Crochet Pattern: Scrap Yarn Tote

When I finish a knit or crochet project, I just hate to throw away the leftover bits and pieces. Needless to say, that has caused my yarn sash to explode in size over the years. So, maybe it's time for a stash buster project.

I used four colors of Red Heart Yarn to make a scrappy market (or beach) tote. You can use up to 11 different colors of your favorite worsted weight yarn.

It's a quick and easy project made up of all sc and ch. One of my favorite features is that the handles are long enough to slip over your shoulder if you choose.

Materials

• Approximately 370 yds/388 m of worsted weight scrap yarn in a variety of colors
• US size H and I crochet hooks

Stitches and Abbreviations

ch - chain
sc - single crochet
sl st - slip stitch
dec - Insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull through one loop, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull through one loop, yarn over and pull through all three loops.

Directions

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds with the right side facing. It may be helpful to mark the first stitch of each round so you don’t lose your place.

Bag Bottom

With smaller hook, ch 24.

Rnd 1: 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 21 ch, 3 sc in next ch, sc in the bottom of next 21 ch.
Rnd 2: [(2 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.
Rnd 3: [(2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.
Rnd 4: [(Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.
Rnd 5: [(2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.
Rnd 6: [(Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.
Rnd 7: [(2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.
Rnd 8: [(Sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.
Rnd 9: [(2 sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.
Rnd 10: [(Sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.
Rnd 11: [(2 sc in next sc. Sc in next 9 sc) 3 times, sc in next 21 sc] twice.

Bag Body

Change to larger hook.

Rnd 12: *Ch 3, skip 3 sc, sc in next sc, repeat from * around changing to the next color in the last sc of the round.

Rnd 13: *Ch 4, sc in next sc, repeat from * around.
Rnd 14: *Ch 6, sc in next sc, repeat from * around.
Rnd 15: *Ch 6, sc in next sc, repeat from * around, substitute sl st for the last sc of the round.
Rnd 16: Sl st in next 2 ch, sc by inserting hook under both ch 6 arches, *ch 4, sc under next ch 6 arches, repeat from * around, for last stitch, sc in the first sc of the round changing to the next color.

Rnd 17-48: Repeat rounds 13-16, eight more times.

Bag Handles

Rnd 49: *Ch 3, sc in next sc, repeat from * around.
Rnd 50: *3 sc in next ch 3 space, sc in next sc, repeat from * around.
Rnd 51: Sc in next 108 sc. (If you haven’t been marking the first stitch of each round as you go, you may want to start now so you don’t lose your place.)
Rnd 52: Sc in next 14 sc, ch 70, skip 31 sc, sc in next 23 sc, ch 70, skip 31 sc, sc in next 9 sc.
Rnd 53: Sc in next 12 sc, dec, sc in next 70 ch, dec, sc in 19 sc, dec, sc in next 70 ch, dec, sc in 7 sc.
Rnd 54: Sc in next 12 sc, dec, sc in next 68 sc, dec, sc in next 19 sc, dec, sc in next 68 sc, dec, sc in next 7 sc.
Rnd 55: Sc in next 12 sc, dec, sc in next 66 sc, dec, sc in next 19 sc, dec, sc in next 66 sc, dec, sc in next 7 sc.
Rnd 56: Sc in next 12 sc, dec, sc in next 64 sc, dec, sc in next 19 sc, dec, sc in next 64 sc, dec, sc in next 6 sc, sl st in next sc, fasten off.

I had so much fun with the first bag, I had to try a second in different colors.