Easy Mesh Market Bag | Free Crochet Pattern

Sometimes simple is best and that’s what I love about this easy mesh market bag pattern! It only uses treble crochet stitches for the body and single crochet for the straps. You can whip it up in no time and get to shopping!

Market bags make great gifts, as well as popular items to sell at craft fairs. It is a practical item that everyone can use!

However, if you want there to be good air flow and you don’t mind it stretching out as you add items, then you will want a mesh stitch, or at least a stitch pattern that has a fillet design. This will give some holes for the air to move in and out.

Scenarios in which you might most want these qualities of air flow would be when carrying fresh produce at a farmer’s market, carrying your clothes to the gym, or carrying beach towels at the beach. All those holes from the mesh will let things air out and allow sand to make it’s way back to where it belongs!

What is the best yarn to use for a market bag?

Cotton yarn is a top choice for making a market bag. Cotton is known for being durable, breathable and able to handle multiple washings!

Market bags can take a fair amount of abuse, whether being used to tote around fresh produce, or stuffed with sandy towels at the beach. This means you want it to be strong. You also want it to dry and air out quickly and, most of all, you want to be able to throw it in the washer and dryer and have it come out looking good!

Cotton yarn, or at least a cotton blend, is going to be a hit on all these marks! If you want to learn more about cotton yarn and all it’s qualities, take a look at my Ultimate Guide to Crocheting With Cotton!

The Pattern

If  you would like to purchase an inexpensive, ad-free printable pdf version of this easy mesh market bag pattern, you can find it here at my Etsy shop.

Add this easy mesh market bag pattern to your Ravelry favorites HERE.

Materials:

• 244 Yards Size 3 Yarn (I used KC Essential Cotton in Beach)
• US I/ 5.5 mm Crochet Hook
• Yarn Needle
• Scissors

Gauge:

Gauge is not terribly important for this pattern since it is not a wearable item. For general reference, each of my treble rounds was about 1” tall.

Final size:

16” tall (not including straps)
Straps are about 8” tall
14” wide at widest part of bag, when laid flat without stretching

Stitches Used:

(ch) chain
(sl st) slip stitch
(sc) single crochet
(tr) treble crochet

Pattern Notes:

Beginning chain of each round DOES count as a stitch, except for rows 21 – 23.

Gauge is not terribly important for this pattern since it is not a wearable item. However, just for reference, I tend to crochet tightly. If you feel your stitches are too loose or too tight, you may want to start over with a larger or smaller hook to adjust to your preference.

Pattern:

Round 1: Ch 6. (counts as treble stitch and a chain 2) Tr in first chain (the one furthest from your hook). Ch 2. *Tr in the same chain you just stitched into. Ch 2. * Repeat from * to * 3 more times. Join with a sl st into the 3rd chain of starting chain. (18)

Round 2: Ch 5 (counts as treble stitch and a chain 2). Tr in the chain space. Ch 2. *Tr in the next tr. Ch 2. Tr in chain space. Ch 2.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st in the 3rd chain of the ch 5. (36)

Round 3: Ch 5 (counts as treble stitch and a chain 2). Tr in the chain space. Ch 2. *Tr in the next tr. Ch 2. Tr in chain space. Ch 2.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st in the 3rd chain of the ch 5. (72)

Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as treble stitch and a chain 2). Skip chain 2 and place a tr in the next tr. Ch 2. Tr in the chain space. Ch 2. *Tr in the next tr. Ch 2. Skip the chain space and place a tr in the next tr. Ch 2. Tr in the ch sp. Ch 2. * Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st in the 3rd chain of the ch 5. (108)

Round 5: Ch 5 (counts as treble stitch and a chain 2). Skip chain 2 and tr in the next tr. Ch 2. *Skip the next ch 2 and tr in the next tr. Ch 2. Tr in chain space. Ch 2. Tr in the next tr. Ch 2. Skip the next ch 2 and tr in the next tr. Ch 2.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st in the 3rd chain of the ch 5. (144)

Round 6: Ch 5 (counts as treble stitch and a chain 2). Skip the ch sp. *Tr in the next tr. Ch 2. Skip the chain space.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st in the 3rd chain of the ch 5. (144)

Rounds 7 – 20: Repeat Round 6. (144)

Note: Bag should be roughly 16 ½” tall at this point. If you prefer a different height, feel free to add or remove rounds here.

Round 21: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch). Sc in the same stitch. Sc in the ch sp. *sc in the next tr. Sc in the chain space.* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (96)

Round 22: Ch1 (does not count as a stitch). Sc in the same stitch and in each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (96)

Round 23: Repeat Round 22. (96)

Begin Strap:

Round 24: Chain 60. Skip next 30 stitches (stitch you chained out of is included in this count of 30). Sc into the next stitch. Sc in the next 17 stitches. Ch 60. Skip the next 30 stitches. Sc into the next stitch. Sc in the next 17 stitches. Mark your last stitch and do not join. (156)

Round 25: Start to sc up your chain (60 stitches). Sc in the next 18 stitches (this count includes the first sc that joined chain back to bag). Sc up the next chain (60). Sc in the next 18 stitches (this count includes sc that joins chain back to bag). (156)

Do not join, but continue to crochet in the round, marking the last stitch of the round as you go. Do this for all remaining rounds.

Round 26: Sc in each stitch around. (156)

Round 27: Repeat Round 26. Sl st to the next stitch. (157)

Finish off and weave in your ends.