Get ready for your next trip to the farmer’s market or grocery store with this reusable cotton produce bag. Reusable produce bags are great for cutting back on our plastic use. Best of all, these bags are washable, sturdy, and will expand to hold more produce than you might expect.

How This Blanket Is Made

Quick and fun to stitch, this bag is worked in one piece from the bottom up, then folded lengthwise and seamed on the bottom and side. Customize the front and back of your bag with filet crochet. Choose from the six designs provided or use the blank chart to create your own.

Each filet design is presented on its own page, which includes:
• photo of the finished crochet design
• full crochet filet chart for the design
• stitch key
• quick reference guide for how to work open and closed blocks

Simple eyelets along the top edge allow for the addition of a drawstring to ensure that your loose fruits and veggies stay put. Choose between two cord styles: instructions are given for crocheting your own quickly and easily, or if you prefer a readymade cord, instructions are included for installing a paracord drawstring with push-button cord lock.

New to filet crochet? Here are the basics: Filet crochet combines double crochet stitches with chain spaces to create open and closed blocks across the fabric. Filet crochet charts, included with the pattern, show you which blocks to fill in and which blocks to leave open. The placement of the solid, closed blocks creates the visual image.

Whether you’re an expert with filet crochet or you’re trying it for the first time, you will love using this traditional technique to make unique bags you can use every day.

Pattern is written in US crochet terms.

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Concentration Level
Some concentration required. While the pattern uses straightforward and uncomplicated stitching, you will need to follow a simple filet crochet chart to create the design on the front and back of your bag, which will require a little more concentration.

Stitches Used
Chain, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, and extended double crochet (optional)

Techniques Used
Working in rows, working into chain spaces, reading a filet crochet chart, joining with single crochet.

Finished Measurements (approximate size after blocking)
8.5 x 11.5 inches (21.5 cm x 29 cm)

Super Fine (CYC #1) Weight Yarn/Size 3 Crochet Thread
148 - 177 yards (135 - 162 m)

The sample shown here was made with a C/2/2.75mm crochet hook and We Crochet Curio No. 3 lace weight 100% mercerized cotton (295 yds/270 m; 3.5 oz/100 g per ball) in the color#27999 Natural (Bare). The project required 1 ball of this thread.

Suggested Yarn Substitutes
- Scheepjes Catona
- Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet (Size 3)
- DMC Petra Crochet Cotton Thread Size 3

Additional Tools and Materials
Size C/2/2.75mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Tapestry needle
5/8 inch (16 mm) wooden barrel bead with 5/16 inch (7.5–8 mm) hole (pictured) (optional for crochet drawstring)
No. 425/3 mm-diameter paracord: 28 inches (0.71 m) (optional for readymade drawstring)
2-hole cord lock with 3 mm or larger holes (optional for readymade drawstring)
Lighter or super glue (optional for readymade drawstring)
Scissors

Gauge
8 blocks and 8 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)

Tip: To achieve gauge and ensure that the proportions of your filet crochet image will be balanced, your blocks need to be as close to square as possible. Most people make rather short double crochet stitches, which results in blocks that are more rectangular than square. To correct this, you may want to work extended double crochet (edc) instead of double crochet stitches. (Replace every dc with an edc throughout the pattern.)

PATTERN INCLUDES
• A 15-page premium pattern pdf with professional full-color photographs.
• List of abbreviations used, plus detailed instructions for special stitches and techniques.
• Linked Table of Contents.
• Filet crochet charts for 6 unique designs.
• 1 bonus blank chart to help you draw your own design.
• Instructions for crocheting a simple drawstring and adding it to your bag.
• Instructions for prepping and installing a readymade paracord and cord lock.

This Pattern Comes with Additional Resources to Help You Along
• Tips to help you crochet filet designs that are balanced and look great.
• How to read the crochet filet charts in this pattern.
• Pattern support. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I’m always happy to help!