I still remember the exact moment this bag decided it needed to exist. It was late September, the light had that soft honey color it only gets when the days start shortening, and I was standing in the garden with a basket already overflowing with the last of the sunflowers. The petals were a little weathered, the centers heavy with seed, and the whole plant leaned toward the evening sun as if it knew its season was ending. I wanted something that could carry that feeling—warmth, abundance, and a little bit of cheerful stubbornness—into the cooler months.
So I sat down with a skein of golden worsted and started playing with raised petals. What began as a simple appliqué quickly grew into a full tote: strong enough for market runs, pretty enough to hang by the door, and just structured enough that it keeps its shape when you drop your keys and a thermos inside. The sunflower sits slightly off-center on the front panel, its petals overlapping in soft relief, while the body of the bag is worked in quiet autumn stripes that let the flower do the talking.
This is the Autumn Harvest Tote with Sunflower Free Crochet Pattern. It is equal parts practical bag and wearable piece of the season.
About This Pattern
This tote is worked from the bottom up in one piece for the body, then finished with a separate sunflower motif that is sewn on after blocking. The base is a firm oval, the sides rise in simple single and half-double crochet stripes, and the handles are reinforced with a second layer of stitching so they do not stretch under weight.
Skill level is solid intermediate. You will need to be comfortable with color changes, working in the round, and sewing on an appliqué without puckering. The sunflower itself uses front-post stitches and short-row shaping for the petals, so a little patience with post stitches is helpful.
Finished size after blocking: approximately 14 inches wide at the base, 12 inches tall (not including handles), and 4 inches deep. Handles measure about 20 inches long from end to end, giving a comfortable shoulder or hand carry. The fabric has a soft but stable drape—sturdy enough for produce or books, yet still pleasant to the touch.
Materials You’ll Need
Yarn (worsted weight / category 4, preferably cotton or cotton-blend for durability and structure)
- Color A (Golden Sunflower): 220 yards / 200 meters
- Color B (Warm Terracotta): 180 yards / 165 meters
- Color C (Deep Olive): 150 yards / 135 meters
- Color D (Soft Cream or Natural): 90 yards / 80 meters (for sunflower center and petal highlights)
- Color E (Chocolate Brown): 40 yards / 35 meters (sunflower center detail)
Allow 15 % extra for gauge variation and generous handles.
Hooks
- 5.0 mm (H-8) for the tote body and handles
- 4.5 mm (G-7) for the sunflower motif (tighter fabric helps the petals hold their shape)
Notions
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers (at least 4)
- Scissors
- Blocking mats and pins
- Optional: two 14-inch lengths of cotton webbing or a second strand of yarn for extra handle reinforcement
Abbreviations and Terminology
All terms are US crochet.
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through both loops)
- hdc – half double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops)
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- fpdc – front post double crochet (yarn over, insert hook from front to back around the post of the indicated stitch, yarn over and complete as regular dc)
- blo – back loop only
- flo – front loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sl st – slip stitch
- yo – yarn over
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
Turning chains do not count as a stitch unless a step explicitly says they do. When changing colors, complete the last yarn-over of the previous stitch with the new color for cleaner transitions.
Gauge
Work a practice swatch in the body stripe pattern:
With 5.0 mm hook and Color A, ch 22.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (21 sc)
Rows 2–4: ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Rows 5–8: ch 1, turn, hdc in each st.
Repeat the 4-row stripe sequence once more.
Blocked gauge: 16 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches in the alternating sc/hdc stripe fabric.
If your swatch is larger, drop to a 4.5 mm hook for the body. If it is smaller, try a 5.5 mm. The sunflower motif is worked more tightly on purpose, so gauge for the bag body is the priority.
Main Pattern Instructions
Base (worked in continuous rounds)
With Color B and 5.0 mm hook, ch 31.
Round 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 28 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Working along the opposite side of the foundation chain, sc in next 28 ch, 2 sc in the first ch of the round (the same stitch that already has the first sc). Do not join; place a marker in the first st of the next round. (62 sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 28 sts, 2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next 28 sts, 2 sc in each of last 2 sts. (70 sc)
Round 3: sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 28 sts, (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) three times, sc in next 28 sts, (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) twice. (76 sc)
Round 4: sc around, increasing 6 stitches evenly spaced (place two increases near each end of the long sides and one at each short end). (82 sc)
Rounds 5–7: sc in each st around. (82 sc)
The base should now measure roughly 12.5 × 4 inches before the sides begin. Fasten off Color B.
Body
Join Color A in any stitch along a long side.
Round 8: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to first sc. (82 sc)
Round 9: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.
Rounds 10–11: ch 1, hdc in each st around. Join.
Rounds 12–13: with Color C, ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.
Rounds 14–15: with Color C, ch 1, hdc in each st around. Join.
Rounds 16–17: with Color A, ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.
Rounds 18–19: with Color A, ch 1, hdc in each st around. Join.
Rounds 20–21: with Color B, ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.
Rounds 22–23: with Color B, ch 1, hdc in each st around. Join.
Continue alternating the two-round sc / two-round hdc stripe sequence, changing colors every four rounds in this order: A → C → A → B → A → C. Work until the body measures approximately 11.5 inches from the base. End with two rounds of hdc in Color A.
Final body round: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join and fasten off.
You should have roughly 82 stitches still. Mark the center stitch of each short side for handle placement later.
Handles (make 2)
With Color A and 5.0 mm hook, ch 81.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (80 sc)
Rows 2–5: ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Fold the strip in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and work a final row of sc through both layers to create a firm, double-thick handle. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Optional reinforcement: before sewing the final row, lay a length of cotton webbing inside the fold.
Special Techniques / Sunflower Motif
The sunflower is worked separately and sewn on after both pieces are blocked. Use the 4.5 mm hook throughout the motif for denser fabric.
Sunflower Center
With Color E, make a magic ring.
Round 1: 8 sc into ring, join. (8 sc)
Round 2: ch 1, 2 sc in each st, join. (16 sc)
Round 3: ch 1, (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around, join. (24 sc)
Round 4: ch 1, (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around, join. (32 sc)
Round 5: with Color D, ch 1, sc in each st around, join. Fasten off.
Petals (worked in short rows around the center)
Join Color A in any stitch of the center.
Petal foundation: *sc in next 2 sts, ch 8, turn; sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next, dc in next 3, hdc in next, sc in last ch. Sl st in the next center stitch to anchor. Repeat from * 15 more times (16 petals total).
Raised petal texture (optional but recommended): After all petals are worked, join Color A again at the base of any petal. Work 1 fpdc around the post of each of the first three stitches of the petal, then sc in the remaining petal stitches. This lifts the center of each petal slightly and gives the overlapping scale look.
Weave in all ends on the wrong side of the motif. The finished sunflower should measure about 6.5–7 inches across.
Assembly and Finishing
- Wet-block the tote body and the sunflower motif separately. Pin the body to finished dimensions (14 × 12 × 4 inches) and the sunflower flat so the petals lie open and even.
- Once completely dry, center the sunflower on the front of the tote, slightly above the vertical midpoint and a little toward one side for a more natural look. Pin in place.
- Using matching Color A and a tapestry needle, sew the sunflower to the bag with small, invisible stitches through the back loops of the outer petal edges and the center. Do not pull tightly or the fabric will pucker.
- Attach the handles: position each end of a handle 2.5 inches in from the side seams and 1 inch down from the top edge. Sew securely through all layers with a doubled length of yarn, reinforcing with a small rectangle of stitching. Repeat for the second handle on the opposite side.
Blocking and Care
Because the bag is mostly cotton, wet blocking is ideal. Soak the pieces in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, gently squeeze out excess water (never wring), and pin to shape on blocking mats. Allow to dry fully—usually 24 hours.
Ongoing care: hand wash in cool water, reshape, and dry flat. Never hang the bag when wet; the handles can stretch. Spot clean when possible. The sunflower motif can be lightly steamed from the wrong side if the petals lose definition over time.
Fit and Troubleshooting Tips
- If the base cups or the sides pull inward, you may have increased too aggressively on the short ends. Add one extra increase round or switch to a larger hook for the base only.
- If the body fabric feels too dense and stiff, go up half a millimeter in hook size for the stripe section.
- Sunflower petals curling forward: block them firmly and, if needed, add a couple of extra stitches in the outer petal edge next time.
- Handles stretching after a few uses: reinforce with webbing or work an extra two rows before folding.
- Color changes looking messy: always change color on the last yarn-over of the previous stitch and carry the unused yarn loosely inside the bag for a few stitches before cutting.
FAQ’s
Can I make this tote larger or smaller?
Yes. For a wider bag, start with a longer foundation chain (add multiples of 2) and keep the same increase pattern on the short ends. For a taller bag, simply work more stripe rounds. Adjust yarn quantities accordingly.
Is the sunflower motif required?
No. The tote looks clean and modern without it. You can also replace the sunflower with any appliqué of similar size, or work a simple colorwork panel if you prefer.
Can I use acrylic yarn instead of cotton?
You can, but the bag will have more stretch and less structure. If using acrylic, consider lining the finished tote or adding a fabric base for stability.
How long does this project take?
Most intermediate crocheters finish the body in two or three evenings and the sunflower in one focused session. Assembly and blocking add another day while pieces dry.
Do I need to line the bag?
It is not required, but a simple fabric lining (cut slightly smaller than the finished measurements and sewn in by hand) will make the tote more durable for heavy produce or books and hide the wrong-side color changes.
Final Thoughts
There is something quietly satisfying about finishing a bag that can actually go out into the world and do its job. This one has already carried library books, a thermos of tea, and more than one armful of late-season flowers for me. I hope yours does the same.
If you make an Autumn Harvest Tote, I would love to see how the sunflower turns out on your yarn and in your light. Leave a comment, tag your photos, or pin it so other makers can find the pattern too. Happy crocheting, and may your autumn be full of golden petals and useful bags.
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