Update

February 2019: Thanks for finding my new location!

I’ve left this pattern the same, but I encourage you to check out my newer flower stitch pattern here: Flower Stitch Granny Square Market Bag. I simplified the motif and improved the crochet charts and step-by-step pictures.

I recommend working through Round B 2 of the Granny Square pattern, then continue working in the round without doing any corner stitches so that the square does not increase in size. This will make a slightly larger bag than the once pictured here.

Once the bag is as long as you want it, add the finishing rounds, and instead of just chaining to make the handles, use the foundational single crochet stitch described in the Granny Square pattern.

Introduction

After successfully creating a produce bag pattern, I was looking to create another bag, something a little more decorative, fun, and girly. Something I could carry on my shoulder to a farmers market or the beach and feel cute. As usual, I couldn’t find quite what I was looking for, so I started prototyping.

I started with this chart I came across on Pinterest:

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I also watched the accompanying YouTube video, and although intimidated at first by it being in a foreign language, I soon realized that the language of crochet is fairly universal. If you struggle with the pattern, I recommend watching the video.

Next, I tried putting the pattern directly into round, but I didn’t like the way the chain 7s worked, because I felt it made the holes too big. I modified the pattern, changing the chain 7s and chain 3s all to chain 5s.

crochet chart of flower stitch in the round — My adaptation of the flower stitch.

I charted my pattern in Crochet Charts. I like the program, but it didn’t have all the stitches I needed, so I had to fudge some things. I also had trouble exporting the pattern into a high enough resolution JPEG, so the best option to view it is in PDF form, which you can download here:

Flower Stitch Chart PDF with numbers

And for your convenience, a PDF of the pattern text, without pictures:

Flower Stitch Crochet Market Bag Pattern Text PDF

I recommend reading the pattern and looking at the chart side by side. In the pattern text I reference numbers and stitch colors in the chart like so: (1, black).

Remember, this pattern is free for personal use only. Please do not sell this pattern (or variants), or use this pattern (or variants) to make products to sell.

Flower Stitch Crochet Market Bag

Materials

3 skeins Lily Cotton “Sugar ‘n Cream”
Size J crochet hook

Base Rounds

Round 1

6 single crochet into a magic ring. Slip stitch into first single crochet. (If you don’t know what a magic ring is, follow the link. It’s amazing!)

Round 2

In this round we are doubling our stitches.

Chain 5 (counts as a double crochet + chain 2), double crochet into the same single crochet, then chain 2.

In each of the remaining 5 single crochets of round 1, work *double crochet, chain 2, double crochet, chain 2* all the way around to the beginning, then slip stitch into the chain 5 at the start of the round.

At the end Round 2 there are 12 stitches.

Round 3

In this round we are increasing our stitches by 6 by working two triple crochets into the same space in the following pattern: “2”, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1.

Chain 7 (counts as a triple crochet + chain 3), triple crochet into the same chain 2 space, then chain 3. In the next space, triple crochet, then chain 3.

*In the next space, make two (2) triple crochet + chain 3s. In the next space, make one (1) triple crochet then chain 3.*

Repeat from * to * around, then slip stitch into the chain 7 at the start of the round.

At the end of Round 3 there will be 18 stitches.

Round 4

In this round we are increasing our stitches by 6 by working two triple crochets into the same space in the following pattern: “2”, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1. We also increase in this round by chaining 5 in between each stitch instead of chaining 3.

Chain 9 (counts as a triple crochet + chain 5), triple crochet into the same chain 3 space, then chain 5.

In each of the next two (2) spaces, work one (1) triple crochet + chain 5.

*In the next space, work two (2) triple crochet + chain 5s. In each of the next two (2) chain 3 spaces of the previous round, work one (1) triple crochet + chain 5.* Repeat from * to * around, except for the last chain 5. Instead of chaining 5, chain 2, then triple crochet into the initial chain 9 at the start of the round. (1, black)

At the end of Round 4 there will be 24 stitches.

Flower Stitch Rounds

Unfinished Triple Crochets

In my crochet chart software I could not find an unfinished triple crochet stitch, so I used a regular triple crochet stitch instead, and usually link the stitch with a half loop. (#s 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, etc.) Please note that these are not regular triple crochets, but rather unfinished triple crochets.

An unfinished triple crochet is almost the same as a triple crochet, except that the last pull through is not completed, and the stitch remains on the hook.

The start of an unfinished triple crochet – two wraps.

Don’t make the last pull through! Leave the stitch on the hook and start the next stitch.

20180801_164123 — Chain 4 and two unfinished triple crochets on the hook.

Round A

In Round A we create the four bottom petals of each flower.

We start off the round in the middle of the flower motif: Chain 4 (counts as a triple crochet). In the same space, make two (2) unfinished triple crochets. Slip a stitch through all three loops on your hook (2, periwinkle), then chain 1 to lock the petal bobble (3, periwinkle).

modified petal chain 4 — Round A: Chain 4.

Chain 4 + 2 unfinished triple crochets — Two unfinished triple crochets.

Chain 4 (counts as a triple crochet). Make two (2) unfinished triple crochets into the chain 1 used to lock the petal bobble. Slip a stitch through all three loops on your hook (4, periwinkle), then chain 1 to lock the petal bobble (5, periwinkle). This makes the last two petals of the full motif.

Unfinished triple crochet into lock stitch of previous petal bobble.

Two unfinished triple crochets into lock stitch.

Slip a stitch through all three loops on hook. Don’t forget to chain 1 to lock the petal bobble (not pictured).

In the next chain 5 space, make a V stitch (6, blue): triple crochet + chain 5 + triple crochet.

Now we start the full motif:

*Make the first petal (7, light green): Chain 4 (counts as a triple crochet). In the top of the last triple crochet of the V stitch (15, blue), make two (2) unfinished triple crochets. Do not finish off the bobble. You will have three (3) loops on your hook.

In the next chain 5 space we make the third petal (9, light green): Make three (3) unfinished triple crochets. You will have 9 loops on your hook. Slip a stitch through all 9 loops at once (10, light green), then chain one (11, light green), the lock stitch to close off the three petals, which will be the center of the flower.

Next we make the fourth petal (12, dark green): Chain 4 (counts as a triple crochet). Make two (2) unfinished triple crochets into the chain 1 used to lock the first three petals. Slip a stitch through all three loops on your hook, then chain 1 to lock the last petal (13, dark green).

In the next chain 5 space, make a V stitch (PDF 14): triple crochet + chain 5 + triple crochet.*

Where to insert your hook for the first petal.

Starting the first unfinished triple crochet of the first petal.

Full motif, first petal: Two unfinished triple crochets.

Full motif, first 3 petals: Slip a stitch through all nine loops.

Then chain 1 to lock first three petals.

Full motif, fourth petal: Chain 4, then make an unfinished triple crochet into the lock stitch.

Chain 4 and two unfinished triple crochets with a stitch slipped through all 3.

Repeat from * to * six (6) more times around. (16 &17, light and dark green – not repeated in the crochet chart).

Now we have to finish the first half of the flower motif that we started the round with. Make the first petal (18, light green): Chain 4 (counts as triple crochet). In the top of the last triple crochet of the V stitch, make two (2) unfinished triple crochets. Do not finish off the bobble. You will have three (3) loops on your hook.

In the next chain 5 space, make the second petal (19, light green): Make three (3) unfinished triple crochets. Do not finish off the bobble. You will have 6 loops on your hook.

We need to join these two petals to the second half of the motif, which are the first two petals of the round (periwinkle after green 18 and 19, representing the beginning of the round, as if we had worked all the way back to the beginning). Slip a stitch through the chain 1 used to lock the first petal, into which the second petal was made, and pull the stitch through all six loops on the hook (20, red). Slip another stitch into the lock stitch to end the round (21, red).

20180801_174730 — Almost finished with the round.

20180801_174736 — Ready to join the first two petals of the motif with the start of the round.

20180801_174745 — Slip a stitch through the very first chain 1 lock stitch.

20180801_174759 — Slip stitch through all loops on the hook.

20180801_174822 — Then chain 1, through the lock stitch again.

Round B

In Round B we create the fifth and sixth petals of the flowers.

We start with a modified motif:

First petal (22, yellow): Chain 4 (counts as a triple crochet). Make two (2) unfinished triple crochets into the same lock stitch from the previous round. Slip a stitch through all three loops on your hook, then chain one to lock the petal bobble (23, yellow). Chain 5 (24, brown).

Second petal (25, pink): Make three (3) unfinished triple crochets into the same lock stitch. Slip a stitch through all four loops on your hook, then chain one to lock the petal bobble (26, pink).

Chain 5 (27, purple). Single crochet into the next chain 5 space of the previous round (the top of the V stitch) (28, purple). Chain 5 (29, purple).

2 unfinished triple crochets into lock stitch.

Make three more unfinished triple crochets into the same lock stitch.

Slip a stitch through all three unfinished triple crochets.

Chain 5, single crochet into top of V stitch, chain 5.

Now we start the next motif:

*First petal (30, pink): In the next lock stitch of the previous round (that locked the first three petals and that the fourth petal was made into), make three (3) unfinished triple crochets. Slip a stitch through all four loops on your hook, then chain one to lock the petal bobble (31, pink). Chain 5 (32, brown).

Second petal (33, pink): Make three (3) unfinished triple crochets into the same lock stitch. Slip a stitch through all four loops on your hook, then chain one to lock the petal bobble (34, pink).

Chain 5. Single crochet into the next chain 5 space of the previous round (the top of the V stitch). Chain 5. (35, purple)*

3 unfinished triple crochets into the next lock stitch.

Slip a stitch through all 3 unfinished triple crochets.

Then chain 5, 3 unfinished triple crochets into the same lock stitch, slip a stitch through all 3, then chain 1 to lock.

Repeat from * to * six (6) more times around (36, pink, not repeated in the crochet chart), except for the last chain 5. Instead of chaining 5, chain 2 (37, purple), then triple crochet into the top of the first petal of Round B (38, purple). This leaves us in the middle of a chain 5 space, ready to go right back to Round A (39, periwinkle).

Round B: two petal motif repeated almost all the way around.

Modify the last chain 5. Instead, chain 2... — Modify the last chain 5. Instead, chain 2…

... and triple crochet into the top of the first petal of the round. — … and triple crochet into the top of the first petal of the round.

And we’re ready to jump back into Round A again.

Repeat

Repeat rounds A and B five (5) more times to make the body of the bag.