The Tricolor Tote has so many fun details - changing stitch patterns, fun tassels, braided handles - but its soft color palette and orderly structure bring balance to this fast and fun (and free!) crochet pattern!

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; Lion Brand Yarn provided the yarn for this pattern.

The Tricolor Tote was designed using Lion Brand Fast-Track, which is a really fun and unique yarn! Soft cotton/poly blend in a tape-like shape, it's like crocheting with your favorite t-shirts. And I love the look it gives projects!

This tote is also another pattern on my never-ending search for the ideal bag handles. I've tried many different methods over the years, but I think this is the first time I've tried braids! This yarn lends itself really well to these braided handles, with only a tiny bit of stretch, lots of strength, and some great color play that ends in tassels!

If this handle style isn't to your taste, you can always add pre-purchased handles, or crochet your own using this simple technique!

 

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Tricolor Tote

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US - M/N 10.0 mm - Furls Crochet

260 yds Lion Brand Fast-Track (Super Bulky/”6″/UK 14-16 ply; 149 yds/136 m; 8.01 oz)
Color A: Purple Train (1 skein, or 90 yds)
Color B: Chopper Grey (1 skein, or 75 yds)
Color C: Airstream White (1 skein, or 95 yds)

Stitch Markers - Clover

Gauge: 8 sts x 6 rows = 4 in/10 cm in Color A st pattern

Finished Size: 16" wide x 13" high excluding handle

Helpful Links: Crochet Abbreviations; blo/flo; CSDC - Chainless Starting Double Crochet; Join with sc

Prefer it as a kit, complete with Lion Brand Yarn? Click here!

NOTES

Instead of a ch 5 at the beginning of a round, try a CSDC and ch 2 for a less noticeable seam (see tutorial linked above).

Instead of a ch 4 at the beginning of a round, try a CSDC and ch 1.

Instead of a ch 3 at the beginning of a round, try a CSDC.

Be sure to mark the stitches before Round 23 carefully, with the bag laid flat. Everyone's gauge is a little different, and this can affect which stitch will work best for the handles.

Tricolor Tote INSTRUCTIONS

Round 1: With Color A, ch 33, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in blo of each ch across, then turn foundation chain and sc across the unused top loop of each ch across; join with a sl st. (64 sc)

Round 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc and ch 2), skip 2 sts, dc in next 6 sts, *ch 2, skip 2 sts, dc in next 6 sts; rep from * finishing last rep with dc in last 5 sts, join to 3rd ch. (48 dc)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in each st and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp around; join. (64 sc)

Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 4 sts, *ch 2, skip 2 sts, dc in next 6 sts; rep from * finishing last rep with dc in last st, join. (48 dc)

Round 5: Repeat Round 3.

Round 6 and 7: Repeat Rounds 2 and 3; break Color A.

Round 8: With Color B, join with sc to first st of previous rnd, sc in each st around; join. (64 sts)

Round 9: Ch 5, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, *ch 2, skip 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts; rep from * finishing last rep with dc in last st, join. (32 dc)

Round 10: Repeat Round 3.

Round 11: Repeat Round 9.

Round 12: Repeat Round 3.

Round 13: Repeat Round 9.

Round 14: Repeat Round 3; break Color B.

Round 15: With Color C, join with sc to first st of previous rnd, sc in each st around; join. (64 sts)

Round 16: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), skip 1 st, *dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; rep from * around, join. (32 dc)

Round 17: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch sp around; join. (64 sc)

Round 18 - 21: Repeat Rounds 16 and 17.

Round 22: Ch 1, sc in each st around; join. (64 sc)

Lay bag flat, and using 4 stitch markers determine where the holes for the handles should be, and mark those stitches. Count the number of stitches between the marked stitches all around to be sure of even placement. When stitches are marked, proceed with Round 23.

Round 23: Ch 1, sc in each unmarked st, ch 1 and skip each marked st; join. (60 sc, 4 chs)

Round 24: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch sp around; join and break Color A.

Handles:

Step 1: Cut six 6 foot lengths of each color of yarn, for 18 total strands. (This is enough length to make handles up to 42 inches long.)

Step 2: With 3 strands of each color, make 2 braids of the same length, tying a knot at each end with several unbraided inches left beyond the knots.

Step 3: Insert the end of a handle through one of the holes made in Round 23, from the inside of the bag to the outside.

Step 4: Tie a knot in the handle around Row 24, tightening it down to be right above the knot at that end of the braid, as shown.

Step 5: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until all handle ends are attached to the bag, being sure to attach one handle each to the front and back of the tote.

Step 6: Trim yarn ends to create even tassels on all handle ends.

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And that's the Tricolor Tote! Of course, you can make it in all sorts of colors - and as many as you like. But I do love the calm lavender feeling in this one.

I hope you enjoy making this free crochet tote bag pattern! If you do, please share your photos and tag @mooglyblog on social media - I love to see what you've made!

Looking for another fun project to make with Fast-Track?  Try the Bouncing Basket - a free crochet pattern!

Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2017, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.  If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern.