Crochet Tote in Schachenmayr Sun City - 6638

Crochet Tote Bag in Schachenmayr Sun City – Pattern 6638

This free downloadable crochet pattern (Model 6638) from Schachenmayr guides you through creating a stylish and structured crocheted tote bag using Schachenmayr original Sun City yarn. The finished bag measures approximately 34 cm x 20 cm x 6 cm, making it a practical everyday carry with a neat, boxy silhouette. The pattern is written in German and is available as a downloadable PDF at no cost.

What Is Being Made

The project is a crocheted tote bag with a three-dimensional, structured shape. It features a main body panel, two side panels that also form the handles, and a series of decorative or functional tab loops (Riegel) sewn onto both the front and back of the bag. These tabs are a distinctive design detail, adding both visual interest and a practical element to the finished piece. The integrated handle design means the side panels extend upward to create comfortable carry straps without the need for separate hardware.

Techniques Used

• Foundation chain (Luftmaschen): Each section of the bag begins with a chain of a specified number of stitches, establishing the width of each panel before working in rows.
• Working in rows (Reihen): All panels — the main bag body, the side panels with handles, and the tabs — are crocheted back and forth in rows using a turning chain at the end of each row.
• Joining panels by crocheting together: The side panels are attached to the side edges of the main body panel using single crochet (feste Maschen) worked directly through both layers, creating a firm and neat seam.
• Sewing tabs into place: The longer and shorter tab pieces are sewn onto the back and front of the bag respectively at precise measured intervals, with only the narrow side edges stitched down so the tabs remain open as loops.
• Gauge swatching: The pattern specifies a gauge of 15–16 single crochet stitches and 18 rows over 10 cm x 10 cm, which is essential to achieving the correct finished dimensions.

Stitches Used

• Luftmaschen (chain stitch): Used to cast on each section and as turning chains at the end of rows.
• Feste Maschen (single crochet): The primary stitch used throughout the entire pattern, referred to in the instructions as the Grundmuster (basic stitch pattern). Single crochet produces a dense, firm fabric that is ideal for bags as it holds its shape well and provides structure without being stiff.

Single crochet is one of the most fundamental stitches in crochet, worked by inserting the hook into a stitch, drawing up a loop, and pulling through both loops on the hook. When worked consistently across rows, it creates a tight, even fabric with excellent durability — a perfect choice for a tote bag that needs to bear weight and maintain its form.

Construction Overview

The bag is constructed in separate flat panels that are then assembled. The main bag body panel is begun with 54 chain stitches plus one turning chain and worked in single crochet to a height of 46 cm. The side panels with integrated handles are begun with 10 chain stitches plus one turning chain and worked to approximately 110 cm in height — the extra length beyond the bag body forms the two carry handles. The tabs (Riegel) are made in two sizes: four longer tabs each starting with 25 chain stitches and four shorter tabs each starting with 12 chain stitches, all worked for just 3 rows to create flat, narrow strips.

During finishing, the side panels are crocheted to the side edges of the main body, with the approximately 6 cm wide edges centred along the sides of the bag to create the gusset depth. The longer tabs are sewn to the back of the bag at approximately 5 cm and 10 cm from the upper edge, positioned about 6 cm from the side edges. The shorter tabs are sewn to the front of the bag approximately 9 cm from the side edges. In both cases, only the narrow ends of each tab are stitched down, leaving the tab as