I’m not sure if this was all 90’s moms or just mine, but does anyone else remember those cloth grocery bag holders that used to hang somewhere in your kitchen? The one that had a cinched top and bottom so you could stuff a bunch of grocery bags in the top and pull one out at the bottom whenever you needed one? My mom’s broke a long, longg time ago but my mother-in-law still has hers and I loved how convenient it is to grab a grocery bag at their house whenever we need one. I decided there was nothing stopping me from making my own since I have no idea where I could buy one anymore.
So that’s why I created the Buoy Bag! Clearly the name came from the way it hangs on the side of our cabinets like a buoy hangs off a boat. But I got so sick of taking up a whole cabinet that is filled with soo many grocery bags and each morning digging around to try to get just one to put my lunch in it.
The pattern is so fast and quick to make. This now being my second original pattern, you probably have noticed a pattern that I am trying to use up some of my cotton yarn that I have lying around. I used cotton for it, but there’s no reason why you can’t use any type of acrylic yarn. I’m sure I will be making a bunch of these with acrylic yarn to so I can have more color choices and to help bust down some of my yarn stash.
What you will need to make this pattern:
- 5.0 mm hook
- About 95 yards of weight 4 yarn
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
Some abbreviations you will see in this pattern:
- Ch = Chain
- St = Stitch
- Hdc = Half Double Crochet
- Tr = Treble Crochet
- * * = Repeat instructions inside the asterisk across the row until otherwise noted
- Sl st = Slip Stitch
Gauge:
- Due to the “lacey” appearance of this pattern, gauge is difficult to calculate and will not make too much of a difference in this pattern.
- Finished dimensions: 14.0 inches tall and 7.5 inches wide at the widest, most center portion of the bag.
Notes:
- The ch 2 or 4 at the beginning of each round counts as a stitch throughout the pattern.
- Each round’s stitch count will be in parenthesis at the end of the round’s instructions.
- This bag can hold at least 20 plastic bags when finished.
Pattern:
Ch 35
Sl st into first ch of first st – do not twist the chain
Round 1: Ch 2, hdc around, sl st into top of ch 2 (35)
Round 2: Ch 4, tr in first st, ch 3, sk next 3 stitches, *tr in next 2 st, ch 3, sk next 3 st,* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (35)
Round 3: Ch 4, tr 2 in the space between the ch 4 and first tr from previous round, ch 3, *tr 3 into the space between the two tr from previous round, ch 3* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (42)
Round 4: Ch 4, tr 1 into space between ch 4 and middle tr from previous round, tr 2 in space between middle and third tr from previous round, ch 4, *tr 2 in space between the first and middle tr group from previous round, tr 2 in space between the middle and last tr in group from previous round, ch 4,* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (56)
Round 5: Ch 4, tr 2 in space between second and third tr from previous round’s tr group, tr 1 in space between third and fourth tc from previous round’s tr group, ch 4, *tr 1 in space between first and second tr from previous round’s tr group, tr 2 in space between second and third tr from previous round’s tr group, tr 1 in space between third and fourth tr from previous round’s tr group, ch 4* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (56)
Round 6-12: Repeat round 5 (56)
Round 13: Ch 4, tr in space between second and third tr from previous round’s tr group, tr in space between third and fourth tr from previous round’s tr group, ch 3, *tr in space between first and second tr from previous round’s tr group, tr in space between second and third tr from previous rounds tr group, tr in space between third and fourth tr, ch 3,* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (42)
Round 14: Ch 4, tr in between second and third tr from previous round’s tr group, *ch 3, tr in space between first and second tr from previous round’s tr group, tr between second and third tr from previous round tr group,* repeat across, sl st into top of ch 4 (35)
Round 15: Ch 2, hdc in each stitch around, sl st into top of ch 2 (35)
Ch 15 and sl st the last ch into the last st of the previous round to make a loop.
Tie off and weave in all ends.
Make 2 separate chains of 55 stitches each.
Tie off and sew in ends of each strand.
To assemble the bag:
- Weave the ch strands in and out of the hdc st posts in rounds 1 and 15.
- Tighten each end to the desired width.
- I tighten the top one pretty tight and leave the bottom one about half way open to be able to pull the bags out of the bottom easier.
- Try to aim it so that both ends of the chains will be centered and even in the front of the bag, making it easier to tie off.
That’s it! Not too bad, huh? Now you can clear out some cabinet space and stash those (way too many) grocery bags that you have in something that is more functional. As mentioned in the notes, this bag held 20 grocery bags for me. If you want it to hold more, you could always add more rounds in the middle.
I hope you enjoyed this pattern! If you would like to make one sometime, please pin it on your Pinterest board. Click here to open up the pin on Pinterest. If you make one, please tag me in your pictures of it on Instagram so I can see how you put your own spin on it. Also, feel free to use the hashtag #BuoyBag when you do post about it.
I have some more pattern ideas in mind, so always check back to see my latest creations. If you have a question about this pattern, please feel free to message me on Instagram or email me at [email protected].
Happy crocheting!
Feel free to make as many of these as you would like and feel free to sell them. I just ask that you please acknowledge Madison’s Makings when you do. Please do not steal or copy this pattern and/or my pictures and credit them as your own work. Thank you!