Granny square sunburst tote crochet pattern

A twelve-square crochet tote. Sunburst squares, round base, hook in hand. About 4-6 hours.

Granny square sunburst tote crochet pattern
Granny square sunburst tote crochet pattern
  • LevelIntermediate
  • Time4-6 hours
  • Hook5.0 mm
  • YarnWorsted

About This Pattern

This bag starts small. Twelve sunburst squares, each one a little color puzzle. I like working them on the couch, one square an evening. Later they join into a tube, sit on a round base, and grow a plain hdc yoke. It needs a steady hook size, six accent shades, and patience for the eyelets. Nothing here is hard. It just asks you to keep going, square by square, until a bag appears.

In the basket

Yarn

Tools

Optional

Yarn Suggestions

Abbreviations

ch
chain
sl st
slip stitch (insert hook, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook)
sc
single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops)
hdc
half double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops)
dc
double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops)
st(s)
stitch(es)
sp
space
rnd
round
beg
beginning
rep
repeat
sk
skip
UK Crocheters: This pattern uses US stitch names. Swap as follows: US sc
UK dc, US hdc = UK htr, US dc = UK tr. Hook sizes and measurements stay the same.

Granny square sunburst tote crochet pattern

The Sunburst Square (Make 12)

Each square grows from a magic ring centre outward through three glowing rounds of colour, then a cream border round squares it off. Choose three accent shades per square: A for the centre, B for the ring, and C for the sunburst. Cream is always used for Round 4.

  1. Round 1Colour A Into a magic ring: ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc into ring. Join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. Pull ring closed. (12 dc)
  2. Round 2Colour B Join B in any st. Ch 3, dc in same st, then 2 dc in each st around. Join to top of ch-3. (24 dc)
  3. Round 3Colour C Join C in any st. Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st; 2 dc in next st, dc in next st ; rep from * around. Join. (36 dc)
  4. Round 4Cream Join Cream in any st. In that st work (ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) for the first corner; dc in next 8 sts; (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next st three times; dc in last 8 sts. Join to top of ch-3. (48 dc and 4 corner ch-2 spaces, which is 12 dc per side)Fasten off and weave in ends.

Important: Block your first square and check that it measures 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) along each side. Adjust your hook size if needed, then make eleven more squares.

The Round Base (Make 1)

This flat cream circle is worked in double crochet. The final round has 72 stitches, which matches the bottom edge of the square tube (6 squares × 12 stitches) so they seam together cleanly.

  1. Round 1Magic ring: ch 3, 11 dc in ring. Join. (12 dc)
  2. Round 2Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (24 dc)
  3. Round 3Ch 3, dc in same st; dc in next st, 2 dc in next st ; rep from * around. Join. (36 dc)
  4. Round 4Dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st ; rep from * around. Join. (48 dc)
  5. Round 5Dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st ; rep from * around. Join. (60 dc)
  6. Round 6Dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st ; rep from * around. Join. (72 dc) Fasten off.The finished circle should measure about 7 inches (18 cm) across. If yours curls into a cup shape, your tension is too tight. Add an even round of dc to flatten it. If it ruffles, your circle is too loose. Rework it with a smaller hook.

Tip for a Sturdier Bottom: Work the final round in back loops only for extra structure, or cut a circle of plastic canvas to sit inside the base before adding a lining.

Main Pattern

  1. Round 1through 5: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. Join. (72 hdc each round)(72)

Eyelet Round

Ch 1, hdc in next 5 sts, ch 1, sk 1 st ; rep from * 12 times total. Join. (60 hdc and 12 ch-1 eyelets)

  1. Round 7Ch 1, hdc in each hdc and in each ch-1 sp around. Join. (72 hdc)
  2. Round 8and 9: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. Join. (72 hdc each round)(72)

Edge Round

Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join and fasten off. (72 sc)

The yoke does not decrease. The drawstring does all the gathering, pulling the opening in to about 4 inches (10 cm) across.

Before the first stitch

  1. Make one square first and measure it against the 3.75 inch target before cutting more yarn.
  2. Sort your six accent shades so no two touching squares repeat a combination.
  3. Read Round 4 of the square closely. The corners shape everything that follows.

Minutes per piece

  • The Sunburst Square (make 12) about 2-3 hours total, because each square has 4 rounds and a color join every round
  • Round Base and hdc yoke about 1.5-2 hours, because the base has 6 rounds and the yoke adds 5 plain rounds at 72 stitches each

Other yarns that work

  • DK weight cotton, held double Matches aran gauge. Squares come out the same size, but you will work through two strands at once, so tension needs more attention.
  • Worsted weight cotton-acrylic blend Lighter on the hands and easier to find in color ranges. Drape is slightly stiffer, and the finished bag holds its round shape well without blocking.

Where it ends up

  • An everyday market bag, roomy enough for bread and a few vegetables.
  • A project bag for small crochet work, paired with a zippered pouch inside.
  • A shoulder bag for errands, worn over a plain cotton sweater.

Joining up

  1. Step 1 Finishing Steps:
  2. Step 2 Weave in all ends on the wrong side of the work, splitting plies for an invisible finish.
  3. Step 3 Gently steam block or wet block the squares before joining for crisp corners.
  4. Step 4 Even out the drawstring so both tassels hang at the same length.
  5. Step 5 Care Instructions:
  6. Step 6 Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Do not wring.
  7. Step 7 Reshape while damp by draping over a bowl or rolled towel to maintain the round base.
  8. Step 8 Dry flat away from direct heat. Keep the leather strap out of the water.
  9. Step 9 Store the bag loosely stuffed with tissue paper so the bucket shape holds.

Small notes

  • Gauge decides the whole bag. Check your square against 3.75 inches before making all twelve.
  • Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round. The joins come fast and are easy to miss.

Little questions

  • Can I make the bag smaller or larger?

    Yes. Change the square count or size, but keep the stitch count matching the base round. Six squares at 12 stitches per side need a 72-stitch base round.

  • Do I need all six accent colors?

    The recipe uses six shades across twelve squares, three per square. You could repeat shades, but the no-repeat rule next to each other works best with the full six.

  • Why block the squares before joining?

    Blocking squares the corners and evens the stitches. Joining unblocked squares can leave the seams wavy.

  • What are the wooden beads for?

    They sit on the drawstring cord as pulls, four per bag. The eyelet round holds the drawstring, and the beads keep it from slipping back through.

Original pattern: https://crochr.com/autumn-harvest-granny-square-bag-free-crochet-pattern/

About the Author

Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.

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