BANANA TOTE

FREE PATTERN WITH VIDEO TUTORIAL

A new year and new patterns to come, finally. Leaving the cold behind little by little, and preparing for warmer weather, with bright colors and fun prints.

The Banana Tote is a spacious and practical bag, to carry your beach outing essentials in a stylish look. Another great project to practice tapestry crochet technique, with more than two colors at a time, to use those beautiful colors you have in mind for Summer.

Tapestry with single crochets, for a resistant weave, made in one seamless main piece, for a comfortable make.

Only add a pair of crochet handles by the end, for the perfect finishing touch. A basic handles’ design that can be used for many bag projects. PLEASE NOTE that the handles’ tutorial is separate from the Banana Tote instructions so, when finishing the main body of the bag, refer to the Crochet Handles post or video to find the specific steps to complete them.

Intermediate skill level, because wrapping more than one yarn may require a little more focus while crocheting. But with a quite repetitive print that makes it easier to follow.

SPECIAL STITCHES AND TECHNIQUES

Tapestry Crochet: In this technique, you crochet with one yarn while one or more threads are carried and wrapped in between the stitches. Colors are switched throughout rows/rounds to make a drawing. Depending on the project, you will make one or more foundation rows/rounds with one color only and then move on to the tapestry crochet portion of the project.

I nice project to take tapestry one step forward, if you have already tried it before. To experiment using more than two colors and create amazing colorful prints.

I suggest you watch the video below first, to have previous notions of carrying more than one additional yarn and making color changes. Practicing a little before making the actual project will give you a lot more confidence.

All important steps are covered in the Banana Tote Video Tutorial, with English/Spanish instructions. To complement the round by round written instructions (below this same post), when you need to check exactly how a certain part of the project is made. A super useful visual guide.

If you want the formatted, ad free, 14 page PDF document (with written instructions, also including charts and more than 40 images in photo tutorials) of the Banana Tote, this is available in my pattern stores (Ravelry, Etsy, Lovecrochet) for USD $3.60.

Sport weight yarn is always my favorite for these projects, due to the right combination of joyful shades and defined stitches. It also contributes to a resistant long-lasting finished bag. A wonderful crochet project to start with new crafting goals, with easy in the round construction and few finishing steps.

SUGGESTED MATERIALS

• 3 mm (11) crochet hook
• Three 100 gr/ 3.52 oz (200 m/ 218 yd) skeins of sport weight Sinfonia yarn (100% cotton) in GREEN 840 (MC)
• One 100 gr/ 3.52 oz (200 m/ 218 yd) skein of sport weight Sinfonia yarn (100% cotton) in YELLOW 820 (CC1)
• One 100 gr/ 3.52 oz (200 m/ 218 yd) skein of sport weight Sinfonia yarn (100% cotton) in BLACK 803 (CC2)
• One pair of crochet handles
• Leftover yarn in BEIGE
• Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape
• Scissors

FINISHED SIZE

13.8” x 15.7” / 35 cm x 40 cm

GAUGE
(single crochet, back and forth)
22 sts x 20 rows= 4”/ 10 cm
(single crochet, with tapestry crochet, wrapping CC1 and CC2)
26 sts x 19 rnds= 4”/ 10 cm

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate-Advanced: This design includes crochet basic stitches, basic increases, a mid-level tapestry crochet pattern (alternating more than two colors at a time), easy shaping and finishing techniques.

STITCH GUIDE

• Rnd: round
• Ch: chain
• St(s): stitch(es)
• Sl st: slip stitch
• Sc: single crochet
• Rep: repeat
• MC: main color
• CC: contrasting color
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side

 NOTES 

• When crocheting in the round, in a spiral, with sc, place a marker in first st of the Rnd and move up as work progresses.
• CC1 and CC2 are carried from Rnd 2 of the bag, to give more resistance to the piece.

BANANA BAG
Crocheted in the round, in a spiral, starting from the bottom. With MC, ch 52.
Rnd 1: 2 sc in 2nd ch from the hook, sc 49, 4 sc in next ch, continue on the opposite side of the ch, sc 49, 2 sc in last ch= 106 sts

Rnd 2: From this round on, carry and wrap CC1 and CC2. Continue crocheting with MC, by wrapping CC1 and CC2 in between the sts.
2 sc in first st, 2 sc in next st, sc 49, (2 sc in next st) rep ( ) 4 times, sc 49, (2 sc in next st) twice= 114 sts

Rnd 3: (Sc 1, 2 sc in next st) twice, sc 50, (2 sc in next st, sc 1) rep ( ) 3 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 50, 2 sc in next st, sc 1, 2 sc in next st= 122 sts
Rnd 4: (Sc 2, 2 sc in next st) twice, sc 51, (2 sc in next st, sc 2) rep ( ) 3 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 51, 2 sc in next st, sc 2, 2 sc in next st= 130 sts
Rnd 5: (Sc 3, 2 sc in next st) twice, sc 52, (2 sc in next st, sc 3) rep ( ) 3 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 52, 2 sc in next st, sc 3, 2 sc in next st= 138 sts
Rnd 6: (Sc 4, 2 sc in next st) twice, sc 53, (2 sc in next st, sc 4) rep ( ) 3 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 53, 2 sc in next st, sc 4, 2 sc in next st= 146 sts
Rnd 7: (Sc 5, 2 sc in next st) twice, sc 54, (2 sc in next st, sc 5) rep ( ) 3 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 54, 2 sc in next st, sc 5, 2 sc in next st= 154 sts
Rnd 8: (Sc 6, 2 sc in next st) twice, sc 55, (2 sc in next st, sc 6) rep ( ) 3 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 55, 2 sc in next st, sc 6, 2 sc in next st= 162 sts
Rnd 9: (Sc 7, 2 sc in next st) twice, sc 56, (2 sc in next st, sc 7) rep ( ) 3 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 56, 2 sc in next st, sc 7, 2 sc in next st= 170 sts
Rnd 10: (Sc 8, 2 sc in next st) twice, sc 57, (2 sc in next st, sc 8) rep ( ) 3 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 57, 2 sc in next st, sc 8, 2 sc in next st= 178 sts

Rnd 11: Sc 178= 178 sts

Rnd 12: From this round on, start tapestry crochet part. Continue crocheting over 178 sts,
by following necessary color changes to shape the drawing, by working with one yarn while wrapping unused colors in between the sts.
With MC sc 9, (with CC1 sc 6, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 37) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 6, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 30= 178 sts

Rnd 13: With MC sc 8, (with CC1 sc 8, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 35) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 8 pb, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 29= 178 sts 

Rnd 14: With MC sc 8, (with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 39) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 33= 178 sts 
Rnd 15: With MC sc 8, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 40) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 34= 178 sts 
Rnd 16: With MC sc 8, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 6, with MC sc 15) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 6, with MC sc 9= 178 sts 
Rnd 17: With MC sc 8, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 8, with MC sc 13) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 8, with MC sc 7= 178 sts 
Rnd 18: With MC sc 9, (with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 23, with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 13) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 23, with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 6= 178 sts 
Rnd 19: With MC sc 9, (with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 25, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 12) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 25, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 5= 178 sts 
Rnd 20: With MC sc 10, (with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 26, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 12) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 26, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 4= 178 sts 
Rnd 21: With MC sc 39, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 40) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 3= 178 sts 
Rnd 22: With MC sc 40, (with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 41) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 3= 178 sts 
Rnd 23: (With MC sc 41, with CC1 sc 3) rep ( ) 4 times, with MC sc 2= 178 sts 
Rnd 24: (With MC sc 42, with CC2 sc 2) rep ( ) 4 times, with MC sc 2= 178 sts 
Rnds 25-27: With MC sc 178= 178 sts 
Rnd 28: With MC sc 25, (with CC1 sc 6, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 37) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 6, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 14= 178 sts 
Rnd 29: With MC sc 24, (with CC1 sc 8, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 35) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 8, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 13= 178 sts 
Rnd 30: With MC sc 24, (with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 39) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 17= 178 sts 
Rnd 31: With MC sc 24, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 40) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 18= 178 sts 
Rnd 32: With MC sc 2, (with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 6, with MC sc 15, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 18) rep ( ) 4 times= 178 sts 
Rnd 33: With MC sc 2, (with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 8, with MC sc 13, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 18) rep ( ) 4 times= 178 sts 
Rnd 34: With MC sc 7, (with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 13, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 23) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 13, with CC1 sc 3 p, with MC sc 18= 178 sts 
Rnd 35: With MC sc 9, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 12, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 25) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 12, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 18= 178 sts 
Rnd 36: With MC sc 10, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 12, with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 26) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 12, with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 18= 178 sts 
Rnd 37: With MC sc 11, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 40) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 31= 178 sts 
Rnd 38: With MC sc 12, (with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 41) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 31= 178 sts 
Rnd 39: With MC sc 13, (with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 41) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 30= 178 sts 
Rnd 40: With MC sc 14, (with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 42) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 30= 178 sts 
Rnds 41-42: With MC sc 178= 178 sts 
Rnd 43: With MC sc 175, with CC1 sc 3= 178 sts 
Rnd 44: With CC1 sc 3, (with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 37, with CC1 sc 6) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 38, with CC1 sc 4)= 178 sts 
Rnd 45: With CC1 sc 4, (with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 35, with CC1 sc 8) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 37, with CC1 sc 4)= 178 sts 
Rnd 46: With CC1 sc 1, (with MC sc 39, with CC1 sc 5) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 41, with CC1 sc 4= 178 sts 
Rnd 47: (With MC sc 40, with CC1 sc 4) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 42, with CC1 sc 4= 178 sts 
Rnd 48: (With MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 6, with MC sc 15, with CC1 sc 4) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 6, with MC sc 17, with CC1 sc 4= 178 sts 
Rnd 49: (With MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 8, with MC sc 13, with CC1 sc 4) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 8, with MC sc 16, with CC1 sc 3= 178 sts 
Rnd 50: (With MC sc 23, with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 13, with CC1 sc 3) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 23, with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 15, with CC1 sc 3= 178 sts 
Rnd 51: (With MC sc 25, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 12, with CC1 sc 3) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 25, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 15, with CC2 sc 2= 178 sts 
Rnd 52: (With MC sc 26, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 12, with CC2 sc 2) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 26, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 16= 178 sts 
Rnd 53: With MC sc 27, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 40) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 15= 178 sts 
Rnd 54: With MC sc 28, (with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 41) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 15= 178 sts 
Rnd 55: With MC sc 29, (with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 41) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 14= 178 sts 
Rnd 56: With MC sc 30, (with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 42) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 14= 178 sts 
Rnds 57-59: With MC sc 178= 178 sts 
Rnd 60: With MC sc 13, (with CC1 sc 6, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 37) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 6, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 26= 178 sts 
Rnd 61: With MC sc 12, (with CC1 sc 8, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 35) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 8, with CC2 sc 1, with MC sc 25= 178 sts 
Rnd 62: With MC sc 12, (with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 39) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 5, with MC sc 29= 178 sts 
Rnd 63: With MC sc 12, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 40) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 20, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 6, with MC sc 3= 178 sts 
Rnd 64: With MC sc 12, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 6, with MC sc 15) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 20, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 8, with MC sc 1= 178 sts 
Rnd 65: With MC sc 12, (with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 18, with CC2 sc 1, with CC1 sc 8, with MC sc 13) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 4, with MC sc 25, with CC1 sc 5= 178 sts 
Rnd 66: (With MC sc 13, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 23, with CC1 sc 5) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 13, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 27, with CC1 sc 3= 178 sts 
Rnd 67: With CC1 sc 1, (with MC sc 12, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 25, with CC1 sc 4) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 12, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 28, with CC1 sc 2= 178 sts 
Rnd 68: With CC1 sc 2, (with MC sc 12, with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 26, with CC1 sc 4) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 12, with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 29, with CC1 sc 1= 178 sts 
Rnd 69: With CC1 sc 3, (with MC sc 40, with CC1 sc 4) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 43= 178 sts 
Rnd 70: With CC1 sc 3, (with MC sc 41, with CC1 sc 3) rep ( ) 3 times, with MC sc 43= 178 sts 
Rnd 71: With MC sc 1, (with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 41) rep ( ) 3 times, with CC1 sc 3, with MC sc 42= 178 sts

Rnd 72: With MC sc 2, (with CC2 sc 2, with MC sc 42) rep ( ) 4 times= 178 sts
Cut CC1 and CC2 leaving a 4”/ 10 cm tail.

Rnd 73-74: Sc 178= 178 sts

By the end of Rnd 74, sc 12 (or necessary amount of sts) to reach the nearest fold of the bag.
Sl st in next st.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.

FINISHING
With BEIGE, sew the crochet handles to front and back of the bag, 10 sts from each side and 7 Rnds from the upper edge.

And take out your bag for that sunny day plan. Try with other colors on the background, for different effects, but same bright look.

A large size accessory that will set a joyful mood for the season, while being super practical at the same time. Share your makes with me, use #bananatote tag for me to see your version or tag me as @chabepatterns on my Instagram.

All written instructions, charts and images in this pattern are protected by Copyright. This pattern is for personal use and not to be copied or reproduced, partially or totally, for any purpose. It may not be redistributed or shared anywhere, either online or offline. Finished items made from this pattern may be sold, in small quantity. But they cannot be promoted using the images contained in this pattern. Proper credit for the original design must be given to Chabepatterns and link back to this post and/or designer’s pattern shop.