I have been on the hunt for the perfect summer tote pattern for months now, and this one stopped me in my tracks. The way those warm sunset colors blend into the classic granny stitch texture is exactly what I have been looking for. This is my new favourite bag pattern, and I am so excited to share it with you today.
What makes this tote special is how it combines two of my absolute favourite things in crochet. You get the timeless, airy look of granny stitch clusters for the main body. Then those cheerful bobble stripes frame everything in gorgeous peach, coral, magenta, orange, and golden yellow. The result is a bag that looks way more complicated than it actually is.
Whether you are headed to the farmer’s market, beach, or library, this roomy tote has you covered. Let us dive into everything you need to make your own.
About This Pattern
The Sunset Ombre Granny Tote is a roomy, structured bag worked in the round from the bottom up. You will start with a flat oval base, work your way through colorful bobble stripe bands, create the open lace texture of the cream granny stitch body, and finish with another stripe band at the top. The straps are crocheted separately and sewn on at the end.
Finished size: approximately 14 inches wide at the widest point by 13 inches tall (body only, not including straps), with a depth of approximately 6 inches. In metric, that is about 35.5 cm wide by 33 cm tall by 15 cm deep. The straps add approximately 12 inches (30.5 cm) of usable drop from the top of the bag.
Skill level: Intermediate. You will use chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), and bobble stitches. The pattern requires comfort with joining rounds, managing multiple colors, working a continuous granny square texture in the round, and seaming straps. If you have made a granny square blanket before, you can absolutely handle this.
Time: 12 to 18 hours for an experienced crocheter working at a steady pace. Allow additional time for weaving in ends, which will be numerous due to color changes.
Materials You Will Need
- Worsted weight (category 4) yarn, approximately 1000 yards total distributed across 7 colors:
- Color A, Natural Cream (main body)
- Color B, Coral/Salmon
- Color C, Peach
- Color D, Magenta/Berry
- Color E, Burnt Orange
- Color F, Golden Yellow
- Color G, Terracotta/Rust (small quantities for bobble accent rows, about 40 yards)
- Recommended yarns: Lion Brand Pound of Love (100% acrylic) in cream paired with Lion Brand Heartland or Vanna’s Choice for accents; Paintbox Yarns Simply DK held double; or Cascade 220 Superwash for a structured body. Any smooth, plied worsted weight yarn that achieves gauge will work. Avoid mohair or boucle. Cotton yarns work well for a stiffer, more structured bag.
- US size J/10 (6.0 mm) hook
- Yarn needle for seaming and weaving ends
- Stitch markers (4 recommended), plus two split-ring or locking markers for strap placement
- One leather or faux-leather tab approximately 1 inch by 1.5 inches (2.5 by 4 cm)
- One decorative metal charm or button labeled “Handmade” (optional)
- Sewing needle and strong thread or craft glue to attach leather tab
Gauge
- In granny stitch pattern: one granny stitch repeat (3 dc cluster + ch 1) = approximately 1 inch wide (2.5 cm); 4 rounds of granny stitch = approximately 2.5 inches tall (6.4 cm)
- In single crochet for base and stripe bands: 14 sc by 16 rows = 4 inches by 4 inches (10 cm by 10 cm)
Adjust hook size as needed to match gauge.
Abbreviations
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- gs-cl = granny stitch cluster (3 dc worked in same space)
Special Stitches
Bobble Stitch
Yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook). Yarn over, insert hook in same stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops (3 loops remain on hook). Yarn over, insert hook in same stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops (4 loops remain on hook). Yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook. One bobble made.
Granny Stitch Pattern (worked in the round)
Each round: [sl st to next ch-1 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp (beginning cluster made), ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1] around, sl st to top of beginning ch-3. The ch-1 spaces between clusters form the grid of the granny pattern.
Pattern Notes
- The bag is worked in the round throughout. Do not turn at the end of rounds unless specifically instructed (strap sections turn each row).
- Join rounds with a slip stitch to the first stitch or the top of the beginning chain as indicated.
- Color changes happen at the end of the last yarn over of the final stitch of the round.
- Carry unused colors loosely up the inside of the bag when changing colors every 1 to 2 rounds. When colors are not used for 3 or more rounds, cut and rejoin.
- The granny stitch body is worked in Color A only. The bobble stripe bands above and below the granny section use Colors B, C, D, E, F, and G.
- Numbers in parentheses at the end of each round reflect the total working stitches.
Oval Base (Color A)
The base is an elongated oval approximately 14 inches by 6 inches (35.5 cm by 15 cm).
Foundation: Ch 20. Starting in the second ch from hook, sc in each of next 17 ch, work 3 sc in the last ch (first short end). Working back along the opposite side of the foundation chain, sc in each of next 17 ch, work 3 sc in the last ch (second short end). Sl st to first sc to join. (40 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 17 sc, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc (corner increase), sc in next 17 sc, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc (corner increase), sl st to first sc to join. (46 sc)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 17 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 3 times (corner), sc in next 17 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 3 times (corner), sl st to first sc to join. (52 sc)
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 17 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] 3 times (corner), sc in next 17 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] 3 times (corner), sl st to first sc to join. (58 sc)
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 17 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times (corner), sc in next 17 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times (corner), sl st to first sc to join. (64 sc)
Round 6: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 17 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc] 3 times (corner), sc in next 17 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc] 3 times (corner), sl st to first sc to join. (70 sc)
Do not fasten off. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of this round. Your piece should measure approximately 14 inches long by 6 inches wide lying flat.
Bottom Stripe Band
This section creates the colorful bobble stripes visible at the bottom of the bag, progressing from golden yellow at the very bottom through orange, magenta, and peach going upward.
Round 7 (Color F, Golden Yellow): Ch 1, sc in same st and in each sc around. Sl st to first sc to join. (70 sc)
Round 8 (Color F, bobble round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [bobble in next sc, sc in next sc] around. Sl st to first sc to join. (70 sts: 35 sc and 35 bobbles)
Round 9 (Color E, Burnt Orange): Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st across, working sc into the top of each bobble and into each sc. Sl st to first sc to join. (70 sc)
Round 10 (Color E, bobble round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [bobble in next sc, sc in next sc] around, ending with bobble in last sc. Sl st to first sc to join. (70 sts)
Round 11 (Color D, Magenta): Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st across. Sl st to first sc to join. (70 sc)
Round 12 (Color D, bobble round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [bobble in next sc, sc in next sc] around. Sl st to first sc to join. (70 sts)
Round 13 (Color C, Peach): Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. (70 sc)
Round 14 (Color C, bobble round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [bobble in next sc, sc in next sc] around. Sl st to first sc to join. (70 sts)
Round 15 (Color B, Coral, transition round): Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. (70 sc)
The bottom stripe band should measure approximately 2.5 to 3 inches tall. Five colors of bobble stripes should be visible.
Granny Stitch Body (Color A, Natural Cream)
Round 16 (setup round): Join Color A with sl st to any sc. Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout granny section), 2 dc in same st (first beginning cluster made), ch 1, skip 1 sc, [3 dc in next sc, ch 1, skip 1 sc] around. Sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join. (35 gs-cl; 35 ch-1 sps)
Rounds 17 through 26: All rounds are worked on the RS. Sl st to first ch-1 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, [3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1] around. Sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join. (35 gs-cl; 35 ch-1 sps). Repeat this round 10 times total.
The granny stitch body should measure approximately 7 to 7.5 inches tall. You should have 11 rounds of granny stitch clusters (Rounds 16 through 26 inclusive).
Top Stripe Band
Round 27 (Color B, Coral, closing sc round): Join Color B. Ch 1, sc in the top of each dc only, skipping ch-1 sps — work sc in each of the 3 dc of each cluster. 35 clusters x 3 sc = 105 sc. Sl st to first sc to join. (105 sc)
Round 28 (Color C, Peach, bobble round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [bobble in next sc, sc in next sc] 52 times, bobble in last sc. Sl st to first sc to join. (105 sts: 53 sc and 52 bobbles)
Round 29 (Color B, Coral): Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. (105 sc)
Round 30 (Color B, bobble round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [bobble in next sc, sc in next sc] 52 times, bobble in last sc. Sl st to first sc. (105 sts)
Round 31 (Color C, Peach): Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. (105 sc)
Round 32 (Color G, Terracotta, bobble round): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [bobble in next sc, sc in next sc] 52 times, bobble in last sc. Sl st to first sc. (105 sts)
Round 33 (Color B, Coral, finishing sc round): Ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. (105 sc)
Fasten off and weave in ends. The top stripe band should measure approximately 2 to 2.5 inches tall. The total bag height before straps should be approximately 12.5 to 13 inches.
Straps (Make 2)
Each strap is worked as a flat rectangle, then folded and seamed to create a firm doubled strap approximately 0.75 inches (2 cm) wide and 24 inches (61 cm) long. Materials per strap: Color B (Coral) and Color D (Magenta), approximately 30 yards each.
With Color B, ch 129 (128 working chains plus 1 turning chain). Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (128 sc). Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Turn. (128 sc). Change to Color D. Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Turn. (128 sc). Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Turn. (128 sc). Change to Color B. Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Turn. (128 sc). Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Turn. (128 sc). Change to Color D. Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Turn. (128 sc). Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Turn. (128 sc). Fasten off, leaving a long tail of approximately 24 inches (61 cm) for seaming.
Fold the strap in half lengthwise (WS together) so both long edges align. Using the long tail and a yarn needle, slip stitch or whipstitch the two long edges together along the full length. The stripe pattern will show on both faces of the completed strap.
Place the two finished straps symmetrically on the bag. Each strap end is attached approximately 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) from the center front and center back of the bag’s top opening, with both ends overlapping the inside of the top edge by approximately 2 inches (5 cm). Using Color B and a yarn needle, whipstitch each strap end securely to the inside of the bag’s top opening, stitching through the top 2 to 3 rounds of the bag body. Reinforce with a box stitch pattern for durability.
Leather Tab and Charm
Cut or purchase a leather or faux-leather rectangle approximately 1 inch by 1.5 inches (2.5 by 4 cm). Fold the tab over the top edge of the bag at the center front, between Rounds 32 and 33 of the top band. Using a sewing needle and strong thread (or a leather hole punch and a small rivet), secure the tab through both layers. Attach the decorative “Handmade” charm or button to the front face of the tab using a jump ring. This is purely decorative and optional, but it adds such a lovely finishing touch.
Finishing and Blocking
Weave in all ends securely using a yarn needle, working ends through at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of stitches in two directions. Wet blocking is strongly recommended: hand wash gently in cool water, squeeze out excess water (do not wring), stuff the bag with plastic bags or an inflated balloon to hold the oval base form, and allow to dry completely in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. This opens the granny stitch lace pattern and achieves the full finished dimensions. For acrylic yarn, steam blocking can be substituted — test on a swatch first.
Size Customization
- Wider: Add 10 sc to the oval base (foundation chain from 19 to 24 chains) and adjust all stripe and granny rounds accordingly.
- Taller: Add additional granny stitch rounds between Rounds 17 and 26. Each additional round adds approximately 0.6 to 0.7 inches of height. Add in pairs for visual balance.
- Shallower: Work only 4 rounds of bobbles in the bottom stripe band instead of 5, and reduce the granny section to 7 rounds.
- Strap length: Each 8 chains added to the foundation chain increases the strap by approximately 0.5 inches.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Lay flat or stuff to dry. Do not machine wash unless the yarn label specifically states it is machine washable. Do not tumble dry. Do not iron directly. Store stuffed with tissue paper or a small bag insert to maintain shape. Keep the leather tab away from prolonged soaking.
Final Thoughts
The combination of those warm sunset colors with the classic granny stitch texture creates something truly special. It is the kind of bag that gets compliments everywhere you go. Take your time with the color changes, enjoy the rhythm of the granny rounds, and you will have a tote that carries you through the whole season. Happy crocheting!
