🧶 The Lattice Diamond Crochet Tote Pattern

 

🧶 The Lattice Diamond Crochet Tote Pattern📌 OVERVIEW & SKILL LEVEL

 Skill Level: Intermediate

 Construction: Worked in the round from the bottom up. Starts with a dense single crochet (sc) oval/circular base, transitions into the main lattice diamond lace pattern, and finishes with a dense top border and attached round wooden handles.

 Finished Measurements:

 Width at top edge: ~15 inches / 38 cm

 Height (excluding handles): ~12.5 inches / 32 cm

 Base diameter: ~8.5 inches / 22 cm

🧵 MATERIALS & TOOLS

 Yarn: 3 mm cotton or polyester cord (without core) / sturdy cotton tape yarn / raffia

 Estimated Yardage: ~380–440 yards / 350–400 meters

 Sample shown in: Light heather grey / steel grey.

 Crochet Hook: US E-4 to G-6 (3.5 mm – 4.0 mm) depending on yarn weight and gauge.

 Notions:

 Pair of round wooden handles (~6–7 inches / 15–18 cm diameter)

 Cream/off-white cotton cord for handle wrapping (optional, as shown in sample)

 Stitch markers

 Tapestry needle / Large-eye darning needle

 Scissors

📏 GAUGE & TENSION

 Dense Base Gauge (Single Crochet, US G-6 / 4.0 mm): 18 sc × 20 rows = 4 × 4 inches (10 × 10 cm).

 Lattice Pattern Repeat (16 stitches): 1 chart repeat = approx. 3.5–4 inches (9–10 cm) wide.

🔤 ABBREVIATIONS & STITCH KEY

 Ch: Chain

 Sl st: Slip stitch

 Sc: Single crochet

 Dc: Double crochet

 Tr: Treble crochet

 RS / WS: Right Side / Wrong Side

 Blo: Back loop only

 Cluster / Leaf Element: Group of stitches joined at the top / central feature worked according to the chart.

📊 LATTICE DIAMOND CHART INSTRUCTIONS

 Stitch Repeat: 16 stitches wide, 8 rows high (repeat shifts every 8 rows; full design cycle is 16 rows).

 The motif creates an openwork grid of chains and stitches forming diamonds, with decorative leaf/cluster elements in the center of each diamond.

📝 STEP-BY-STEP PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

1. BAG BASE

Worked in the round using single crochet (sc) in a continuous spiral or joined rounds.

1. Round 1: Make a Magic Ring, work 6 sc into ring. Join with sl st (6 sc).

2. Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sc).

3. Round 3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around (18 sc).

4. Rounds 4–12: Continue expanding the circle following standard circle rules (adding 6 sc per round) until total stitch count is a multiple of 16 (e.g., 96 sts for 6 pattern repeats, or 112 sts for 7 pattern repeats).

5. Transition Round: Sc in BLO of each stitch around (no increases) to establish the turn for the side walls.

2. LATTICE DIAMOND BODY

Switch to working the main lace chart. Ensure total stitch count is a multiple of 16.

 Round 1 (RS): Ch 3 (= 1 dc), 4 dc, ch 3, skip 2 sts, 1 sc, ch 3, skip 2 sts, 5 dc; repeat from * around. Join with sl st to top of ch-3.

 Round 2: Ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 1 sc in ch-space, 1 sc in sc, 1 sc in ch-space, ch 3, skip 1 dc, 4 dc; repeat from * around. Join with sl st.

 Rounds 3–8: Work as written in the chart, forming expanding and contracting diamond outlines while creating the central cluster ("leaf") motif inside each diamond.

 Repeat: Repeat the 8-row pattern repeat 2–2.5 times until the body reaches approximately 8.5–9.5 inches (22–24 cm) in height.

3. TOP BORDER

After completing the lace section, switch back to dense single crochet:

1. Rounds 1–4: Work 4–5 rounds of sc evenly around, placing 1 sc in each stitch and chain space to maintain the original stitch count.

2. Round 5: Work 1 round of slip stitches (sl st) or crab stitch (reverse sc) around for a sturdy finished edge.

3. Fasten off and weave in ends.

4. HANDLES & FINISHING

1. Blocking: Lightly steam the body of the bag from the inside to align and open up the lace diamond pattern.

2. Attaching Handles:

 Mark the center points on both the front and back top borders.

 Position a wooden handle against the top border.

 Using contrasting off-white or matching cord, wrap tightly over the handle and through the top border stitches in decorative sections (as shown in the photo) to secure the handles firmly.

3. Lining (Optional): Sew a fabric lining out of linen or cotton and hand-sew it inside the bag just below the top sc border.