Made and counted by Wren —

Sunburst Granny Square Tote Bag Crochet Pattern

4.0 mm hook, worsted cotton: 30 sunburst granny squares build a 16x13x4 inch tote with puff-stitch petals.

IntermediateLevel

4-6 hoursTime

4.0 mmHook

WorstedYarn

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About this pattern

A structured tote made from 30 sunburst granny squares — 12 front, 12 back, 3 per gusset side — joined with cream cotton borders. Each square opens with a 12-dc cream ring, then 12 gold puff stitches form the petals. Worked in worsted cotton on a 4.0 mm hook, the finished bag measures 16 by 13 by 4 inches and includes a crocheted base panel, top border, and two straps.

This tote is built from 30 sunburst granny squares: 12 for the front panel, 12 for the back, and 3 per side gusset. Each square starts with a 12-dc cream center, then a round of 12 gold puff stitches forms the petals before cream borders square it off. A 4.0 mm hook holds the cotton stitches firm enough for the bag to hold its shape once assembled and lined.

The pattern

Written out round by round

Materials

Yarn

Cream or ecru cotton yarn in worsted weight, approximately 700 yards (640 meters). This covers your borders, base, straps, and joining.
Golden honey shades in worsted weight, approximately 350 yards (320 meters) total. Split this across 2 to 3 different gold tones for the scrappy effect.

Suggested Yarn Brands

Paintbox Cotton Aran in Cream plus Mustard or Gold shades
Lily Sugar ‘n Cream in Off-White plus Sunshine
Yarn & Colors Epic in Ecru plus Honey shades

Hook

4.0 mm (US G/6)

Additional Supplies

Tapestry needle
Stitch markers
One 1 inch (2.5 cm) button plus a scrap of gold yarn for the covered button tab
Fabric for lining, approximately 0.5 yard (optional but highly recommended)
Sewing needle and thread to match your lining fabric

Abbreviations

ch = chain. Wrap yarn over hook and pull through the loop on your hook.
sl st = slip stitch. Insert hook, yarn over, pull through both loops at once.
sc = single crochet. Insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops.
hdc = half double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
dc = double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through remaining 2 loops.
st(s) = stitch(es)
sp = space
rep = repeat
RS / WS = right side / wrong side
For UK crocheters = US sc equals UK dc, US hdc equals UK htr, and US dc equals UK tr.

The Base Panel (Cream)

With cream yarn, chain 17.

Round 1Double crochet in the 3rd chain from hook and in each chain across. (15 dc)

Round 2through 28: Chain 2 (does not count as a stitch), turn, double crochet in each stitch across. (15 dc per row)Continue working rows until the panel measures approximately 16 inches by 4 inches, matching the bag’s footprint. Fasten off.(15)

Adding the Top Border

Join cream yarn at a back seam.

Round 1Single crochet evenly around the entire top opening, keeping an even, firm tension. Join with a slip stitch.

Round 2through 5: Chain 1, single crochet in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch. Keep your stitch count consistent each round.

The top border is what makes the bag stand tall and prevents the opening from flaring outward. Work these rounds a touch tighter than your squares for maximum structure. Do not skip these rounds.

Making the Straps

Make 2 straps in cream yarn.

Chain 9.

Round 1Single crochet in the 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across. (8 sc) Remaining rows: Chain 1, turn, single crochet across. (8 sc)Continue until the strap measures approximately 24 inches (61 cm) . Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

For extra strength: Fold the strap lengthwise and single crochet the long edges together. Alternatively, you can back it with cotton webbing from a fabric store.

Assembly

Step 1Before using your bag, complete these final steps:

Step 2Weave in every remaining yarn tail and trim the ends.

Step 3Give the finished bag a gentle steam block to even out the squares.

Step 4Check that the straps and button tab are anchored firmly.

Tester's notes

4.0 mm (US G/6) hook is sized for worsted cotton; a smaller hook tightens the top border rounds for a stiffer opening.

12 puff stitches per round means each ch-2 space needs a stitch marker on the first and last petal so the join point stays visible round after round.

700 yards of cream and 350 yards of gold (split across 2 to 3 tones) covers borders, base, straps, and the scrappy petal effect; weigh remaining skeins before starting the last few squares.

15 dc must hold steady across all 27 rows (Rows 2 through 28) of the base panel; a stitch dropped or added early compounds into a skewed panel by Row 28.

30 squares total (12 front, 12 back, 3 per gusset x2) go faster if sorted into stacks by position before joining, since front, back, and gusset counts differ.

At a glance

Rounds	5
Parts	3
Level	Intermediate
Time	4-6 hours
Hook	4.0 mm
Yarn	Worsted

Gauge check

After Row 4 of the base panel, count stitches across: the row should hold 15 dc with straight, even edges.

If the strip is narrowing, widening, or curving, frog back to the chain-17 foundation and recheck the stitch count before continuing toward the 16-inch length.

Stitch-count checkpoints

The Base Panel (Cream) · Round 1: 15 sts
The Base Panel (Cream) · Round 2: 15 sts
Making the Straps · Round 1: 8 sts

If something looks wrong

The gold petals look uneven, with some taller or fatter than others: The 7 loops of the puff stitch were pulled to different heights. Pull each of the 3 loop-ups to the same height as a double crochet before the final yarn over and draw-through.
The base panel edges wave in and out instead of running straight: The 15-dc count is drifting between rows. Count stitches at the end of every row through Row 28 and correct before the panel reaches its 16-inch length.
The top opening flares outward instead of standing upright: Rounds 2 through 5 of the top border were worked too loose. Tighten tension on those rounds, or drop to a smaller hook for the border only.
Finished squares are different sizes once joined: Tension shifted between squares made in separate sessions. Block all 30 squares to the same measurement before joining front, back, and gussets.

Yarn substitutions

DK weight cotton	Squares come out smaller, so the 12-square front and back panels shrink; drop to a 3.5 mm hook and expect a lighter, more pliable finished bag.
Acrylic worsted	Keeps the same 4.0 mm hook and stitch counts but the bag holds its shape less firmly; a stiffer lining fabric or interfacing helps compensate.
Cotton-acrylic blend, worsted weight	Drape falls between pure cotton and acrylic, with less shape memory than the cotton the pattern specifies; hook size stays at 4.0 mm.

Original pattern: https://crochetwithmia.com/golden-honey-granny-square-bag-free-crochet-pattern/

FAQs

Questions

How many granny squares does this bag actually need?

30 total: 12 for the front panel, 12 for the back panel, and 3 for each side gusset (6 combined). Sorting them into these four stacks before joining prevents mismatched panels.

Can the straps be made shorter or longer than 24 inches?

Yes. The chain-9 foundation and 8-sc width stay fixed, but the strap length is worked to measurement, so stopping short of or continuing past 24 inches (61 cm) changes the drop length.

Is the fabric lining required?

No, it is listed as optional but recommended. At approximately 0.5 yard, it is a small amount of fabric relative to the structure and stitch-hiding benefit it adds inside the bag.