Scrunchie Mesh Market Tote

A round, bottom-up market tote with a gathered mesh body that scrunches like a hair scrunchie. A solid cotton base and a firm top band keep it usable; two reinforced handles take the weight of groceries or everyday carry. Intermediate.

Skill level: Intermediate

Finished measurements

• Base diameter: 8" (20.5 cm)
• Bag height (base to rim): 13½" (34.5 cm)
• Body circumference, unstretched: 48" (122 cm)
• Opening diameter: about 8¾" (22 cm)
• Handles: 21½" × 1½" (54.5 × 3.8 cm) each; about 7" (18 cm) drop once attached

One size.

Yarn

Worsted weight (#4 / Aran) cotton or cotton blend, 650 yd (595 m) / 12 oz (340 g).

Cotton is recommended: it holds the base, softens the mesh, and carries weight without stretching out of shape the way acrylic will.

Sample yardage assumes a solid color. If striping the mesh, wind a second ball before you begin the body so you can carry or join cleanly.

Hook

US H-8 (5 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge.

Optional: US G-6 (4 mm) for a denser base and handles.

Notions

• Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle
• Pins or clips
• Scissors
• Optional: ½ yd (0.5 m) fabric and sewing needle for a lining

Gauge

Sc (worked in the rnd): 14 sc and 16 rnds = 4" × 4" (10 × 10 cm)

Mesh: 8 (dc, ch-1) groups and 6 rnds = 4" × 4" (10 × 10 cm)

Work a 6" sc swatch in the round and measure the inner 4". Change hook until sc gauge matches; mesh will follow.

Abbreviations (US)

• BLO — back loop only
• ch — chain
• dc — double crochet
• hdc — half double crochet
• rep — repeat
• rnd — round
• RS — right side
• sc — single crochet
• sk — skip
• sl st — slip stitch
• sp(s) — space(s)
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• WS — wrong side

Notes

• Base is worked in a continuous spiral. Mark the first st of every rnd and move the marker up.
• From the mesh onward, rounds are joined. Do not turn.
• Beginning ch 4 of each mesh rnd counts as (dc, ch 1).
• The mesh is worked at twice the base circumference on purpose. The fabric will ruffle and collapse into folds — that is the scrunchie. Do not decrease to “fix” it.
• The sc circle may wave slightly at the last increase rnds (96 sts around an 8" circle is a little generous). The BLO ridge and the sides will pull it flat.
• Join new yarn at a sl st join, not mid-mesh, when possible.
• Tight, even sc on the handles matters more than speed; they take the whole load.

Pattern

Base

Worked in a spiral. Do not join.

Make a magic ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. Pull ring closed. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (6 increases → 6 + 6 = 12 sc ✓)

Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (6 increases → 12 + 6 = 18 sc ✓)

Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (18 + 6 = 24 sc ✓)

Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (24 + 6 = 30 sc ✓)

Rnd 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (30 + 6 = 36 sc ✓)

Rnd 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (36 + 6 = 42 sc ✓)

Rnd 8: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (42 + 6 = 48 sc ✓)

Rnd 9: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (48 + 6 = 54 sc ✓)

Rnd 10: *Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (54 + 6 = 60 sc ✓)

Rnd 11: *Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (60 + 6 = 66 sc ✓)

Rnd 12: *Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (66 + 6 = 72 sc ✓)

Rnd 13: *Sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (72 + 6 = 78 sc ✓)

Rnd 14: *Sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (78 + 6 = 84 sc ✓)

Rnd 15: *Sc in next 13 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (84 + 6 = 90 sc ✓)

Rnd 16: *Sc in next 14 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (90 + 6 = 96 sc ✓)

Base should measure about 8" (20.5 cm) across.

Rnd 17 (ridge): Sc BLO in each st around, sl st in first sc to join. (96 sc)

This ridge is the bottom edge of the bag. The RS is the outside.

Scrunchie mesh body

Worked in joined rnds. Do not turn. The first mesh rnd places (dc, ch 1) in every sc, doubling the fabric off the 8" base (96 groups × 8 groups/4" = 48" circumference ✓).

Mesh rnd 1: Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), *dc in next sc, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4 to join. (96 dc, 96 ch-1 sps ✓)

Mesh rnd 2: Sl st in first ch-1 sp, ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), *dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1; rep from * around, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4 to join. (96 dc, 96 ch-1 sps ✓)

Mesh rnds 3–18: Rep Mesh rnd 2. (16 more rnds → 18 mesh rnds total ✓)

At 6 mesh rnds = 4", 18 rnds = 12" of mesh (18 / 6 × 4" = 12" ✓). The body will be very full. Smooth the gathers down toward the ridge so they sit evenly before you start the band.

Top band

The band gathers the mesh back to the base stitch count so the opening matches the foot of the bag and the extra fabric poufs between them.

Band rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each dc around, skipping every ch-1 sp, sl st in first sc to join. (96 sc ✓)

Band rnds 2–5: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join. (96 sc)

Do not fasten off if you prefer to crochet the handles on during Band rnd 6; otherwise fasten off after rnd 5, weave the end, and sew the handles on as written below, then work Band rnd 6 through handle and band together.

Band rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc to join. Fasten off. (96 sc)

Band is 6 sc rnds = 6 / 16 × 4" = 1½" (3.8 cm) ✓. Total side height: 12" mesh + 1½" band = 13½" ✓.

Handles (make 2)

Worked flat.

Ch 76.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (75 sc)
(75 sc / 14 sc per 4" = 21.4" length ✓)

Rows 2–6: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn. (75 sc)
(6 rows / 16 rows per 4" = 1½" width ✓)

Fasten off, leaving a 24" (61 cm) tail for sewing.

Optional finish: with RS facing, join yarn at any corner and sc evenly around the entire handle, working 3 sc in each corner; sl st in first sc. Fasten off. This packs the edges and adds strength.

Handle placement

Lay the bag flat with the join of the top band at one side seam. Number 96 band sts clockwise from that join.

Mark:

• Handle 1: sts 1–6 and sts 19–24 (6 sts each; 12 sts between inner edges ✓)
• Side space: sts 25–48 (24 sts ✓)
• Handle 2: sts 49–54 and sts 67–72 (6 sts each; 12 sts between inner edges ✓)
• Side space: sts 73–96 (24 sts ✓)

Check: 6+12+6 + 24 + 6+12+6 + 24 = 96 ✓. The two handles sit opposite each other. Each handle’s inner gap is 12 sts ≈ 3½"; each side space is 24 sts ≈ 7".

Assembly

Pin one handle to the WS of the top band (or RS if you want the handles to sit outside) so that:

• each end covers its 6 marked sts
• about 2½" (6.5 cm) of handle overlaps the band
• the handle is not twisted

Using the long tail (or a new length of the same yarn), sew through both layers of the handle and the top band with firm whipstitch or backstitch. Go around the overlap box twice. Repeat for the second end, then for the second handle.

Reinforce: join yarn at the first st of an attachment, and sc through handle and band together across those 6 sts; fasten off. Repeat at all four attachments.

Weave in every remaining end on the WS. Tug each handle hard; restitch any slack.

Finishing

• Steam only the base and the handles, holding the iron above the cotton — do not press the mesh flat if you want to keep the scrunchie folds.
• Shake the bag so the gathers fall evenly around the ridge.
• If the opening feels soft, work one extra BLO sc rnd through Band rnd 6 before fastening off.

Optional lining (recommended if you will carry small items): Cut a fabric circle 8½" (21.5 cm) across and a rectangle 14" × 27" (35.5 × 68.5 cm). Sew the rectangle into a tube, ease it onto the circle, and slip-stitch the lining to the WS of the top band, keeping the mesh free to scrunch.

Schematic (measurements)

            7" drop
         ┌─────────┐
         │  handle │
    ─────┴─────────┴─────  ← opening ~ 8¾" diameter (96 sc)
    \                   /
     \    mesh body    /   12" mesh + 1½" band = 13½" tall
      \  (48" circ,   /
       \  scrunched) /
        \___________/      ← BLO ridge
         ───────────       ← base 8" diameter (96 sc)

Stitch counts at a glance