Montauk Beach Tote - Bag Crochet Pattern for Women in Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic Twist by Tahki Yarns

Montauk Beach Tote – Crochet Bag Pattern by Tahki Yarns

The Montauk Beach Tote is a crochet bag pattern designed by Gabrielle Markle for Tahki Yarns. This relaxed, summery tote is worked in a single size and delivers a finished bag with a base circumference of 28 inches (71 cm) and a height of 10¾ inches (27.5 cm) — generous dimensions that make it a practical everyday beach bag or market tote. The pattern is rated Easy, making it an excellent project for beginner crocheters who are ready to work in the round and explore colorwork through simple yarn changes.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a sturdy, roomy tote bag with integrated crocheted handles. The silhouette is classic and unfussy — a cylindrical body that expands from the base outward, topped with two looped handles formed by chaining over skipped stitches. The design is well-suited to beach outings, farmers markets, or casual everyday use. Its cotton construction gives it natural breathability and a crisp, structured drape.

Techniques Used

• Seamless construction worked in the round — the entire bag body is crocheted as a continuous tube with no seams to sew, giving the finished tote a clean, professional appearance.
• Working with two strands held together — throughout the pattern, two strands of yarn are held together simultaneously. This doubles the fabric weight, adds durability, and creates a denser, more structured fabric appropriate for a bag that needs to hold its shape.
• Colorwork through yarn substitution — the body of the bag transitions from color A to color B at a defined round, creating a two-tone stripe effect. This is achieved simply by switching yarn colors at the designated round rather than through complex intarsia or stranded techniques.
• Integrated handle construction — the handles are formed directly within the round by chaining over a set of skipped stitches, eliminating the need for separately worked and sewn-on straps.
• Incremental shaping at the base — the bag begins with increases worked at regular intervals to build out the circular base before transitioning into straight rounds for the body walls.

Stitches Used

• Single crochet (sc) — the primary stitch used throughout the entire bag body. Single crochet produces a tight, dense fabric that is ideal for bags, as it minimizes stretch and helps the tote hold its structure when filled.
• 2 sc in next sc (increase) — used during the base-shaping rounds to evenly expand the circumference of the bag from the center outward.
• Chain (ch) — used both to begin rounds and to form the handle loops in the final construction rounds.
• Slip stitch (sl st) — used at the end of each round to join seamlessly and maintain the continuous round structure.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for two specific Tahki Yarns products, both in the DK weight category:

• Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic Twist in #5100 Spring Flowers (color A) — 4 hanks required. This yarn is 100% mercerized cotton, sold in 1.75 oz / 50 g hanks with approximately 108 yards (99 m) per hank.
• Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic in #3001 White (color B) — 2 hanks required. Also 100% mercerized cotton, with the same hank weight and yardage as color A.

Mercerized cotton is treated to enhance its sheen, strength, and dye uptake, resulting in a yarn that is smooth to the touch, colorfast, and slightly lustrous — qualities that give the finished tote a polished, summery look. Because both yarns are held double throughout, the gauge is worked at 12 stitches and 16 rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet using two strands held together.

Hook and Notions