Your Handmade Daisy Dream Bag

This charming daisy tote is more than just an accessory; it’s a testament to what you can fashion with yarn and a hook. Picture yourself carrying this beautiful, handcrafted bag on a bright afternoon adventure, from a bustling farmer’s market to a quiet stroll in the park. Each textured flower comes together to form a truly special piece. This tutorial is designed to guide you through every stitch, empowering even new crocheters to complete this wonderful project.

Let’s gather our tools and begin this wonderful project together.

What You’ll Need

• 🧶 Yarn: About 400 yards of worsted weight (Category 4) cotton yarn. The bag in the picture uses a lovely, natural off-white color, which gives it a timeless, bohemian feel. Cotton is a strong choice because it’s durable and holds its shape well.
• 🪝 Crochet Hook: A 5.0mm (H-8) hook is a good match for worsted weight yarn.
• ✂️ Scissors: Any pair will do for snipping your yarn.
• 🪡 Tapestry Needle: This is essential for weaving in your yarn ends for a polished, professional finish.

Learning the Basic Stitches

Before we start on the bag itself, let’s get comfortable with the stitches we’ll be using. Don’t worry, they’re simpler than they sound!

• Magic Ring: This is a common way to start projects that are worked in a circle. It allows you to pull the center completely closed so there’s no hole. You’ll loop the yarn around your fingers, insert your hook to pull up a loop of yarn, and make a chain stitch to secure it. Then you’ll work your first round of stitches into the ring before pulling the tail to cinch it shut.
• Chain (ch): This is the foundation of most crochet projects. You’ll start with a slip knot on your hook, then use the hook to grab the yarn (this is called a “yarn over”) and pull it through the loop that’s already on your hook. That’s one chain!
• Slip Stitch (sl st): This is a very flat stitch used for joining parts together. You’ll insert your hook into a stitch, yarn over, and pull the yarn through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one smooth motion.
• Single Crochet (sc): A basic, sturdy stitch. Insert your hook into a stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (you’ll have two loops on your hook). Yarn over again and pull through both loops.
• Double Crochet (dc): A taller stitch that works up quickly. Yarn over, insert your hook into a stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (you’ll have three loops on your hook). Yarn over and pull through the first two loops. Yarn over one more time and pull through the remaining two loops.

How to Make Your Daisy Tote Bag

This bag is constructed from 18 identical daisy squares that are joined together. We will make the squares first, then assemble the bag.

Part 1: The Daisy Granny Square (Make 18)

Each square is a small masterpiece. We’ll build it round by round.

Round 1: The Puffy Flower Center This is what gives the flower its beautiful 3D effect.

1. Begin with a magic ring.
2. Work 8 single crochet (sc) stitches into the ring.
3. Pull the tail tight to close the center hole and slip stitch (sl st) to the first sc to join the round. Do not cut your yarn.
4. Now, we’ll build the puffy top. Chain (ch) 1. Work a sc into the same stitch.
5. Here’s the fun part: Yarn over, insert your hook into that same single crochet stitch, yarn over and pull up a long loop (about half an inch tall). Repeat this 10-12 times into the very same stitch. You will have a large bundle of loops on your hook. It will feel crowded, but that’s what we want!
6. Carefully yarn over one last time and pull the hook through ALL the loops. This can be tricky, so go slow. Wiggle the hook if you need to.
7. Chain 1 tightly to secure the puff. You’ve just formed the dense, textured center of your daisy! Fasten off your yarn, leaving a tail to weave in later.

Round 2: The Petals

1. Attach your yarn with a slip stitch in any of the 8 single crochet stitches from Round 1 (you’ll be working behind the puff center you just made).
2. Chain 3 (this counts as your first double crochet). In the same stitch, work 2 more double crochet (dc) stitches. This group of 3 dc is your first petal.
3. In the next stitch from Round 1, work 3 dc.
4. Continue this all the way around, working a 3-dc cluster into each of the 8 stitches from your first round. You will end up with 8 petals.
5. Join the round with a slip stitch to the top of your starting chain-3.

Round 3: Squaring the Flower Now we turn our round flower into a square.

1. Slip stitch into the space between any two petals.
2. Chain 3 (counts as a dc). In the same space, work 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. This is your first corner!
3. In the next space between petals, work 3 half double crochet (hdc). (A half double crochet is a stitch halfway in height between a single and double crochet).
4. In the next space, work another corner: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc).
5. In the next space, work 3 hdc.
6. Repeat this pattern twice more to finish the four sides and four corners of your square.
7. Join with a slip stitch to the top of your starting chain-3. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Repeat this process until you have 18 completed daisy squares. Taking the time to weave in the ends on each square as you finish will make the final assembly much easier.

Part 2: Assembling the Bag

1. Arrange Your Panels: Lay out your squares on a flat surface. Arrange 9 squares in a 3×3 grid. This will be the front of your bag. Do the same with the remaining 9 squares for the back panel.
2. Join the Squares: Place two squares side-by-side with the right sides facing up. Using your hook and yarn, work a line of single crochet stitches through the loops of both squares to join them. This will produce the visible, raised seam seen in the photo. Continue this process until you have your two large 3×3 panels fully assembled.
3. Form the Bag: Place the two large panels on top of each other, right sides facing out. Using the same single crochet joining method, seam the two panels together along the two sides and the bottom. Leave the top edge open. You now have the main body of your bag!

Part 3: The Solid Top Border

1. Attach your yarn with a slip stitch to any stitch along the top opening of the bag.
2. Chain 1, and then work one round of single crochet (sc) evenly all the way around the top opening. When you get back to the start, join with a slip stitch.
3. Repeat for a total of 5-7 rounds of single crochet. This builds the sturdy, solid band at the top of the bag. Do not fasten off after the last round.

Part 4: Fashioning the Handles

The handles are worked directly from the top border.

1. From where you finished your border, count out about 15 stitches and place a stitch marker. Continue from your hook and count 15 stitches in the other direction and place a marker. This section between the markers is where your handle will be attached.
2. Chain 1 and turn your work. Work a sc into each of those 15 stitches.
3. Chain 1 and turn. Work a sc back across the 15 stitches.
4. Repeat this row until your handle is the desired length (a good starting point is about 18-20 inches).
5. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
6. Attach the loose end of the handle to the opposite side of the bag, directly across from where it started. Use your tapestry needle and the long yarn tail to sew it securely to the inside of the top border. Be sure to make several passes to ensure it’s strong.
7. Repeat this entire process on the other side of the bag to make the second handle. Finally, weave in any remaining ends.

You’ve done it. Step back and admire the beautiful, functional piece of art you’ve made. Enjoy the feeling of the sturdy cotton and the rhythm of the daisies. Every compliment you receive will be a reminder of the quiet, happy hours you spent with your yarn and hook.