You know that gorgeous skein of navy cotton yarn you’ve been saving for something special? This is the project. Go dig it out right now, along with some cornflower blue and off-white, because you’re about to make the most stunning structured tote bag.
The African Flower motif looks intricate, but it’s really just clever loop placement that creates those raised petals. I won’t lie to you. This is an intermediate project that takes some focus. You’ll be working into back loops and front loops strategically, and the assembly requires patience.
But here’s what makes it worth every stitch: eighteen beautiful squares joined together into a professional-looking bag with bamboo handles and a zippered top. The kind of bag that makes people stop you on the street to ask where you bought it.
Why This Crochet Pattern Works So Well
The construction method here is brilliant in its simplicity. You make individual African Flower Granny Squares, block them to identical measurements, then join them into flat panels before adding a gusset for structure. The result is a three-dimensional bag that holds its shape beautifully.
Each square starts with a magic ring center, builds up through petal rounds, then converts into a traditional granny square format for easy joining. The color placement creates that eye-catching contrast: navy borders frame cornflower blue flowers with off-white petal details.
This bag measures approximately 14 inches wide by 12 inches tall by 3 inches deep when finished. That’s generous enough for daily essentials, a beach trip, or a serious farmers market haul.
Materials You’ll Need
Gather these supplies before you start:
Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (CYCA 4), 100% cotton or cotton-blend recommended for structure
Hook: US size G-6 / 4.0 mm crochet hook
Notions:
Yarn Suggestions: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Navy, Cornflower, and Ecru works perfectly. Paintbox Yarns Simply DK Cotton or Cotton Aran are also excellent choices. Any smooth worsted weight cotton will work, but avoid fuzzy yarns since they’ll obscure those gorgeous petal details.
Gauge Information
Getting gauge right matters here. One African Flower Granny Square should measure 4.5 inches by 4.5 inches (11.5 cm by 11.5 cm) after blocking.
For the gusset section: 16 single crochet (sc) and 18 rows should equal 4 inches (10 cm) using Color A.
If your square measures larger, your finished bag will be bigger than stated. Smaller squares mean a smaller bag. Adjust your hook size up or down before making all 18 squares. Trust me, checking gauge now saves heartache later.
Abbreviations and Stitch Definitions
Let me break down every abbreviation you’ll encounter:
Special Stitches Explained
African Flower Petal (worked in BLO)
This creates the raised petal effect. Insert your hook into the back loop only of the indicated stitch. Work (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) all into that single back loop. That’s one complete petal using 5 stitches, but it only occupies one stitch position from the base round.
Flat Join
Hold two squares with wrong sides together. With Color A, insert your hook through the outermost loop of the corresponding stitch on the first square, then through the outermost loop of the same stitch on the second square. Work a sc through both loops simultaneously. This creates a nearly invisible seam.
Standing sc
Instead of chaining and joining, make a slip knot. Insert hook into the indicated stitch or space, yarn over and draw up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over and draw through both loops. This gives you a clean start without a visible joining chain.
African Flower Granny Square Instructions (Make 18)
You’ll make all 18 squares identically using this color sequence: Rounds 1 and 2 in Color B, Round 3 in Color C, Round 4 in Color B, Round 5 in Color C, Round 6 in Color A.
Round 1 (Color B)
Make a magic ring (or ch 5 and join with sl st to form a ring).
Ch 1 (does not count as st).
Work 10 sc into the ring.
Join with sl st to the first sc.
(10 sc)
Round 2 (Color B)
Ch 1 (does not count as st).
Working in BLO only for the entire round:
Work 2 sc into each st around.
Join with sl st to the first sc.
(20 sc)
The front loops of Round 2 remain unworked. You’ll use them in Round 3 to create the petals.
Round 3 (Color C, Petal Round)
Drop Color B but don’t fasten off. Join Color C with a standing sc into any front loop left from Round 2.
Working in FLO of Round 2 only:
Work (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) into the first FLO. This is Petal 1.
Work (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) into the next FLO. This is Petal 2.
Continue working (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) into each remaining FLO around.
You have 20 FLOs from Round 2, so you’ll work 20 petals.
Join with sl st to the first sc of the first petal.
(100 sts total across 20 petals)
Fasten off Color C.
Round 4 (Color B)
Pick up Color B where you dropped it after Round 2.
Ch 1.
Insert hook behind the petal layer, into the back loop of each Round 2 stitch. Work 2 sc into each of these 20 stitches.
Join with sl st to the first sc.
(40 sc)
Round 5 (Color C, Corner Round)
Join Color C with a standing sc into any stitch. Place this as the first stitch of a side.
Sc in next 8 sts (9 sc total for first side including the standing sc).
In next st work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) for corner 1.
Sc in next 9 sts.
In next st work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) for corner 2.
Sc in next 9 sts.
In next st work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) for corner 3.
Sc in next 9 sts.
In next st work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) for corner 4.
Join with sl st to the first sc.
(36 sc plus 4 corners of 4 dc each, plus 4 ch-2 spaces)
Fasten off Color C.
Round 6 (Color A, Border Round)
Join Color A with a standing sc into any corner ch-2 sp.
Work (sc, ch 2, sc) into the same corner ch-2 sp. This is corner 1.
Sc into each of the 13 sts across the side to the next corner.
Work (sc, ch 2, sc) into corner ch-2 sp. Corner 2.
Rep for remaining 2 sides and corners.
Join with sl st to the first sc.
(60 sc total plus 4 corner ch-2 spaces)
Fasten off Color A. Weave in all ends.
Each finished square should measure 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) square after blocking.
Blocking Your Squares
This step is crucial. Block all 18 squares before joining. Pin each square to measurement on a blocking mat, mist with water, and allow to dry fully. All squares must be the same size for clean joins. Don’t skip this. Seriously.
Joining Squares Into Panels
Make 2 panels: Front Panel and Back Panel. Each panel is a 3 wide by 3 tall arrangement of 9 squares.
Arrange 9 squares in a grid. With Color A, using the sc join method on the WS (wrong sides together, RS facing outward), join 3 squares into a horizontal strip. Insert hook through both corresponding edge stitches of two adjacent squares and work sc through both.
You’ll have 15 sc across each shared edge. At each end, work through the corner ch-2 spaces to secure.
Join 3 horizontal strips, then join the strips to each other along their horizontal edges the same way.
Make the Front Panel. Make the Back Panel identically.
Each assembled panel should measure approximately 13.5 inches wide by 13.5 inches tall.
Gusset Strip
The gusset creates the sides and base of the bag.
Foundation Chain: With Color A, ch 16.
Row 1: Sc into 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. Turn.
(15 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc into each st across. Turn.
(15 sc)
Repeat Row 2 until the gusset strip measures approximately 42 inches (106.5 cm) in total length. This accounts for the full perimeter of one panel.
Fasten off Color A. Leave a long tail for seaming.
Assembling the Bag Body
Pin the gusset strip to the outer edge of the Front Panel, RS facing out. Begin at the center bottom edge. Using Color A and a yarn needle, whip stitch or sl st through corresponding edge stitches, attaching the gusset strip around three sides and the bottom. At each corner, ease the gusset slightly to allow for turning.
Attach the Back Panel to the opposite long edge of the gusset strip the same way.
The top edges of both panels and the gusset form your bag opening.
Top Border
With Color A and RS facing, join yarn at the top left corner of the bag opening.
Round 1: Work sc evenly around the entire top opening. Work 1 sc per stitch across the panel tops and 1 sc per row end along the gusset side tops. Place stitch markers at each of the 4 corners.
Join with sl st to the first sc.
(120 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc into each st around. Join with sl st.
(120 sc)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc into each st around. Join with sl st.
(120 sc)
Fasten off. Weave in end.
Handle Attachment Loops (Make 4)
With Color A, ch 15.
Row 1: Sc into 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. Turn.
(14 sc)
Rows 2-4: Ch 1, sc into each st across. Turn.
(14 sc)
Thread the loop through a gold-tone swivel clasp ring. Fold the strip in half and sl st the short ends together to form a loop. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Attach one loop to the top border, centered 3 inches from the left edge of the Front Panel top. Sew securely using whip stitch. Attach a second loop 3 inches from the right edge. Repeat for the Back Panel.
Thread the bamboo handles through the swivel clasp rings.
Zipper Insertion
Open the zipper fully. Center the zipper tape along the inside of the top border, aligning the zipper teeth with the top edge. Pin in place.
Hand-sew the zipper tape to the inside of the top border using whip stitch or backstitch. Keep the zipper teeth free and unobstructed. Sew both sides. Tuck and sew the zipper ends at the gusset corners neatly.
Optional Lining
Cut two rectangles of lining fabric measuring 14.5 inches by 13.5 inches for front and back panels. Cut one rectangle measuring 42 inches by 4.5 inches for the gusset lining.
With RS of lining fabric together, sew the gusset strip to both rectangular panels using a 0.5-inch seam allowance.
Fold the top edge of the lining down 0.5 inch and press. Insert the lining into the bag, WS of lining facing WS of crochet fabric. Hand-sew the lining just below the zipper using whip stitch.
Care Instructions
Machine wash on gentle cycle in cold water. Place bag in a mesh laundry bag. Remove bamboo handles before washing. Reshape while damp and lay flat to air dry. Never put in the dryer.
Final Thoughts on This Crochet Tutorial
This Navy African Flower Granny Square Bag takes time, somewhere between 20 to 30 hours for most crocheters. But every hour shows in the finished piece. The nautical color palette works year-round, the structure holds up to real daily use, and the bamboo handles add that perfect elevated touch.
Thank you so much for choosing this pattern for your next project. I genuinely hope you love making it as much as I loved designing it. When you finish yours, please share a photo on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to see your color choices and hear how the assembly went.
If this project caught your eye, save it to your Pinterest boards so you can find it when you’re ready to start. And please drop a comment below if you make one. I read every single comment, and your finished projects absolutely make my day.
