heart granny square tote bag tutorial (beginner friendly)

Hi everyone! Here's a cute and easy tote bag tutorial that follows a repetitive pattern, requires minimal effort to create alternating rows, and is easily put together.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while using this pattern:

The heart granny square is not my original idea! With this pattern, I'm only taking credit for the way in which I crocheted the heart granny square into a tote bag. All the steps I took are either mentioned explicitly or linked to a specific technique or youtube tutorial I used. To make this, you should be experienced with some basic stitches and know how granny squares work. That being said, I can't wait to see what you come up with! Please tag me in your creations (or send me a picture!) and feel free to DM me on Instagram (@mahumcrochets) if you have any questions.

Materials & Terminology:

I used a 4.5 mm hook and around 100 g of 2 colors (I recommend using light and dark alternating colors!). Abbreviations: SC - single crochet, DC - double crochet, HDC - half double crochet, TC - triple crochet, SS - slip stitch, CH - chain, C1 - color 1, C2 - color 2.

A note on the instructions before you begin: This tote bag follows a technique that's VERY similar to my emma book cover pattern. If you've already crocheted that then you can skip ahead. I've also included some additional instructions in brackets for beginners, hopefully, those make things a bit clearer!

Part 1: Crocheting a heart granny square

Crochet a heart following this youtube tutorial: crochet heart granny square tutorial. Once you're done crocheting the heart, you can either keep following the video (don't forget to refer back to this pattern for the steps that come afterward) to make the granny square or follow the pattern below.

Border 1 (C1): Attach the new yarn color with a knot at the bottom of the heart. Work in the back loops ONLY.

Follow this pattern as you go around the stitches of the heart (don't skip any stitch):

Sc, hdc, dc, tc, ch 2 (this is the 1st gap), dc, hdc, sc, sc, sc, sc, ch 2 (this is the 2nd gap), sc, sc, sc, sc, hdc, sc, sc, sc, sc, ch 2 (this is the 3rd gap), sc, sc, sc, sc, hdc, dc, ch 2 (this is the 4th gap), tc, dc, hdc, sc into the stitch where you attached the yarn, ss into the next stitch.

Border 2 (C1): After you ss, ch 3 and in the same stitch and insert 2 dc (the ch 3 counts as your first dc so there are basically 3 dc in the stitch), ch 1, now make a CORNER by doing the steps in asterisks in the ch 2 gap closest to you: *3 dc into the ch 2 gap, ch 2, 3 dc into the same ch 2 gap*, ch 1, 3 dc into the 3rd stitch from the ch 2 gap, ch 1, CORNER *3 dc into the ch 2 gap, ch 2, 3 dc into the same ch 2 gap*, ch 1, 3 dc into the 3rd stitch from the ch 2 gap, ch 1, CORNER *3 dc into the ch 2 gap, ch 2, 3 dc into the same ch 2 gap*, ch 1, 3 dc into the 3rd stitch from the ch 2 gap, ch 1, CORNER *3 dc into the ch 2 gap, ch 2, 3 dc into the same ch 2 gap*, ch 1, ss into the top of the ch 3 you made at the start, ch 1 to fasten off and cut.

Border 3 (C2): Attach the new color with a knot into one of the ch 2 gaps made in border 2. Ch 3 and insert 2 dc in the same stitch (the ch 3 counts as your first dc so there are basically 3 dc in the stitch where you attached the yarn), ch 1. Now you'll be working into the gaps made either by ch 1 or ch 2 in border 2. Repeat *3 dc, ch 1* in every chain 1 gap. When you reach every chain 2 gap, repeat *3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc* to make a corner. Do this all around the square. When you reach the same chain 2 gap where you attached the yarn, insert 3 dc again, ch 2, ss into the top of the ch 3, and ch 1 to fasten off and cut the yarn to tighten. 

Borders 4 & 5 (C1): Attach the new color with a knot into one of the ch 2 gaps made in border 2. Ch 3 and insert 2 dc in the same stitch (the ch 3 counts as your first dc so there are basically 3 dc in the stitch where you attached the yarn), ch 1. Repeat *3 dc, ch 1* in every ch 1 gap. When you reach every ch 2 gap, repeat *3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc* to make a corner. Do this all around the square. 

When you reach the same chain 2 gap where you attached the yarn, insert 3 dc again, ch 2, ss into the top of the ch 3, DO NOT FASTEN OFF, turn your work, ss into the ch 2 gap (this is where border 5 starts), ch 3 and insert 2 dc in the same stitch, repeat the same steps as before to complete the border. 

Continue adding the borders by alternating between 1 row of C2 (steps from border 3) and 2 rows of C1 (steps from borders 4 & 5). Crochet 2 squares of the same size.

Once the squares are as big as you want, attach the alternating color in the ch 2 gap in the top corner, repeat *3 dc, ch 1* till the end. This will give your bag a more rectangular, tote bag-like shape.

Part 2: Crocheting the straps

For the straps, start with a slip knot, ch 6 (or more if you want your strap to be wider), sc into the 2nd ch from your hook, sc in every stitch till the end (total 5 sc), ch 1, turn your work, sc into the 2nd ch from your hook, sc in every stitch till the end (total 5 sc again), continue crocheting rows of sc until it's the length you want for the strap.

Make 2 straps of the same width and length.

Part 3: Putting the pieces together

This part is up to personal preference! You can sew the 2 sides of the bag and the straps together or crochet with ss/sc (I prefer crocheting).

To attach the straps to the squares, I used ss. Attach the yarn with a knot on the wrong side of your square (the side our loose ends face) then ss the stitches of the strap and square together. 

To attach the squares together, I used the same yarn color that I used at the top to give it a rectangular shape. Then I sc in every stitch around the sides. This technique gave me an alternating color border around my bag without increasing its size.

And you're done!

I hope you found this pattern helpful, I'm still in the process of learning and trying to navigate the crochet community, so I'd love feedback from you! Please let me know what could've been improved or just your general thoughts on the pattern. I can't wait to see what you all create, don't forget to tag me on Instagram, and happy crocheting!

emma book cover crochet pattern (with pictures!)

Hi everyone! I am so excited to share this free pattern with you.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while using this pattern:

The heart granny square is not my original idea! With this pattern, I'm only taking credit for the way in which I crocheted the heart granny square into a book cover. All the steps I took are either mentioned explicitly or linked to a specific technique or youtube tutorial I used. To be able to make this, you should be an advanced beginner or intermediate-level crocheter. That being said, I can't wait to see what you come up with! Please tag me in your creations (or send me a picture!) and feel free to DM me on Instagram (@mahumcrochets) if you have any questions.

Materials & Terminology:

I used a 4.5 mm hook, less than 50 g of light-colored yarn, and somewhere between more than 50 but less than 100 g of pink yarn.

Abbreviations used: SC - single crochet, DC - double crochet, HDC - half double crochet, TC - triple crochet, SS - slip stitch, CH - chain.

Part 1: Crocheting a heart granny square

Crochet a heart following this youtube tutorial: crochet heart granny square tutorial. Once you're done crocheting the heart, you can either keep following the video (don't forget to refer back to this pattern for the steps that come afterward) to make the granny square or follow the pattern below.

Border 1: Attach the new yarn color with a knot at the bottom of the heart. Work in the back loops ONLY.

Follow this pattern as you go around the stitches of the heart (don't skip any stitch):

Sc, hdc, dc, tc, chain 2, dc, hdc, sc, sc, sc, sc, chain 2, sc, sc, sc, sc, hdc, sc, sc, sc, sc, chain 2, sc, sc, sc, sc, hdc, dc, chain 2, tc, dc, hdc, sc into the stitch where you attached the yarn, slip stitch into the next stitch, chain 1 to fasten off then cut the yarn.

Border 2: Attach the next yarn color with a knot or ss into one of the gaps made by the chain 2. Work in the gaps made by the chain 2 previously or the 3rd stitch after a chain 2 gap (shown in the pictures)

Ch 3 and in the same stitch insert 2 dc (the ch 3 counts as your first dc so there are basically 3 dc in the stitch where you attached the yarn), ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, CORNER *3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc*, ch 1, repeat adding *3 dc, ch 1* till you reach a corner (*3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc*), once you get to the stitch where you attached the yarn - dc into the same stitch, ch 2, ss into the top of the first ch 3, ch 1 to fasten off (you can cut the yarn).

Border 3 onwards: work into the gaps between the chain 1 or chain 2 spaces ONLY. 

Attach yarn into a chain 2 gap, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, repeat *3 dc, ch 1* in every chain 1 gap. When you reach every chain 2 gap, repeat *3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc* to make a corner. When you reach the same chain 2 gap where you attached the yarn, insert 3 dc again, ch 2, ss into the top of the ch 3, and ch 1 to fasten off (you can cut the yarn to tighten).

Keep creating borders, alternating between colors, till the square is the same width as your book (as shown in the left picture).

After that, add a border row on the top and bottom of the square to give it a rectangle shape. You can do this by attaching the yarn into a chain 2 gap with a knot, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, and repeat *dc 3, ch 1* till you reach the corner, fasten off and repeat at the bottom row. You can repeat adding rows on the top and bottom until there's a bit of gap left (as shown in the right picture).

Attach the next yarn color at the bottom left corner of your square.

The next steps are shown in the picture and the pink arrows show which direction to work in. Sc in the back loops of every stitch till you reach the corner, ch 3 - skip the corner stitches - ss into the stitch after (this creates a space in which you can tuck the corner of your book to put the cover on), ss into every stitch till you reach the next corner, ch 3 - skip the corner stitches - ss into the stitch after, sc in the back loops of every stitch all around till you reach the stitch where you attached the yarn. ss into that stitch, ch 1, turn your work and now do rows of sc back and forth.

Keep doing rows of sc until the rows are as big as your book's spine.

Once you're done, start doing rows of dc until the rows are as big as the back of your book. Make the rows a bit smaller than the back, this will create a nice tight stretch when you put the cover on. Fasten off once you're done.

Attach the same yarn color into the first dc row at the top. Ss in every stitch across the top until you reach the corner, ch 3 - skip the corner - ss into the stitch after (this creates a space where you can tuck the corner of your book to put the cover on), ss into every stitch until you reach the next corner, ch 3 - skip the corner - ss into the stitch after, ss into every stitch across the bottom till you reach the end of your dc rows, fasten off.

And you're done!

I hope you found this pattern helpful and got to create a cute book cover with it too. I'm still in the process of learning and trying to navigate the crochet community, so I'd love feedback from you! Please let me know what could've been improved or just your general thoughts on the pattern. I can't wait to see what you all create, don't forget to tag me on Instagram, and happy crocheting!