Mesh Market Tote Bag

Mesh Market Tote Bag (with Fabric Liner & Covered Handles) Materials & Tools Cotton yarn (Aran/Medium weight) in cream/off-white 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm crochet hook Thin fabric tote bag (used as the inner lining) Sewing needle & matching thread scissors, yarn needle, sewing pins Abbreviations (US Terms) ch: chain sc: single crochet hdc: half double crochet dc: double crochet ch-sp: chain space Step-by-Step Instructions The Bag Body (Mesh) The outer mesh body is worked seamlessly in rounds from the bottom up.  Crochet a chain matching the base width of your fabric tote bag and work 3–4 rounds of single crochet (sc) in an oval shape. Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + ch 1), skip 1 st, 1 dc, ch 1, skip 1 st. Repeat from * to * all the way around.  Continue working in rounds (1 dc into each ch-1 sp from the previous round + ch 1) until the crochet mesh reaches the exact height of your fabric bag.  Work 2 rounds of single crochet (sc) to create a sturdy top edge. Fasten off and weave in ends. Attaching the Mesh Body to the Fabric Tote Slip the crocheted mesh body over the thin fabric tote bag.  Align the top edges of both bags and secure them with sewing pins. Hand-sew the top crocheted rim neatly to the top edge of the fabric tote using a sewing needle and thread (e.g., mattress stitch or backstitch). The Handles (Separate Rectangles) Crochet two long strips in half double crochet (hdc) to wrap around the existing fabric handles.  Start with a short chain corresponding to the width of the fabric handle (wide enough to wrap around it completely) + 2 turning chains. Work continuous rows of half double crochet (hdc) until the crocheted rectangle matches the full length of the fabric handle. Crochet two identical long strips. Wrapping the Handles & Finishing Up Wrap one crocheted strip lengthwise around one of the fabric handles.  Join the long edges of the rectangle directly along the handle using single crochet (sc) stitches, completely enclosing the fabric handle.  Stitch or crochet the ends of the handle strips securely at the base where they meet the main bag body to ensure a clean, sturdy finish.  Repeat the process for the second handle.