I call this one the Harvest Market Tote, and it has been sitting in my design notebook for nearly three years now. The original sketch came from a crisp October afternoon when I spotted a woman at a farmers market carrying the most beautiful vintage crocheted bag. Her squares had that perfect worn-in look, all burnt oranges and deep browns, and I remember thinking I need to make something like that. I went home, grabbed my hook, and started playing with color combinations until the autumn palette felt just right.
This bag has been through several versions since then. The first attempt had too many colors and looked chaotic. The second was too small to hold anything useful. But this final version? This is the one I am genuinely proud of.
The construction is straightforward if you already know how to make granny squares. You will create 34 individual squares, join them into panels, add a ribbed band at the top, and attach some lovely hardware for the handles. The result is a structured, professional-looking tote that holds its shape beautifully and gets compliments every single time you carry it.
Why This Autumn Tote Bag Crochet Pattern Works So Well
The magic of this design lies in how the dark chocolate brown borders frame each colorful center. When you join all the squares together, those brown borders create a lattice effect across the entire bag. The warm autumn tones, burnt orange, mustard gold, terracotta red, and sand beige, pop against that dark background in a way that feels both modern and nostalgic.
What I love most is the versatility. Swap out the autumn palette for cool blues and grays, and you have a winter bag. Use pastels for spring. The construction stays exactly the same.
The ribbed top band adds structure and a polished finish that separates this from a typical granny square project. Combined with the leather hardware and rope handles, this bag looks like something you would find in a boutique, not something you made in your living room.
Skill Level and Time Investment
This pattern is rated intermediate. You should be comfortable making granny squares, joining motifs together, and working in the round. No complex shaping is required, but you will need consistent tension across all 34 squares to get a neat result.
Time estimate: Plan for 16 to 22 hours total. The bulk of that time, around 10 to 13 hours, goes into crocheting all the squares. Assembly takes 3 to 4 hours, the ribbed band and finishing another 2 to 3 hours, and handle attachment rounds things out at 1 to 2 hours.
If you are new to joining granny squares, do not let that intimidate you. The flat slip stitch join method used here is actually one of the easiest joining techniques. Once you do a couple of seams, it becomes almost meditative.
Finished Measurements
Your completed bag will measure approximately 13 inches wide by 10.5 inches tall by 3.5 inches deep (33 cm x 27 cm x 9 cm), not including the handles. The handles add about 8 inches (20 cm) above the top opening.
This is a generous everyday tote. It fits a tablet, a small notebook, your wallet, keys, phone, and still has room for a light sweater or a couple of apples from the farmers market.
Materials You Will Need
Yarn
You will need worsted weight yarn (weight 4) in five colors:
Recommended yarns: Lion Brand Wool-Ease works beautifully for this project. Try Espresso for MC, Paprika for Color A, Gold for Color B, Pumpkin for Color C, and Camel for Color D. Cascade 220 Superwash is another excellent choice if you want a pure wool option that blocks like a dream.
Avoid fuzzy or fluffy yarns like mohair blends. They will obscure the granny square lattice detail, and that lattice effect is what makes this bag special.
Hooks
Notions
Gauge
With US Size J / 6.0 mm hook and worsted weight yarn:
One completed 3-round granny square = 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches (9 cm x 9 cm) after gentle blocking.
This gauge is critical. Make one test square before you start the full project. If your square is smaller than 3.5 inches, go up a hook size. If it is larger and floppy, go down a hook size.
Abbreviations
Special Stitches
Flat Slip Stitch Join (FSSJ)
This joining method creates a neat raised seam on the right side that reads as a visible dark lattice line, which is a design feature of this bag.
With RS of both squares facing outward (held together with wrong sides touching), insert hook through the corresponding corner or chain space of both squares at the same time. Yarn over and pull through both layers and the loop on hook. Continue along the shared edge, working slip stitches through each pair of corresponding chain spaces and double crochet groups.
Ribbing Stitch
Each stitch is worked in the back loop only (BLO) of the previous stitch. This creates the vertical ridge texture visible in the top band.
Granny Square Instructions (Make 34)
Each square has three rounds. Rounds 1 and 2 use accent colors. Round 3 always uses MC.
Round 1
With your chosen accent color (A, B, C, or D), make a magic ring (or ch 4 and join with sl st to form a ring).
Ch 3 (counts as first dc throughout), work 2 dc into ring, ch 2, [3 dc into ring, ch 2] 3 times. Join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off.
(4 groups of 3 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces) — 12 dc + 4 ch-2 sps
Round 2
Join a second accent color (or the same one if preferred) with a standing dc into any ch-2 corner sp.
Work 2 dc into same corner sp, ch 2, 3 dc into same corner sp (first corner shell made), ch 1, [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] into next ch-2 corner sp, ch 1 rep from to 2 more times. Join with sl st to first dc. Fasten off.
(8 groups of 3 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces, 4 ch-1 side spaces) — 24 dc + 4 ch-2 sps + 4 ch-1 sps
Round 3
Join MC with a standing dc into any ch-2 corner sp.
Work 2 dc into same corner sp, ch 2, 3 dc into same corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 side sp, ch 1, [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] into next ch-2 corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc into next ch-1 side sp, ch 1 rep from to 2 more times. Join with sl st to first dc. Fasten off.
(12 groups of 3 dc, 4 ch-2 corner sps, 8 ch-1 sps) — 36 dc + 4 ch-2 sps + 8 ch-1 sps
Checkpoint: Your completed square should measure 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches (9 cm x 9 cm) when laid flat and lightly blocked.
Color Placement Guide
The goal is visual variety where no two adjacent squares have identical center color combinations. Each entry below lists Round 1 color / Round 2 color.
Front Panel (12 squares, 4 wide x 3 tall)
Back Panel (12 squares)
Repeat the same sequence as the front panel, or offset by one position for variety.
Base (4 squares)
Left Side Gusset (3 squares, stacked vertically)
Right Side Gusset (3 squares, stacked vertically)
Feel free to create your own arrangement as long as no two touching squares share identical Round 1 and Round 2 color combinations.
Assembly Instructions
All joining uses MC and the FSSJ method. Always join with RS of squares facing outward (WS together).
Step 1: Assemble the Front Panel
Lay out 12 squares in a 4 wide x 3 tall arrangement. Join squares in rows first (horizontal joins), then join the rows together (vertical joins).
To join two squares along one edge:
Hold two squares WS together, RS facing out. With MC, insert hook through the ch-2 corner sp of both squares simultaneously, make a slip knot and pull through.
Insert hook through the next ch-1 sp of both squares, yarn over and pull through both sps and the loop on hook (sl st made). Insert hook through the center dc of the 3-dc group on both squares, sl st through. Insert hook through the next ch-1 sp of both squares, sl st through. Rep from to to end of the shared edge, ending by sl st through the final ch-2 corner sps of both squares. Fasten off.
Assemble Row 1 of front: Join Squares 1 to 2, then 2 to 3, then 3 to 4.
Assemble Row 2 of front: Join Squares 5, 6, 7, 8.
Assemble Row 3 of front: Join Squares 9, 10, 11, 12.
Join Row 1 to Row 2 along their shared horizontal edges.
Join Row 2 to Row 3 along their shared horizontal edges.
Front panel complete. It measures approximately 14 inches wide x 10.5 inches tall.
Step 2: Assemble the Back Panel
Repeat Step 1 using the back panel squares.
Step 3: Assemble the Base
Join 4 squares in a single horizontal row. Base measures approximately 14 inches x 3.5 inches.
Step 4: Assemble the Side Gussets
Join 3 squares in a single vertical column for each gusset. Each gusset measures approximately 3.5 inches x 10.5 inches.
Step 5: Join Base to Front Panel
Align the long edge of the base with the bottom edge of the front panel. FSSJ across all 4 square edges. Fasten off.
Step 6: Join Base to Back Panel
Repeat Step 5 for the back panel.
Step 7: Join Side Gussets
Attach one gusset to the left side: align the gusset’s long edge with the left side edge of the front panel and FSSJ down the full height. Then align the same gusset’s other long edge with the left side edge of the back panel and FSSJ. Join the gusset’s short bottom edge to the short edge of the base as well.
Repeat for the right gusset on the right side.
Checkpoint: Your assembled bag body should measure approximately 13 to 14 inches wide, 10.5 inches tall, and 3.5 inches deep. It should stand on its own when placed on a flat surface.
Ribbed Top Band
The ribbed band is worked in MC using the US I / 5.5 mm hook, directly onto the top edge of the bag.
Step 1: Establish Top Edge Stitch Count
With RS facing and MC, join yarn at a back corner seam of the top opening. Work a row of sc evenly around the entire top opening: 3 sc into each ch-2 corner sp, 1 sc into each dc, and 2 sc into each ch-1 sp.
Total around the top opening: 44 (front) + 11 (right gusset) + 44 (back) + 11 (left gusset) = 110 sc. Join with sl st to first sc. Do not turn.
(110 sc)
Step 2: Ribbed Band
Work 8 rounds in BLO sc.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (110 sc)
Rounds 2 through 8: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join. (110 sc each round)
After Round 8, fasten off. The ribbed band is approximately 1.75 to 2 inches tall.
Checkpoint: The band should sit flush and flat around the top without flaring out or pulling inward. You should see visible horizontal ridges from the BLO construction.
Handle Attachment
Step 1: Position the Handle Tabs
With the bag sitting flat (front facing you), position one leather tab 3 inches from the left edge of the ribbed band and one tab 3 inches from the right edge. The center spacing between tabs is approximately 7 inches apart. Repeat on the back panel.
Step 2: Mark Attachment Points
Use stitch markers to mark where each tab will be attached.
Step 3: Attach the Tabs
Using a hand awl or thick tapestry needle threaded with waxed linen thread, stitch each leather tab firmly to the ribbed band. Pass the needle through the rivet holes in the leather and through the crochet fabric multiple times in a cross or box pattern. If your hardware includes a second rivet plate, sandwich the crochet fabric between the two leather plates and secure.
Step 4: Attach the Rope Handles
Thread each rope handle through the D-rings on the tabs. Pass the looped end of each rope handle through the D-ring and secure according to the handle manufacturer’s method.
Step 5: Test Security
Give each handle a firm tug to confirm it is secure before use.
Finishing and Blocking
Weave all ends before assembly. Travel at least 1.5 inches through the crochet fabric and reverse direction once to prevent unraveling.
Wet block the completed bag: Fill the bag with plastic bags or a rolled towel to maintain its box shape. Lightly mist with cool water. Use blocking pins to square up any uneven edges. Allow to air dry completely for 24 to 48 hours.
Optional fabric lining: A fabric lining improves longevity and structure. Cut two pieces of medium-weight cotton to the interior dimensions. Sew a simple rectangular tote lining with a boxed bottom. Slip the lining into the bag and hand-stitch it to the interior of the ribbed band using a whip stitch.
Care Instructions
Hand wash in cool water with a gentle wool or delicate wash. Do not wring. Roll in a clean dry towel to remove excess water. Reshape and air dry flat or stuffed with towels. Do not machine wash, tumble dry, or iron directly on the crochet fabric.
Size Customization Tips
Make it wider: Add one more square to the width of front and back panels (5 squares instead of 4). This requires approximately 10 additional squares.
Make it taller: Add a fourth row to front and back panels. This requires 8 additional squares, and gussets must increase to 4 squares tall.
Make it deeper: Use 2 squares per gusset width instead of 1. This requires 6 additional squares and a wider base.
Thank you so much for choosing this autumn tote bag crochet pattern. I hope it becomes a beloved project for you, something you reach for every time the leaves start to change. I would absolutely love to see your finished bags, so please tag me on Instagram or share a photo in my Facebook group when yours is done.
If you loved this pattern, go ahead and save it to your Pinterest boards so you can find it again when you are ready to start. And if you make this bag, drop a comment below. I read every single one, and nothing makes my day like seeing your beautiful creations come to life.
