Using crocheted shopping bags is in right now with everyone trying to be "green" so I joined the bandwagon not to be green, but because I love crocheting something useful. This set of shopping bags is made from one strand of variegated blues and light blue for one bag, and the same variegated blues and navy blue for the other bag. I love combining variegated yarns with a solid strand that emphasizes one of the colors. These bags can even hold two gallons of milk! Instructions below.

Shopping Bag

Materials:
Size K crochet hook
Worsted weight yarn

Row 1: Using two strands of yarn together, chain 4, slip stitch in first chain to form loop. *Chain 6, slip stitch in loop, repeat from * 5 more times. Do 3 single crochets around and up the right side of first loop (6 loops).

Row 2: *Chain 6, slip stitch in the top of next loop, repeat from * 5 more times. Do 3 single crochets around and up the right side of first loop (6 loops).

Row 3: *Chain 6, slip stitch in the top of next loop, chain 6, slip stitch in top of same loop, repeat from * 5 more times. Do 3 single crochets around and up the right side of first loop (12 loops).

Row 4: *Chain 6, slip stitch in the top of next loop, repeat from * 11 more times. Do 3 single crochets around and up the right side of first loop (12 loops).

Row 5: *Chain 6, slip stitch in the top of next loop, chain 6, slip stitch in top of same loop, repeat from * 11 more times. Do 3 single crochets around and up the right side of first loop (24 loops).

Row 6: *Chain 6, slip stitch in the top of next loop, repeat from * 23 more times. Do 3 single crochets around and up the right side of first loop (24 loops).

(At this point it may be a good idea to count your loops and make sure you really have 24 loops before continuing on.)

Rows 7-17: Repeat row 6 eleven more times.

(If you want to make the handle a different color, this is the time to change yarn.)

Row 18: *Chain 3, slip stitch in next loop, repeat from * 23 more times.

Row 19: *3 single crochets in chain-3 space, single crochet in slip stitch, repeat from * 23 more times.

Row 20: *Chain 12, skip next 11 single crochets, single crochet in next 37 single crochets, repeat from * 1 more time.

Row 21: *Do 12 single crochets in chain-12 loop, single crochet in next 37 single crochets, repeat from * 1 more time.

Row 22: Single crochet around one more time (98 stitches).

End off; tuck in ends. This bag stretches down much more than it looks. It can hold two gallons of milk or a full grocery bag of cans.