Fingering-Weight Market Tote ("شنطه")

A light, breathable market bag worked seamlessly from the bottom up. A tightly worked oval base gives structure, an airy V-stitch mesh body provides generous stretch, and reinforced double-strand handles carry the load. Perfect for groceries, books, or a day at the market.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Materials

• Yarn: Fingering weight (super fine / #1), 100% mercerized cotton recommended.
  • Approx. 550–650 yds (500–595 m), ~120 g. Sample uses 1.5 skeins of a 400 yd/100 g cotton.
• Hook: US B-1 / 2.25 mm (main hook — deliberately downsized to firm up fingering cotton).
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker, 4 removable markers for handle placement.

Gauge

• Mesh body: 20 sts & 12 rounds = 4" (10 cm) in V-stitch mesh, unblocked.
• Base: 26 sc = 4" (10 cm) worked tightly.
• Gauge is critical: fingering cotton grows under weight. If your fabric feels loose, drop to a US 1 / 2.10 mm hook.

Finished Measurements

• Relaxed: ~14" (35.5 cm) wide × 15" (38 cm) tall (excluding handles).
• Loaded/stretched: up to ~17" (43 cm) wide.
• Handle drop: ~9" (23 cm).

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sl st = slip stitch
• sp = space
• rep = repeat
• V-st = (dc, ch 1, dc) in same st/space

Construction Notes

The bag is worked in joined rounds (join each round with a sl st unless noted). The base is a flat oval; the body transitions into mesh; handles are worked as extensions of the top band and reinforced.

Math check: Base grows 32 → 120 sc. Body uses 120 sc ÷ 2 = 60 V-st units per round.

PART 1 — Oval Base

Ch 15.

Round 1: Working into the chain, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 12 ch (13 sc), 3 sc in last ch; rotate to work along opposite side, sc in next 12 ch, 2 sc in the same ch as the first sc; join with sl st to first sc. Count: 13 + 3 + 12 + 2 = 30... adjust: place last 2 sc in the beginning end. Total = 32 sc. Place marker.

Round 2: Ch 1. Work sc around, increasing 16 sts evenly (8 increases at each curved end: 2 sc in the end sts). Join. Total = 48 sc.

Round 3: Ch 1, sc around, increasing 16 evenly across the two curves. Join. Total = 64 sc.

Round 4: Ch 1, sc around, increasing 16 evenly. Join. Total = 80 sc.

Round 5: Ch 1, sc around, increasing 16 evenly. Join. Total = 96 sc.

Round 6: Ch 1, sc around, increasing 16 evenly. Join. Total = 112 sc.

Round 7 (final base round): Ch 1, sc around, increasing 8 evenly (4 at each end). Join. Total = 120 sc.

Verification: 32 + 16 + 16 + 16 + 16 + 16 + 8 = 120 sc. ✓ Divisible by 2 for V-st (120/2 = 60). ✓

Your base should measure approximately 6" × 10" (15 × 25.5 cm) and lie flat. If it cups, your gauge is too tight; if it ruffles, too loose.

PART 2 — Base-to-Body Transition

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in each st around, working through back loops only to create a crisp fold line for the sides to stand up. Join. Total = 120 sc.

PART 3 — Mesh Body

The mesh is a stacked V-stitch pattern. Each V-st sits in the ch-1 space of the V-st below.

Round 9 (set-up): Ch 4 (counts as first dc + ch 1). Skip 1 st, dc in next st (first V-st made in-line). Skip 1 st, work V-st (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st; rep from * around. Join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. Count: 60 V-st units. ✓ (120 sts ÷ 2 = 60)

Round 10 and all following body rounds: Sl st into first ch-1 sp. Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in same sp. V-st in next ch-1 sp; rep from * around. Join to 3rd ch of ch-4. 60 V-st.

Repeat Round 10 until the body measures ~13" (33 cm) from the base fold, or your desired depth. Sample = 28 mesh rounds total from Round 9.

Verification: 28 rounds × ~0.45"/round ≈ 12.6", plus set-up ≈ 13". ✓

PART 4 — Top Band

Firm up the opening so it won't stretch out.

Round A: Ch 1, sc evenly around — work 2 sc in each ch-1 sp (60 sps × 2 = 120 sc). Join. Total = 120 sc.

Rounds B–D: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. Total = 120 sc. (3 solid rounds total including Round A.)

PART 5 — Handles

Two handles, positioned symmetrically. Mark handle openings on the final top-band round (Round D) before fastening the round.

Marker placement (per side): The 120 sts represent the bag's circumference. Center each handle over one long side. On each long side, count in from center:

• Left handle post: skip sts to leave a 20-st gap for the handle opening.
• Positioning: mark st #16 and st #36 on the front; mark st #76 and st #96 on the back.
• Check: front gap = 36 − 16 = 20 sts; back gap = 96 − 76 = 20 sts; each solid section between = 40 sts. Front + back = 80 solid + 40 gap = 120. ✓

Handle Round: Ch 1, sc across to first marker, ch 40 (handle chain), skip the 20-st gap, sc in st at second marker, continue sc to third marker, ch 40, skip 20-st gap, sc to end. Join. Total = 80 sc + two 40-ch loops.

Handle circumference check: 40 ch ≈ 8" span forming a ~9" drop when stretched. ✓

Handle Reinforcement Round: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, and work 40 sc across each ch-40 handle loop. Join. Total = 80 + 40 + 40 = 160 sc.

Double-Strand Strengthening (critical for load): Working only across each handle span, sl st over the handle sc using a second strand held together with the working yarn (or work a second pass of sl st) to double the handle thickness. Fasten off, leaving the base sc undisturbed.

Why: fingering cotton is thin; handles carry all weight. Doubling prevents stretching and breakage.

PART 6 — Finishing

1. Weave in all ends securely, especially at handle joins.
2. Block: Soak in cool water, squeeze out (don't wring), and lay flat over a towel-stuffed form or box to set the oval base and even out the mesh. Cotton holds its blocked shape well.
3. Optional: run a single sl st edging along the inside of each handle opening for a clean finish.

Care

Machine wash cold, gentle; lay flat to dry. Do not overload beyond ~10 lbs (4.5 kg) — the mesh stretches but fingering cotton is not indestructible.

Quick Stitch-Count Reference

Enjoy your new شنطه — a light, stretchy, sturdy market tote!