Easy Crochet Shoulder Bag Tutorial | Elegant Mesh Tote Bag for Beginners

Hi everyone, welcome back to Hana. Today I'm going to show you how to crochet this beautiful shoulder bag using simple beginner-friendly stitches. The finished bag measures about 8 x 10.5 inches, approximately 20 x 27 centimeters, with a 17 inch strap drop, around 43 centimeters. The best part is that it's very easy to customize the size. If you're looking for an easy and stylish crochet project, this bag is perfect for you. For this project, I'm using a sage green polyester yarn. I'll be using about 6 ounces, or roughly 140 grams. The yarn is 2 millimeters thick and comes in a length of 220 yards, approximately 200 meters. I'm using a 3 millimeter crochet hook. You'll also need a few basic tools, a pair of scissors, a yarn needle, a stitch marker to help mark your rounds, and a measuring tape. Alright, grab your yarn and hook, and let's get started. First, we're going to make the base of the bag. We'll begin with a slip knot, and now we're going to chain 33 for the foundation row. I've finished my 33 chains. My chain is 6 inches long, which is roughly 15 centimeters. You can adjust the size by changing the number of chains. Now here is the first chain from the hook. Skip the first three chains from the hook. These three chains will count as one double crochet. Make five double crochets into the fourth chain from the hook. 1, 2, 3, 4. For the fifth double crochet, insert your hook into the space between the turning chain and the first double crochet. This will help prevent a hole from forming at the bottom of the bag. So in this first group, we have a total of six double crochets, including the turning chain. Place a stitch marker in the sixth double crochet. Continue making 28 double crochets, one into each stitch across. Keep going until you reach the second to last stitch. I've finished my 28 double crochets. Now make six double crochets into the last stitch. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of this group. For the sixth double crochet of the group, insert your hook between the first and second double crochet, just like this, and place one more stitch marker in the last stitch of the group. Then continue working 28 double crochets along the Lay the yarn tail along the foundation chain to keep it neatly hidden as you work. I've finished my 28 double crochets. To close round one, make a slip stitch into the third chain. Now let's begin round two. Chain three. This counts as your first double crochet. Place a stitch marker here. Then make one double crochet into the same stitch where you made the slip stitch. Next, make two double crochets in each of the next five stitches. Now we have six increases for a total of 12 double crochets. Place a stitch marker in the last stitch of this group. Continue with 28 double crochets, one in each stitch across. When you reach the marked section, make six increases again, two double crochets in each stitch. Don't forget to place a marker in the first stitch and the last stitch of this group. Now continue with the remaining 28 double crochets. I've completed the last stitch of round two. Now make a slip stitch into the third chain to close the round. Let's move on to round three. Chain three. Place a stitch marker here and make one double crochet into the same stitch where you made the slip stitch. Then make one double crochet into the next stitch. Now continue with the pattern, one increase, one double crochet. Repeat this pattern a total of six times until you reach the marked stitch. You should have a total of 18 stitches in this section. Next, make 28 double crochets. When you reach the marked section, repeat the same pattern, one increase, one double crochet. Then make another 28 double crochets and finish with a slip stitch to close the round. For this round, we have a total of 92 double crochets. I've completed three rounds of the base. The current size is about eight inches wide and 2.4 inches deep, which is roughly 20 by 6 centimeters. I'll stop the base here. If you'd like a larger base, simply continue working additional rounds using the following increase pattern in each marked section. Round four, two double crochets, one increase. Repeat six times. You should have a total of 24 stitches in this section. Round five, one increase, three double crochets. Repeat six times. You should have a total of 30 stitches in this section. Round six, two double crochets, one increase, two double crochets. Repeat six times. You should have a total of 36 stitches in this section. Each round adds 6 double crochets to each marked section. The increases are staggered from round to round, helping the stitches spread out evenly and creating a smooth, rounded shape for the base. Now let's move on to the body of the bag. First, chain 3. Then make 1 double crochet into each of the following stitches. Continue making double crochets all the way around until you reach the end of the round. I've finished the last stitch of round 1 of the body. This is the slip stitch from the previous round, and we won't work into it. Now make a slip stitch into the 3rd chain to close the round. To begin round 2, chain 4. Skip 1 stitch. Then make 1 double crochet into the next stitch. Then chain 1, skip 1 stitch and make 1 double crochet into the next stitch. Again, chain 1, skip 1 stitch and make 1 double crochet into the next stitch. Repeat this pattern all the way around the round. You should have a total of 46 pattern repeats. I've reached the last double crochet of the round. Now chain 1. Then make a slip stitch into the 3rd chain to round 2. To begin round 3, chain 1. Then insert your hook into the slip stitch you just made to create 1 single crochet. Next, make 1 single crochet into the chain space. 1 single crochet into the double crochet. Then 1 single crochet into the next chain space. Continue working in the same way all the way around the round. In this round you should have a total of 92 single crochets. I've completed 90 single crochets in this round. Work the 91st single crochet into the double crochet and the 92nd single crochet into the chain space. Then make a slip stitch into the 1st single crochet. Be sure to skip the turning chain. Now make 1 more slip stitch to offset the stitch pattern from round 2. Round 4 is worked the same way as round 2. Chain 4. Skip 1 stitch. Then make 1 double crochet into the next stitch. Then chain 1. Skip 1 stitch. And make 1 double crochet into the next stitch. Repeat this pattern all the way around the round. I've almost finished round 4. Now make 1 more double crochet. Chain 1. Then make a slip stitch into the 3rd chain to close round 4. Round 5 is worked the same way as round 3. Chain 1. Then insert your hook into the slip stitch you just made to create 1 single crochet. Continue making single crochets all the way around the round. Repeat rounds 4 and 5 for the following rounds until the main body of the bag reaches your desired height. I've just completed the last single crochet of row 2027 for a total of 92 single crochets. Now let's finish the body of the bag. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail of about 4 inches, and pull it through. Thread the yarn tail onto a yarn needle. Skip the first single crochet, then insert the needle into the second single crochet, and pull the yarn through. Next, insert the needle into the center of the V of the stitch you just created and pull the yarn tight to complete the round neatly. Then weave the yarn tail through the stitches to hide it. Now let's move on to the top edge of the bag. First, adjust the bag so both sides are even. Each side has 23 double crochets. Count in 3 double crochets from the outer edge, then place a stitch marker in the single crochet above the space. Repeat on the other side. Next, insert your hook into the marked stitch and pull up a loop. Chain 3, skip 1 stitch, then make 1 double crochet. This chain 3 and double crochet count as 1 decrease. Continue with the pattern. Chain 1, skip 1 stitch, and make 1 double crochet. Repeat this pattern until you reach the space near the end just before the marked stitch. You should have a total of 14 pattern repeats. For the last 2 spaces, chain 1, then make a double crochet decrease as follows. Yarn over, skip 1 stitch, and insert your hook into the next stitch. Pull up a loop and yarn over, then pull through 2 loops. You now have 2 loops left on the hook. Yarn over again, skip 1 stitch, and insert your hook into the next stitch. Pull up a loop and yarn over, then pull through 2 loops. You now have 3 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops. You've made a double crochet decrease and completed row one of the top edge. To begin row two, chain one and turn. Make one single crochet into the double crochet decrease you just made, then one single crochet into the next space. Continue making single crochets all the way across. I'm almost done with row two now. Work the remaining single crochets. The last single crochet goes into the first double crochet of the previous row. This row has a total of 31 single crochets. Turn your work to begin row three. First make a slip stitch, then continue just like row one. Chain three, skip one stitch, and make one double crochet. Continue with the pattern, skip one stitch, and make one double crochet. At the end of the row, make a double crochet decrease. Rows four, five, and six are worked the same way as rows two, three, and four respectively. I've finished all six rows of the top edge. Chain one to finish this section, cut the yarn, and pull it through. Work the other side of the bag top in the same way as before. I've finished both sides of the bag opening. Don't cut the yarn yet. We'll continue using it to make the straps in a moment. Before making the straps, use a yarn needle to weave in all the loose ends. Do the same for the remaining yarn tails. Now let's begin the straps by continuing with the working yarn. Make a chain as long as your desired strap length. I made a chain of 170 chains, which gives me a strap drop of 17 inches. Straighten the chain so it isn't twisted, then insert your hook into the first stitch of the top edge and make one single crochet. Then make one more single crochet into the side of this row. Next, make two single crochets into this space. Then make two single crochets along the side of the single crochet row. Again, make two single crochets into the next space. Then make two single crochets along the side of the single crochet row. Again, make two single crochets into the next space. Next, work single crochets across, making one single crochet in each stitch. When you reach the other side of the bag opening, work it the same way. Make two single crochets into the space. Then make two single crochets along the side of the single crochet row. Repeat in the same way until you reach the last row of the bag opening. Then make another chain of 170 chains just like on the other side, and continue working the single crochets along the side as before, until you finish round 1. I've reached the end of round 1. Now let's make the last two single crochets of this round. Round 2 is worked entirely in single crochets. I'm almost done with round 2 now. Continue making the remaining single crochets, and leave this last stitch unworked. Now cut the yarn and finish the round the same way we did for the body of the bag. And that's it! Our beautiful shoulder bag is now complete. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and had fun crocheting along with me. Thank you so much for watching. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and I'll see you in my next video. Happy crocheting!