Scrunchie Market Tote

Skill level: Intermediate
Construction: Worked in joined rounds from the circular base up. Mesh body is made extra tall, then gathered onto a firm single-crochet band for a scrunchie look. Sturdy handles are added last.

Finished measurements

• Base diameter: about 10" (25.5 cm)
• Circumference at band: about 30" (76 cm)
• Height after gathering: about 8" (20.5 cm) plus handles
• Handles: 18" (45.5 cm) long × about 1¼" (3 cm) wide

Materials

• Worsted-weight cotton yarn, about 550 yd (503 m)
• US H/8 (5 mm) hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker
• Optional: ½ yd (0.5 m) cotton lining fabric and sewing needle (not required for structure)

Gauge

16 sc and 18 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in sc, worked in the round.
Mesh: 8 (dc, ch 2) repeats = about 6" (15 cm) wide; 8 mesh rnds = about 4" (10 cm) tall.
Check gauge; change hook if needed.

Abbreviations (US)

ch – chain
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
rnd – round
rep – repeat
sk – skip

Notes

• Join each round with sl st to first st (or first dc) unless stated.
• Do not turn.
• Ch 3 at start of a dc rnd counts as dc. Ch 1 at start of sc rnd does not count as a st.
• Mesh multiple: 3 sts (dc, ch 2) around; 40 repeats = 120 sts.
• The body is meant to be taller than the finished bag so it gathers like a scrunchie.

Base (solid circle)

Make a magic ring (or ch 4, sl st to form a ring).

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 12 sc in ring, join. (12 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join. (24 sc) (12 increases → 12 + 12 = 24 ✓)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join. (36 sc) (12 increases → 24 + 12 = 36 ✓)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join. (48 sc) (12 increases → 36 + 12 = 48 ✓)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join. (60 sc) (12 increases → 48 + 12 = 60 ✓)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join. (72 sc) (12 increases → 60 + 12 = 72 ✓)
Rnd 7: Ch 1, *sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join. (84 sc) (12 increases → 72 + 12 = 84 ✓)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, *sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join. (96 sc) (12 increases → 84 + 12 = 96 ✓)
Rnd 9: Ch 1, *sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join. (108 sc) (12 increases → 96 + 12 = 108 ✓)
Rnd 10: Ch 1, *sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join. (120 sc) (12 increases → 108 + 12 = 120 ✓)

Rnds 11–12: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (120 sc)
Base should measure about 10" (25.5 cm) across.

Mesh body (stretch / scrunchie volume)

Rnd 13: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sk 2 sts, *dc in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts; rep from * around, join to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (40 dc, 40 ch-2 spaces = 120 sts ✓)

Rnds 14–40: Sl st into first ch-2 space, ch 5, *dc in next ch-2 space, ch 2; rep from * around, join to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (40 repeats)

Work 28 mesh rounds total (Rnds 13–40). Mesh height is about 14" (35.5 cm) before gathering.

Scrunchie band (gathers the mesh)

You will work 120 sc into the 40 mesh spaces by placing 3 sc in each ch-2 space.

Rnd 41: Ch 1, 3 sc in each ch-2 space around, join. (120 sc) (40 × 3 = 120 ✓)
Rnds 42–46: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join. (120 sc)

This firm band cinches the extra mesh so the body scrunches. Finished bag height about 8" (20.5 cm) from base to top of band.

Handles (make 2)

Row 1: Ch 8, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (7 sc)
Rows 2–80: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (7 sc)

Length about 18" (45.5 cm). Fasten off, leaving a 12" (30.5 cm) tail.

Fold each handle in half lengthwise and whipstitch the long edges together for a double-thick strap about 1¼" (3 cm) wide.

Finishing

1. Pin each handle to the inside of the band, with ends about 4" (10 cm) apart and centered on opposite sides of the bag.
2. Sew each end firmly through all layers of the band for at least 1" (2.5 cm).
3. Weave in ends. Block lightly: wet-block the base flat; do not stretch the gathered mesh fully flat—keep the scrunch.
4. Optional lining: cut a circle 10" (25.5 cm) and a rectangle 31 × 9" (79 × 23 cm), sew into a pouch, and hand-sew to the inside of the band.

Care

Machine wash cool, gentle; reshape and air dry. Cotton will soften and the mesh will scrunch more with use.