Crochet

Crochet Waffle Market Bag

June 5, 2020
The crochet waffle market bag on a white surface with greens and vegetables coming out

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Crochet Waffle Market Bag

Carry all your groceries with the crochet Waffle Market Bag! Made with an eco-friendly yarn, this crochet bag uses the waffle stitch for a sturdy base and an easy mesh to add length. It’s the perfect bag for your farmer’s market shopping!

Inspiration

One of my goals this year is to use the yarn from my stash as much as possible. This is part of my efforts to lead a greener life and be more environmentally conscious in my everyday actions. Consequently, I’m making efforts to reduce the amount of plastic in the house. And my first target is plastic bags.

A while ago I made the Eco-Friendly Fruit & Veggie Bag, a small crochet bag to keep your fruit and veggies safe from bruises and away from plastic. Now, I wanted to make a market-size bag to go with it! 😀

Project

I had just the right yarn for this. It’s called Damasco from Rosarios 4 and it’s part of the brand’s eco-friendly collection. This collection of yarns privileges natural fibers and dyes from animal or vegetable origin. This one in particular is a blend of cotton and linen which is also naturally dyed. The color I used is quite neutral, but then it has these speckles of fluorescent yellow that really makes it pop!

A skein of Damasco yarn from Rosarios 4 Eco-Friendly collection

For the design, I wanted something sturdy, stretchy, and roomy where I could fit the groceries for the whole week! Well, maybe not for the whole week, but at least for the weekend. This means that the base had to be strong so I opted for a waffle stitch pattern! It’s easy to make and you get a super fun texture!

However, I couldn’t use it for the whole bag. Otherwise, the bag would be heavier than the groceries. So to add length to the bag, without adding too much weight, I decided on a simple mesh that would follow the lines of the waffle stitch.

To finish off, I decided to make a “waffly” edge and use it to make the handles And ta-dah! I’ve got a brand new eco-friendly market bag that is easy to make and sure to impress!! 😉

Join me and make one for yourself too!

Pattern

  • You can buy the inexpensive ad-free, printable PDF pattern from Etsy HERE!
  • Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE!
  • PIN this pattern for later HERE!
The crochet bag on a white surface with vegetables and fruit inside and coming out

Description

Carry all your groceries with the crochet Waffle Market Bag! Made with an eco-friendly yarn, this crochet bag uses the waffle stitch for a sturdy base and an easy mesh to add length. It is the perfect bag for your farmer’s market shopping!

Skill Level

  • Easy

Have in Hand

  • 4 skeins of Rosarios 4 Damasco (219 yd/ 200 m) in color 27 or 680 yds/620 m of another worsted, cat. 4 yarn.
    • The pattern uses 2 strands of yarn together.
    • The yarn is referenced as worsted, but it feels more like light worsted weight, so if you don’t want to work with a double strand, use a DK weight, cat 4. yarn.
  • US size I-9, 5.50 mm crochet hook
  • Stitch markers
  • Tapestry needle
  • Scissors

Gauge

  • 15 sts x 11 rows in waffle stitch = 4”/10 cm
  • 18 sts x 7 rows in mesh = 4”/10 cm

Finished Measures

The scheme for the crochet Waffle Market Bag
  • Width: 11’’/ 28 cm
  • Length: 16’’/ 40.5 cm
  • Straps: 9’’/ 23 cm

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • ch-# space: chain-# space
  • dc: double crochet
  • MR: magic ring
  • RS: right side
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • t: turn
  • WS: wrong side
Detail of the different stitches used in the bag

Special Stitches

bpdc: back post double crochet
  • Yarn over, insert your hook from front to back between the posts of the previous stitch and the stitch you want to work (from the row below). Then, bring your hook up from back to front between the posts of the stitch you want to work and the following stitch (from the row below).
  • Yarn over and bring the yarn around the post of the stitch.
  • Yarn over and draw through 2 loops on the hook, twice.
fpdc: front post double crochet
  • Yarn over, insert your hook from back to front between the posts of the previous stitch and the stitch you want to work (from the row below). Then, bring your hook up from front to back between the posts of the stitch you want to work and the following stitch (from the row below).
  • Yarn over and bring the yarn around the post of the stitch.
  • Yarn over and draw through 2 loops on the hook, twice.

Notes

  • The project is worked bottom-up, making a circular base in waffle stitch and then working a mesh section. It finishes with an edge of waffle stitch which makes the straps.
  • This bag is worked using 2 strands of yarns together throughout the pattern.
    • You can substitute for a DK, cat 4 yarn. Just be sure to check your gauge. In this case, use only one strand of yarn throughout the pattern. 
  • When using double strands be mindful to work both strands when making your stitches.
  • Ch 2 at the beginning of the rounds in the waffle section does not count as a stitch.
  • Ch 3 at the beginning of the rounds in the mesh section does count as a stitch.
  • The () in the pattern mean that you should work the instructions inside as many times as directed. When there is more than one pair of (), start by working the inner pair.
  • For a tutorial on the back and front post stitches, go to this page from Yarnspirations.
Oranges inside the market bag placed on a white surface

Crochet Waffle Market Bag

Holding 2 strands of yarn together make a MR.

Waffle Section

Round 1 [RS]: ch 2, 6 dc in MR <6>.

Round 2 [WS]: ch 2, t, (dc and fpdc in next dc) 6 times, join with sl st in dc <12>.

Round 3: ch 2, t, (dc in fpdc, fpdc and dc in dc) 6 times, join with sl st in dc <18>.

Round 4: ch 2, t, (fpdc in fpdc, dc in dc, fpdc and dc in fpdc) 6 times, join with sl st in fpdc <24>.

Round 5: ch 2, t, (fpdc, 2 dc in fpdc, fpdc, dc) 6 times, join with sl st in fpdc <30>.

Round 6: ch 2, t, (2 fpdc in fpdc, dc, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc) 6 times, join with sl st <36>.

Round 7: ch 2, t, (fpdc, dc in next 2 sts, 2 fpdc in fpdc, dc in next 2 sts) 6 times, join with sl st <42>.

Round 8: ch 2, t, (fpdc in next 2 sts, dc, fpdc and dc in fpdc, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc) 6 times, join with sl st <48>.

Round 9: ch 2, t, (fpdc, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc, 2 dc in dc, fpdc, dc in next 2 sts) 6 times, join with sl st <54>.

Round 10: ch 2, t, (fpdc in next 2 sts, dc, fpdc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in fpdc, 2 fpdc in next 2 sts, dc) 6 times, join with sl st <60>.

Round 11: ch 2, t, (fpdc, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc, dc and fpdc in fpdc, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc, dc in next 2 sts) 6 times, join with sl st <66>.

Round 12: ch 2, t, [(fpdc in next 2 sts, dcin next st) twice, 2 fpdc in fpdc, dc, 2 fpdc in next 2 sts, dc] 6 times, join with sl st <72>.

Round 13: ch 2, t, [fpdc, dc in next 2 sts, 2 fpdc in fpdc, dc in next 2 sts, (fpdc, dc in next 2 sts) twice] 6 times, join with sl st <78>.

Round 14: ch 2, t, [(fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st) 3 times, fpdc and dc in fpdc, fpdc in next 2 sts, dc)] 6 times, join with sl st <84>.

Round 15: ch 2, t, [fpdc, dc in next 2 sts, fpdc, 2 dc in dc, (fpdc, dc in next 2 sts) 3 times] 6 times, join with sl st <90>.

Detail of the waffle stitch and the mesh of the bag

Round 16: ch 2, t, (fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st) across, join with sl st <90>.

Round 17: ch 2, t, (dc, fpdc in next 2 sts) across, join with sl st <90>.

Round 18 – 23: Repeat Round 16 & 17 <90>.

Mesh Section

Round 24: ch 5, (dc in fpdc, ch 2) across, join with sl st in 3rd ch from beginning ch <30 dc>.

Round 25: ch 5, (dc in dc, ch 2) across, join with sl st in 3rd ch from beginning ch <30 dc>.

Round 26 – 38: Repeat Round 25 <30 dc>.

Edge

Round 39: ch 2, t, (bpdc, 2 dc in ch-2 sp) across, join with sl st in bpdc <90>.

Round 40: ch 2, t, (fpdc in the bpdc, dc in next 2 dc) 3 times, fpdc <13>. Stop here but don’t cut the yarn. You will continue working with this yarn after making the ch.

Straps

If you are comfortable with foundation double crochet (fdc), continue working with the same yarn. Make 60 fdc and go to the instructions regarding continuing the edge. If not, just follow the instructions below.

Detail of the straps of the bag

With another piece of yarn, pull up a loop from the bpdc where you stopped. Ch 60, join with a sl st in the 7th bpdc counting from the bpdc where you pulled up a loop (not counting that one). You can cut this yarn. Go back to the fpdc and the yarn you left unworked.

Dc in the back bump of each ch <60>.

Edge (cont.)

Fpdc in the bpdc where you joined, (dc in next 2 dc, fpdc in next st) 8 times <25>. Stop here but don’t cut the yarn. Repeat the instructions from “Straps” to make the second strap.

 Edge (cont.)

Fpdc in the bpdc where you joined, dc in next 2 sts, (fpdc in next st, dc in next 2 sts) 3 times <12>, join with a sl st in fpdc. 

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

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4 Comments

  • Reply Sabine Kanters May 5, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    Hi Susana! I was wondering what to do if I wanted to make base larger / wider?
    Thanks so much!

    • Reply Susana May 13, 2021 at 3:04 pm

      Hi Sabine,
      Thank you for commenting. The answer to your question is actually easier done than said. 🙂 To make it larger you would continue increasing the waffle pattern.
      If I remember it correctly, you need 4 rounds to make the pattern grow. Notice these instructions: in Round 6, the “2 fpdc in fpdc“, in Round 7 “2 fpdc in fpdc“, in Round 8 “fpdc and dc in fpdc” and in Round 9 “2 dc in dc“. This is where I add another square to the waffle. You would need to repeat these increases, 6 times per round and according to how many squares you add, that’s the number of squares that will separate the increases.
      I promise this will all make more sense as soon as start making the pattern. 😉
      Let me know how it worked out for you.

  • Reply Avrie September 27, 2020 at 11:57 am

    Hi Susana!
    I am a bit confused on how to work round 12. How do the brackets and parentheses work?
    Thank you!

    • Reply Susana September 28, 2020 at 6:06 pm

      Hi Avrie!
      Thanks for reaching out. Here is how I meant the parentheses and brackets to work:
      – first, work the instructions in the innermost parentheses as many times as directed. That means you’ll work: fpdc in the next 2 stitches, one dc in the next stitch and you will do this a total of two times.

      – next, proceed as if it is a normal instruction until you reach the brackets. That is, the 2 fpdc in fpdc, dc, 2 fpdc in next 2 sts, dc.

      – then, you’ll work everything that is inside the brackets as many times as directed after the brackets. This means that you will do (fpdc in the next 2 stitches, one dc in the next stitch) twice, 2 fpdc in fpdc, dc, 2 fpdc in next 2 sts, dc 6 times in total to be able to do the complete round.

      Let me know if this helps! 🙂

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