The Clarice Carryall is a crochet bag made with a neutral, undyed yarn so it can pair with any outfit. This simple project is portable to work on because it’s made with motifs. Linked photo and video tutorials help you with special stitches, lining, and seaming techniques.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links.Yarn for the sample was generously provided by Yarnbox.
I’ve mentioned before that I love to crochet bags. You can use them right away no matter what season, unlike hats or scarves. They are relatively small and portable projects, so they are perfect for crocheting on the go.
This tote was finished during a cold spell, which is why I had to wear my silver coat for photographs. (The black coat isn’t quite warm enough.) The bag starts with square motifs which are then seamed together.
After the bag is assembled, the straps are added. I’ve linked to three different tutorials for liners and shared a pattern for a single crochet liner, so you have four options for lining this bag.
If you make your own Clarice Carryall, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter or Instagram as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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Clarice Carryall
Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter
A neutral, undyed yarn and textured motifs combine to make a tote that pairs with any outfit.
Finished Size
- Adult: 12.5” (32 cm) wide x 14.5” (37 cm) long.
Materials
- Appalachian Baby Design Organic Cotton Sport yarn (100% organic cotton, 4 oz/113 g/250 yd/229 m) – 3 skeins in Natural Undyed, or approximately 555 yd (507.5 m) in any light weight cotton yarn.
- US Size F-5/3.75 mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
- Yarn needle.
Gauge
- Motif = 6” (15 cm) square in pattern. Exact gauge is not critical for this project.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- 3L – third (back) loop only
- BL – back loop only
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- FPdc – front post double crochet – Yo, insert hook from front around back to front of st in previous round, yo and draw up a loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops] twice. A video tutorial for this pattern is available here.
- hdc – half double crochet
- rep – repeat
- Rnd – Round
- RS – right (front) side
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- WS – wrong (back) side
- yo – yarn over
- * Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
- [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.
- () Repeat instructions between parentheses in same stitch or space.
Pattern Notes
- Ch 1 at beginning of Rows and Rounds does NOT count as a stitch.
- Depending on how you plan to use this tote, you may not need to line it. If you do decide to line your bag, here are a few options.
- I make no-sew liners with duct tape. These are very sturdy and add shape to the bag. Also, they are easy to wash and wipe after a spill. If you use this type of liner with this tote, wash and dry the tote first to give the cotton yarn a chance to shrink to its final size. You can find a No-Sew Liners with Duct Tape tutorial here.
- You can also make a single crochet liner. For this bag, ch 57, skip 1 ch, sc in the next 56 ch. Then, turn, ch 1, sc in first st and each st across until the liner measures twice the length of the Front Panel. Fold the liner in half so that the short sides are together. Then insert the liner in between the Front and Back Panel before joining. Work through all 4 layers (Front Panel + 2 layers of folded single crochet liner + Back Panel) as you seam the Panels together with the single crochet seam.
- If you want to make a fabric liner, Moogly has several helpful tutorials: Nearly No-Sew Fabric Liner and No-Sew Fabric Liner with the Cricut Maker.
Pattern Instructions
Motif (Make 8)
- Ch 4, skip 3 ch, sl st to next ch to form ring.
- Rnd 1: (RS) Ch 1, 12 dc in ring, join with sl st to first dc. (12 sts)
- Rnd 2: Ch 1, starting in first st, *dc in next st, FPdc around same st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (24 sts)
- Rnd 3: Ch 1, starting in first st, *dc in next 2 sts, FPdc around same FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (36 sts)
- Rnd 4: Ch 1, starting in first st, *dc in next 3 sts, FPdc around same FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (48 sts)
- Rnd 5: Ch 1, starting in first st, *dc in next 4 sts, FPdc around same FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (60 sts)
- Rnd 6: Ch 1, starting in first st, *dc in next 5 sts, FPdc around same FPdc; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (72 sts)
- Rnd 7: Ch 1, starting in first st, *dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 9 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first dc. (84 sts + 4 ch-2 sp)
- Rnd 8: Ch 1, starting in first st, sc in next 19 sts, *(2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc) in next ch-2 sp,** sc in next 21 sts; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sc in next 2 sts, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (100 sts + 4 ch-1 sp)
Assemble Squares into Panels (Make 2)
- Join 2 squares on WS with RS facing using a slip stitch seam (see below), starting and ending in ch-1 sp. A tutorial for joining with the slip stitch seam is available here.
- Make a Panel by joining 2 rows of 2 squares together to create a 2 x 2 grid of 4 squares. Do not fasten off.
Front Panel
- Turn Panel of 4 squares to RS.
- Border Rnd: Ch 1, *hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdcBL in next 25 sts, (hdc, ch 1, hdc) in corner ch-1 sp, hdcBL in next 25 sts, hdc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * around, join with slst3L to first hdc.
- Working along side of Panel, slst3L in next 26 sts, sl st to corner ch-1 sp.
- Row 1: Turn to begin working along top of Panel, ch 1, sc in ch-1 sp, sc3L in next 54 sts, sc in ch-1 sp. (56 sts)
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in same st and next 55 sts. (56 sts)
- Rows 3-10: Rep Row 2, 8 times. Fasten off.
Back Panel
- Rep through Row 10 as for Front Panel, do not fasten off.
Joining Panels
- With WS of Panels facing, join with single crochet seam (see below) on RS with Front Panel on top. Ch 1, working through both layers along edge of Rows 1-10, sc in side of next 10 rows, sc in ch-1 sp, [*sc in center loop of each hdc along side,** 3 sc in corner ch-1 sp] twice, rep from * to **, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in side of next 10 rows. Do not fasten off.
- A tutorial for joining with the single crochet seam is available here.
Straps
- Ch 1, sc in first st on Front Panel, *ch 2, turn, skip 1 ch, insert hook in next ch, yo and pull up a loop, ch 1, sc in same ch, [insert hook into extra ch from previous st, yo and pull up a loop, ch 1, sc in same ch] 109 times until strap is 110 sc long, or until strap measures 28” (71 cm) long or desired length.**
- Skip to last st on Front Panel, join with sc to last st, turn to Back Panel, sc in next st, rep from * to **, skip to last st on Back Panel, join with sl to last st, sl st to sc on the Front Panel to join.
Finishing
- With yarn needle, weave in ends.