Granny square bags can use eleven joined motifs, three squares joined while the last round is worked, eighteen reinforced squares, or three squares folded in half and seamed. These eight original patterns show how the number of squares changes the finished shape and construction.
A tapestry needle for joining however many squares your chosen design calls for is the one constant across all eight.
Granny square bag patterns to explore
1. Eleven Square Granny Bag
Jess Coppom’s Halcyon Granny Square Sling Bag was designed with Lion Brand and joins 11 motifs with reverse single crochet, giving a finished bag of 12.5 inches tall and 15 inches wide with a sturdy adjustable strap. She calls it a quick, portable project sized for your essentials. It is worked in Lion Brand Pima Cotton on an I (5.5 mm) hook for the squares and a J (6 mm) hook for the strap. The page has a step-by-step tutorial and an ad-free PDF is sold separately.
2. Bag from Three Granny Squares
Jessie’s method turns three granny squares of the same size into a bag, and it is a technique more than a set pattern. The middle square waits to receive its last single crochet round, so the squares are joined while you work the border. She used squares from Tracey Lord’s Big Book of Granny Squares (Waterlily, Isabell and Sweet Granny), and says each needs a final round of single crochet. It is a good way to use spare squares.
3. Reinforced Granny Square Tote
Shehnaaz’s Crochet Dreamz bag uses 18 motifs and finishes about 12.75 inches wide by 13.5 inches tall. Plastic canvas reinforces the sides and bottom, giving the tote a square structure (granny square bags are usually rounded). The designer admits she was never a granny square person and underestimated the time it takes to make that many squares. It is worked in worsted weight (#4) yarn, Caron Simply Soft in the sample, on a 4.5 mm hook.
4. Granny Square Bag for Beginners
Wilma’s Tulip Square Shopper Bag is a beginner pattern with a video tutorial. The square uses chains, double crochet and puff stitches, and the three squares are folded in half and sewn together, or you can slip stitch them together as in her video. It uses 2 balls of Hue + Me, a bulky weight yarn, on an L (8 mm) hook and finishes at 17 by 17 inches flat. A separate video shows how to add a fabric lining, and the PDF is available if you’d like to support her.
5. Boho Starburst Granny Square Bag
Heather Corinne’s boho purse is made of two starburst granny squares crocheted together, measuring 7 by 7 inches, with a border and an adjustable crossbody strap. She classifies it as intermediate because of the more advanced stitches. It works up quickly and could be a handmade gift or a scrap project. She used Red Heart Super Saver (medium 4, 7 oz) on an H (5 mm) hook.
6. Granny Square Tote Bag
Carmen’s tote is made from 18 granny squares in various color combinations, arranged into two 3 by 3 panels and joined with a long crochet strip that forms the sides and bottom. It is rated adventurous beginner and uses DK weight cotton (about 300 m main color plus smaller contrast amounts) on 3.5 mm and 4 mm hooks. The finished bag is about 14.25 inches tall, with leather handles. It uses chain, single, double and slip stitches.
7. Granny Square Tote
Delia’s tote holds four strands of worsted weight yarn together, which she says makes the bag much less stretchy and gives it the strength it needs. It joins two granny squares with a side and bottom strip, using 9 mm and 5 mm hooks. She warns the tote is sturdiest with inexpensive acrylics (Loops & Threads Impeccable) rather than wool blends. You need 8 colors at 1 skein each and 4 skeins of the main color, and it is a stash buster.
8. Aisling Granny Squares Bag
Jennifer Renaud’s Aisling bag is part of the Granny Square Day crochet-along, and is spacious enough for produce or a few books. It uses eight six-inch motif squares and one twelve-inch double crochet square for the base, whipstitched together. Single crochet rounds form the top edge and straps, and beaded tassels are optional. It is worked in Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton on a G/6 (4 mm) hook, finishing at 8 by 8 by 12 inches.
Count the squares
Delia Creates uses just two squares with a side and bottom strip, and Jessie Rayot uses three. Then it jumps: Jess Coppom uses 11 and Shehnaaz uses 18. Shehnaaz’s is reinforced, so it’s the one to pick if you carry heavy things.