strand of yarn (except for the green - which will be two shorter pieces).

You should match up the sts when sewing the project together, there should be 20 sts for each side of the square.

When starting and finishing a section, make sure to tie multiple knots at different points in the larger corner pieces of the granny squares.

Make sure that you are sewing the bag together with the “ugly” sides facing the outside.  You should also try to sew over any loose ends and tighten the stitching as you go.

Part 3:  Finishing up The Bag

After everything is sewn together, flip the bag inside out.

For the ribbing on the top of the bag:

Round 1:  Make a slip knot with the cream yarn and ch 2 into any st at the top of the bag.  Dc in each st around and 3 dc in each corner, sl st to the 2nd ch. (144 sts)

Round 2:  ch 1, sc in every st around, sl st to the first ch and finish off. (144 sts)

For the straps:

Row 1:  Ch 81, turn.

Row 2:  Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, 80 hdc in each ch, turn. (80 sts)

Row 3:  80 hdc, turn. (80 sts)

Row 4:  80 hdc, finish off with a long tail to sew the bag. (80 sts)

Add fishing line to the straps and edges of the bag to reduce the stretching.  I added the fishing line along the highlighted red line shown in the image below. Make sure that everything is knotted super tight so that it doesn’t come loose.

And you’re done!