I am genuinely so excited to share this one because it has been living rent-free in my head since I first saw it take shape. The open mesh structure of this Crochet Net Tote Bag gives it that rare quality of feeling airy yet structured, like something you would find hanging in a sun-drenched boutique by the sea.
The Net Tote Bag
This Crochet Net Tote Bag is the kind of piece that earns compliments before you even say a word about making it yourself. The open mesh body has a whisper of elegance to it, geometric without being rigid, casual without being careless. It is roomy enough to carry a beach towel, a book, and a bottle of something cold, yet it hangs from your shoulder with a lightness that heavier bags can never quite achieve. Whether you are brand new to crochet or you have been working with a hook for years, this design sits in that sweet spot where the making feels satisfying and the result feels genuinely special.
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In its natural cotton cream, this bag looks like something borrowed from a slower, quieter summer. You could also work it in a warm sand tone, a faded sage, or even a soft terracotta to lean into different seasonal moods. It pairs effortlessly with linen trousers and bare feet or slung over a denim jacket on a Saturday morning at the market.
Materials and Tools
For the best results, reach for a smooth cotton yarn in a worsted weight, ideally around 200 to 250 meters per 100 grams. Cotton gives the mesh structure its crispness while remaining soft against your arm and your belongings. A natural, unbleached cotton in that creamy off-white you see in the reference images is especially beautiful, but any tightly spun worsted cotton will behave well here. Work with a 5mm crochet hook, which opens the mesh just enough to give you that characteristic net effect without the fabric becoming too loose to hold its shape, and keep a locking stitch marker nearby for tracking your round joins.
Stitch by Stitch
This Crochet Net Tote Bag relies on a small family of foundational stitches that build the open mesh pattern.
BULLET:CH (Chain) The foundation of every row and the stitch that creates the signature open spaces within the mesh grid.
BULLET:SC (Single Crochet) Used at key structural points to anchor the mesh and keep the sides of the bag firm and tidy.
BULLET:DC (Double Crochet) The workhorse of the mesh pattern, creating height and openness in each repeated section of the grid.
BULLET:SL ST (Slip Stitch) Used to join rounds seamlessly and to reinforce the handles where they meet the bag body.
Once your hands find the meditative rhythm of chaining and working DC across the mesh, the rows begin to flow in a way that is almost musical, and you will find yourself reaching for the hook in quiet moments without even thinking about it.
Construction
The bag is worked in flat panels that are then joined, giving even beginner crocheters a clear and manageable structure to follow rather than navigating complex shaping in the round from the start. The base is formed first as a firm rectangle of SC rows, which gives the finished bag its satisfying flat-bottomed shape when set down. From there, the sides are built upward in the mesh pattern, growing row by row into that open, net-like body. If you want a deeper bag, simply add extra rows before finishing the top edge, making this one of the most forgiving and customisable projects you will find.
Wearing Your Net Tote Bag
Carry your finished Crochet Net Tote Bag to the farmers market with a bundle of sunflowers tucked inside and watch how naturally it fits the scene. It works just as beautifully as a beach bag layered over a striped swimsuit cover-up, or as an everyday tote holding your notebook and water bottle on a slow city afternoon. Finishing this project means you will have something you actually reach for, not something that sits on a shelf.
Washing and Storing Your Crochet Net Tote Bag
Because this bag is worked in cotton, it responds beautifully to a gentle hand wash in cool water with a mild soap, keeping the fibers clean without stressing the open mesh structure. Lay it flat on a clean towel and reshape it gently while damp, smoothing the handles long and the base flat, which acts as a light block and keeps everything looking crisp. Avoid hanging it to dry while wet, as the weight of the water can stretch the mesh unevenly over time. When storing between seasons, fold it loosely rather than compressing it into a drawer, so the mesh retains its open, airy character.
Every stitch in this Crochet Net Tote Bag is one you made with your own hands, and that makes it worth so much more than anything pulled from a shelf. Find the full video tutorial to follow along at your own pace, and when yours is finished, pin it to your crochet board so others can find this pattern too.
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Tutorial and photos of this net tote bag by: ViVi Berry Crochet.