I am in love with string bags! I understand they are a staple in Europe. Folks keep them in their pockets or purses and whip them out at the grocery because their culture doesn't expect a store to provide shopping bags.
They are fast to crochet and wonderful to use. I made a large one (the varigated blue one) for collecting tomatoes from the garden. There are regular sized ones that live in my purse for trips to the grocery. I no longer fumble with those dratted flimsy plastic produce bags. I pull out my string bag and deposit the onions or potatoes or peppers in a nice, washable cotton bag. (Okay, I carry more than one bag so each veggie has its own string bag.) Yes, there is even a modified string bag for carrying a water bottle. What isn't to love about a string bag?
So how do you make one? I searched Pinterest for ideas and put together a couple of patterns to create the one I make. One ball of yarn can make two or three bags. My favorite yarn at the moment is Hobby Lobby's Sinfonia because it is fingering weight and has a nice hand. You can see it as the yellow water bottle caddy. There really isn't a gauge on this, but if you find the Size F hook uncomfortable for the yarn you are using, feel free to change hooks. I do recommend sticking to cotton yarn. Acrylic and wool will stretch.
Once the foundation is established, the main crocheting creates the netting of the bag. You are creating squares with each triple crochet above the last. The number of chains across the top of the box will dictate the gauge of your square. I generally stop at 3 chains. If you want a tight netting, stop at 2 chains. Large netting, increase to 4 or more. By the same token, the capacity of your bag is dictated by the size of the base (roughly Rows 1-4.) I usually stop with a 24 stitch base and start expanding from there to create the netting. If you want a larger bag, move up to a 36 or 48 at or some other function of 12 before you expand to create the netting. This may take trial and error (if you are like me) or a bit of math puzzling to work out the rhythm of stitches to get to the multiple that you want. Whatever number you develop for the outer ring of your base will dictate the number of squares in your net. (I know. Clear as mud, but play with it and it will work itself out.)
CROCHET PRODUCE STRINGBAG
1 ball cotton yarn (worsted or fingering weight)
Size F crochet hook
Scissors
Removable stitch marker (optional)
1. Chain six. Join to make a ring.
2. Chain 1. Turn. Make 5 single crochet (sc) around the ring. Join with a slip stitch. [6 stitches]
3. Chain 2. Turn. 2 double crochet (dc) in each sc. Join. [12 stitches].
4. Chain 3. Turn. 1 triple crochet (tc) in the loop of first dc. *Chain 1. TC in top of next dc.* Repeat between the ** to end. Join. [24 stitches].
5. Chain 4. Turn. 1 tc in top of first tc. *Chain 2. tc in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom. [24 squares.]
6. Chain 6. Turn. Chain 3. TC in top of first tc. *Chain 3. TC in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom.
7-17. Place removable stitch marker at beginning of Row 6 so you have a place keeper to help you count rows. Repeat Row 6 ten times.
18. Chain 1. Turn. 1 sc in top of first tc. * 2 sc. 1 sc in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join.
19. Chain 3. Turn. DC In each sc around. Join.
20. Chain 1. Turn. SC in each dc around. Cut yarn. Fasten off. Bury ends.
Drawstring: Chain stitch 150 stitches. Fasten off. Weave through the dc at the top edge of the bag. Knot ends together.
Enjoy your bag!
WATER BOTTLE CARRIER VARIATION
There are only 12 squares in this net instead of the 24 in a produce bag. The bag is narrower but the same height. It has a crocheted strap attached.
1 ball cotton yarn (worsted or fingering weight)
Size F crochet hook
Scissors
Removable stitch marker (optional)
1. Chain six. Join to make a ring.
2. Chain 1. Turn. Make 5 single crochet (sc) around the ring. Join with a slip stitch. [6 stitches]
3. Chain 2. Turn. 2 double crochet (dc) in each sc. Join. [12 stitches].
4. Chain 3. Turn. 1 triple crochet (tc) in the loop of first dc. *Chain 1. TC in top of next dc.* Repeat between the ** to end. Join. [24 stitches].
5. Chain 4. Turn. 1 tc in top of first tc. *Chain 2. Skip one tc. TC in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom. [12 squares.]
6. Chain 6. Turn. Chain 3. TC in top of first tc. *Chain 3. TC in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join in 3rd chain up from the bottom.
7-17. Place removable stitch marker at beginning of Row 6 so you have a place keeper to help you count rows. Repeat Row 6 ten times.
18. Chain 1. Turn. 1 sc in top of first tc. * 2 sc. 1 sc in top of next tc.* Repeat around. Join.
19. Chain 3. Turn. DC In each sc around. Join.
20. Chain 1. Turn. SC in each dc around. Join.
21. SC in each of next for stitches.
22. Chain 2. Turn. DC in next 3 stitches. [4 stitches]
Repeat Row 22 until strap is the length you want. I made mine about 50 inches long so I could use it as a crossbody strap. When you have the length you want, fold the bag in half to find the attach point for the end of the strap (opposite the starting point.) Slip stitch strap to top of bag. Fasten yarn. Burn ends.
If you want, you can add a drawstring to snug the bag against your bottle, but I have not needed it.
