Sheep On My Stuff

I love the idea of using reusable, handmade grocery bags. Unfortunately, due to the stretchiness of cotton, all the bag patterns I've found will pretty much drag on the ground if I put anything in them. So I came up with this as an alternative, a sturdy bag that yes, stretches, but only gets so big. Many thanks to Wyoming Knott, Sorcha, and Moonrose for testing the pattern for me!

Small Market Bag
by Anjela Bugher of http://sheeponmystuff.com

Materials:
300 yards worsted-weight cotton
H hook

Gauge:
1 square = 7".

(Roughly. Exact gauge will determine the size of your bag; tightness of your gauge will determine the stiffness of your bag. This is designed to be of average stiffness, to take advantage of cotton's stretchiness; I can fit a carton of eggs, six cans of yogurt, and a bundle of spinach in one of these and still have room to spare. Mileage may vary.)

Sides and bottom (make 5):
Ch 3. Join with sl st to make ring.

Rnd 1: Sl st through ring, ch 3 (counts as first dc). 2 dc in ring. (Ch 2, 3 dc in ring) x 3. Ch 2, join with sl st to top of first dc.

Rnd 2: Sl st through next two dc, sl st through corner ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc). 2 dc in same ch-2 sp. Ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp) x 3, ch 1, join with sl st to top of first dc.

Rnd 3: Sl st through next two dc, sl st through corner ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc). 2 dc in same ch-2 sp. Ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp. (Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp) x 3. Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, join with sl st to top of first dc.

Rnd 4: Sl st through next two dc, sl st through corner ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc). 2 dc in same ch-2 sp. Ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp. ([Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp] x 2, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp) x 3. (Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) x 2, ch 1, join with sl st to top of first dc.

Rnd 5: Sl st through next two dc, sl st through corner ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc). 2 dc in same ch-2 sp. Ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp. ([Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp] x 3, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp) x 3. (Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) x 3, ch 1, join with sl st to top of first dc.

Rnd 6: Sl st through next two dc, sl st through corner ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc). 2 dc in same ch-2 sp. Ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp. ([Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp] x 4, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same ch-2 sp) x 3. (Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) x 4, ch 1, join with sl st to top of first dc.

Fasten off.

Fastening sides together:
Take two squares; put them wrong sides together. Sc through both pieces as follows: 1 sc in corner, (sc through 3 dc, sc through ch-1 sp) x 5, sc through 3 dc, 1 sc through corner. Fasten off.

Repeat on opposite side of side square; continue until you have a tunnel/hollow cube.

Fastening bottom to sides:
Place bottom square against one side square, wrong sides together. Join bottom to side with sl st as follows: * 1 sl st in corner, [sl st through 3 dc, sl st through ch-1 sp] x5, sl st through 3 dc, sl st through corner. * Join bottom to next side by repeating from * to * three more times. Join with sl st; fasten off.

Handles:
With right side of one side square facing, join with sl st to right-hand corner ch-2 sp.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as first dc). (Dc in same ch-2 sp) x 2. Dc in next 3 dc. (6 dc made)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), turn. Dc in next 5 dc. (6 dc made)
Row 3-14: Repeat row 2.

With RS facing on both pieces, use sl st to join first dc on handle to left corner ch-2 sp on same side square. Join next 2 dc with sl st to same ch-2 sp. Join next 3 dc with sl st to next 3 dc on side square. Fasten off.

Repeat for opposite side square. (2 handles made)

Border - inside of handles:
With RS facing, join with sl st to ch-1 sp directly to left of right side of handle (inside handle). Ch 1. Sc in same ch-1 sp. (Sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp) x 4. Continue around handle as follows: (2 sc horizontally in each dc) x 14. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Repeat for opposite handle.

Border - outside of handles and top border of bag:
With RS facing, join with sl st to corner ch-2 sp at direct left of handle (outside handle). Ch 1. * Sc in corner ch-2 sp. (Sc in next 3 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp) x 6. Continue around handle as follows: (2 sc horizontally in each dc) x 14. * Repeat from * to *. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Weave in all yarn ends.

This pattern was unvented by me and is original as such. It is licensed through the Creative Commons. Please see this page for details on the Creative Commons and what it means for my work!