Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag – Free Crochet Pattern
If you’re looking for a fun, practical, and customizable crochet project, you’re going to love the Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag! This pattern is perfect for beginners and experienced crocheters alike, and the best part is—you can use any granny square design you like. Whether you prefer the classic granny square, floral motifs, textured stitches, or themed designs like the pumpkin granny squares I used in my example, this tote is a blank canvas for your creativity.
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The 13-square layout makes this bag roomy yet comfortable to carry, and it’s an amazing stash-buster for leftover yarn. Plus, the construction is super simple—just crochet your squares, join them together, add straps, and you’ve got a tote that’s as unique as you are.
2025 Granny Square Crochet Along
This pattern was designed for the 2025 Granny Square Day CAL to celebrate Granny Square Day (August 15th, 2025). If you’re finding this post outside of the CAL, go check out the main post for details!
Why You’ll Love the 13 Granny Square Tote Bag
Beginner-friendly – If you can make a granny square, you can make this bag.
Customizable – Use any granny square design and any color scheme.
Functional & stylish – It’s perfect for market runs, beach trips, library hauls, or as your everyday carry.
Great stash-buster – Use up yarn scraps in a creative way.
Durable – Make it with cotton or cotton-blend yarn for strength and washability.
What Makes This Tote Different?
I’ve made a few granny square bags over the years (including the Easy 8 Granny Square Tote Bag), but the 13-square construction gives this one a unique shape and size. The extra squares allow for:
- A more spacious design that can hold larger items.
- Extra stability in the base and sides.
- More room to show off different granny square styles in one project.
If you’ve made the 8-square version before, you’ll love trying this one as the next step up.
Let’s Talk Granny Squares
One of the best things about the Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag is that it doesn’t lock you into a single square design. If it’s a granny square, and it’s the same size as the rest of your squares, it can join the party. That means you can make this bag entirely your own just by switching up your square style, colors, and textures.
Here are some fun ideas to get your creativity flowing:
- Classic granny squares – The tried-and-true option that never goes out of style. You can keep it traditional with solid rounds or mix colors in each round for a retro, 70s-inspired vibe. These are quick to make, beginner-friendly, and perfect if you want a bold color mix or a more understated look.
- Textured squares – Add some personality (and a little extra squish) with bobbles, popcorn stitches, or front-post/back-post stitches. Textured squares give your tote a tactile quality that makes it stand out and feel more luxe.
- Seasonal motifs – This is where you can have a lot of fun. Imagine an autumn bag with pumpkin squares like the one in my example, a spring tote with daisy blooms, a summer beach bag with sunshine motifs, or a winter version featuring snowflakes. Seasonal designs are also perfect if you want to make gift bags for special occasions.
- Mix-and-match magic – Can’t choose just one style? Don’t! This tote is a patchwork dream. You can combine floral squares, textured designs, and plain classics in one bag. It’s like a sampler blanket, but in tote form.
Tip: Even if your squares are completely different in design and color, adding the same border color to each square before joining will instantly make your bag look cohesive and intentional. It’s a simple trick that ties everything together without limiting your creative freedom.
And remember—part of the joy of this tote is that no two will ever be exactly alike. Whether you’re using leftover yarn from past projects, testing out new granny square patterns you’ve been eyeing, or going with a planned color palette, your 13-square bag will be one-of-a-kind.
Crochet Granny Square Patterns
Here’s a list of Granny Squares you can use for this bag! Optional: forego a granny square and use swatches of your favorite crochet stitches!
Assembly Tips
Optional Lining – For extra durability, add a fabric lining inside the tote.
Lay Out Your Squares First – Decide on your placement before joining.
Joining Method – Use whip stitch or slip stitch for flat seams, or single crochet for a more defined join. I worked in the back loops only!
Add Straps – Crochet sturdy handles long enough to comfortably go over your shoulder.
Adjusting the Size
One of the great things about the Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag is that you can easily tweak the size to make it work perfectly for your needs. Whether you want a compact little carry-all or a roomy market tote, adjusting the size is as simple as changing your square size or adding more rounds.
Here’s how to customize:
- Smaller Bag – Perfect if you want something light and easy to carry every day.
- Make smaller squares, like 4″ instead of 5.5″, for a more petite tote.
- Use lighter weight yarn (DK or sport) with a smaller hook for a more delicate, lightweight bag.
- Great for holding a small project, lunch, or a few essentials when you’re on the go.
- Larger Bag – Ideal for beach trips, market hauls, or carrying your crochet projects.
- Use bigger squares, like 8″ instead of 5.5″, for a much roomier tote.
- Add extra rounds to your chosen square pattern to make them larger without changing the design.
- Use Bulky Weight or Super Bulky Weight yarn and a bigger hook for a larger chunky tote.
- Make your handles longer and sturdier to match the extra weight your bag will carry.
Tip: Keep in mind that changing square size will also change the drape and structure of your bag. Smaller squares and lighter yarn will give you a softer, floppier tote, while bigger squares with thicker yarn will make it sturdier and more structured.
Whether you go smaller for everyday use or supersize it for big adventures, this pattern is flexible enough to fit your exact needs—and still keep that charming granny square style.
Selling at Fall Craft Fairs
If you sell your crochet items, the Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag is a fantastic choice for fall craft fairs and markets. Handmade bags are always a crowd-pleaser, and this one is especially eye-catching because you can customize it for the season.
Imagine lining your booth with totes in warm autumn tones—burnt orange, golden yellow, deep brown, and cream. Now take it a step further and make a few featuring pumpkin granny squares like the ones in my example. They practically sell themselves! Shoppers love items that feel seasonal but still practical enough to use year-round. A pumpkin-themed tote is perfect for farmers’ market runs, carrying fall festival goodies, or even doubling as a reusable Halloween candy bag.
Since this is an easy crochet pattern and doesn’t require a lot of materials, you can make multiple bags fairly quickly, and they’re easy to price in a way that’s fair to you while still being appealing to buyers. Plus, customers often like to pick up matching sets—so you could pair a tote with a matching pumpkin granny square pouch or mug cozy for an irresistible combo.
Time Commitment and Skill Level
This is an easy skill level crochet project with basic stitches and simple color changes, so each square can be worked up fairly quickly once you get the hang of it. I think each square took me maybe 30-45 minutes once I made a few and got use to the stitch placement.
How to Get the Granny Square Tote Bag Crochet Pattern
Granny Square Tote Bag Crochet Pattern
Option 1: Continue scrolling for free pattern instructions on this site
Option 2: Purchase the ad-free PDF that includes tutorial photos from one of my shops
About the Materials
The Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag was made with 100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn (I Love this Cotton). Good substitutes for this yarn are Knit Picks Dishie, Paintbox Cotton Aran, and Lily Sugar ‘n Cream. Of course this bag can be made in any fiber of your choosing, but cotton adds structure and sturdiness, wear other yarns may stretch.
The Crochet Pattern
Keep reading to get the free crochet pattern instructions for the Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag!
Materials
Worsted Weight Yarn (#4)
- Orange – 3.9oz [208yds]
- Border Color – 9oz [468yds]
- Green – Scraps [30yds]
G/6/4.00mm Crochet Hook (My fav!)
Scissors (So pretty!)
Optional Materials:
Gauge
R1-3 = 2.75” (Pumpkin Square)
(Varies by square used)
Finished Measurements
Approximately 15” x 15”
(Varies by square used)
Stitch Guide
arnd = around
alt. dc = See Special Stitches
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
sc = single crochet
sl st(s) = slip stitch(es)
Surface sl st = See Special Stitches
trc = treble crochet
Skill Level
Easy
Pattern Written in U.S. Terms
Notes
- Check notes and instructions for individual Granny Squares.
Instructions
Follow any Granny Square pattern you prefer and make 13 squares.
Example shown was made using the Pumpkin Granny Square (included with this purchase as a separate file).
ASSEMBLE BAG
R1. If using various squares, choose layout first: Hold squares wrong sides together, and attach squares together as shown in tutorial photo below. I sewed my squares together using the whip stitch and working in the back loops only.
R2. Fold the panel in half in the middle (creating the bottom of the bag), then fold side squares in half and attach to the adjacent squares.; Fasten.
R3. Attach yarn to any stitch on top: Ch 1, sc in every stitch arnd, sl st to join in 1st sc
R4. Ch 1, sc arnd; Fasten.
HANDLES (Make 2)
With Any Color,
R1. Ch 117, dc in 3rd ch from hook (cts as 1st dc) and in every ch across, turn chain and work down opposite side, dc in every ch across; sl st to join in beginning ch (115)
R2. sl st in every st arnd outside edge; Fasten. (230)
TASSEL
With Any Color,
S1. Using any flat object that measures 2-3” long (or hands!), wrap yarn around it until you reach desired tassel thickness. Set aside.
S2. Leaving 3” tails at beginning and end: Ch 50; Fasten.
S3. String beads onto chain.
S4. Remove the tassel from the tool used to make it, bring 3” tails of chains inside the tassel loops & tie the ends together (so the 1st and last chs meet) to create the hanger.
S5. Cut an approximate 5” string and tie around the top of the tassel to create the tassel look and to secure the strings.
S6. Cut loops of tassel on the bottom only, then trim them so they are all an even length.
S7. Tie a knot in the chain, just above the beads, to hold the beads in place.
Finishing
- Attach handles to bag by centering one end of the handle to the center of the top point of the granny square, on the backside of the square (I attached about 5 dcs from the end of the handle). Then bring the other end of the handle across to the other granny square on the same side (front/back) and attach. Repeat on opposite side of bag with the second handle.
- Optional: Attach tassel to front of bag by wrapping the chain around bottom of one handle, then tuck the tassel through the chain loop.
- Hide all strings.
That’s the Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag Crochet Pattern!
The Easy 13 Granny Square Tote Bag is a joy to make, completely customizable, and endlessly practical. Whether you keep it for yourself, gift it to a friend, or sell it at craft fairs, it’s sure to be a hit.
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If you make the Crochet Granny Square Tote Bag, I’d love to see them! Tag me on Instagram at @blackstone_designs or use the hashtag #GrannySquareTote so I can share your makes with the community.
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Happy Crocheting!
Written pattern and photographs © 2025 Sonya Blackstone of Blackstone Designs. Do not sell, share, or modify this pattern, but instead share the link to where the pattern can be found. You may sell items you make with this pattern. This pattern, as with all Blackstone Designs/Sonya Blackstone patterns, are not for educational use without written permission from the designer. All rights reserved.
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