Step 1: The Bottom of the Bag

Choose the yarn you will use as the base color for your bag; this will be color number 1.

Row 1: The Chain

Start by making a slip knot. Here's how: Wrap the yarn around your fingers so that the yarn crosses over itself, then pull the yarn through the loop you've just made and tighten. You've now made a slip knot.

Next, crochet a chain of 29 stitches. Here’s how you make a chain: Insert your hook into the loop, wrap the yarn over the hook, and pull it through the loop. Now you’ve made a new loop. Continue in this way until you reach the desired number of stitches. This will form your chain.

In the second stitch (loop) from your hook, start crocheting single crochets. Here’s how you make a single crochet: Insert your hook into the stitch, catch the yarn, and pull it up. You now have two loops on your hook. Then, catch the yarn again and pull it through both loops. You've now made a single crochet.

Continue crocheting single crochets, one in each loop across the row, and finish the row with an extra chain stitch and turn. You should have a total of 28 stitches in one row.

Row 2 - 6: Continue the Bottom

Crochet an additional 5 rows, so you’ll have a total of 6 rows for the bottom. You will crochet one single crochet in each stitch, and at the end of each row, crochet a chain stitch and turn.

Now the bottom is complete!

Step 2: Crochet Around the Bottom

Now, you will crochet a round around the bottom to round the edges, and additional stitches will be added. The increases are: 1 extra stitch per corner + 4 stitches per short side between the corners. Do the following:

In the first stitch (which is the first corner), crochet 2 single crochets into the same stitch. This is your first increase. Then continue crocheting 26 single crochets along the side of the bottom until you reach the last stitch of the row, which is corner number 2. Here, make another increase by crocheting 2 single crochets into the same stitch. On the short side, add 4 stitches before reaching corner number 3. In corner number 3, make another increase by crocheting 2 single crochets into the same stitch. Then crochet 26 single crochets along the second long side until you reach corner number 4. Make an increase in corner number 4 by crocheting 2 single crochets into the same stitch. On the short side, add 4 stitches before returning to corner number 1.

Finish the round by making a slip stitch and a chain stitch in the first stitch of the round. Here’s how to make a slip stitch: Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through both loops at once.

Your new round should have a total of 68 stitches.

Step 3: Start Crocheting the Sides

Continue crocheting with color 1.

Now you will crochet a total of 6 rows of single crochets. Tip: Use a stitch marker at the beginning of each row to help keep track. Start the new row in the same stitch as the chain stitch from the previous row. This will ensure that your "seam," which forms when you crochet the ends of the rows, stays aligned.

• Crochet the following: One single crochet in each stitch (68 stitches).
• Finish each row with a slip stitch and a chain stitch.

Note: Row 6 is not finished with a chain stitch. Color 2 will be added here in the next step!

Step 4: Crochet Stripes / Add Color 2

Now you will switch to color 2. Do not cut the yarn for color 1.

To change to color 2, do the following:
When you are about to finish the round with a slip stitch, instead, make the slip stitch using your color 2. Fold the end of the new yarn into a U-shape, catch the yarn with your crochet hook, and make the slip stitch. Tighten the yarn ends from both color 1 and color 2 to ensure that all loops are tight and the yarn stays in place. Do a slip stitch and continue crocheting.

The striped section is crocheted as follows:

Stripe 1 / Color 2: Crochet 1 round. Finish by making the slip stitch with color 1.

Space / Color 1: Crochet 2 rounds. Finish by making the slip stitch with color 2.

Stripe 2 / Color 2: Crochet 3 rounds. Finish by making the slip stitch with color 1.

Space / Color 1: Crochet 2 rounds. Finish by making the slip stitch with color 2.

Stripe 3 / Color 2: Crochet 1 round. Finish by making the slip stitch with color 1.

Space / Color 1: Crochet 2 rounds. Finish by making the slip stitch with color 2.

Stripe 4 / Color 2: Crochet 3 rounds. Finish by making the slip stitch with color 1.

Space / Color 1: Crochet 2 rounds. Finish by making the slip stitch with color 2.

Stripe 5 / Color 2: Crochet 1 round. Finish by cutting the yarn for color 2 once you have completed the round, and do the slip stitch with color 1.

Step 5: Final Round and Handles

Now that you've finished crocheting stripes with two colors, you will continue crocheting only with your base color/color 1 from here on. Crochet 4 rounds of single crochets. Be sure to hide the yarn end from color 2 as you continue crocheting.

Once you’ve completed the fourth round, place 4 stitch markers where you want your handles. You can place them wherever you prefer.

For the 5th round, you will begin the handles. Here’s how:

1. Crochet single crochets until you reach stitch marker 1.
2. Then, crochet a chain as long as you want your handle to be. For reference, I chose 24 chain stitches for my handle.
3. Attach the chain with a single crochet at the position of stitch marker 2.
4. Crochet single crochets until you reach stitch marker 3, and then crochet a new chain of the same length as the previous one.
5. Attach the second chain at stitch marker 4.
6. Crochet single crochets until the round ends, finishing with a slip stitch and a chain stitch.

Round 6: Crochet a full round of single crochets. When you reach the chains for your handles, crochet the single crochets around the chains, not in the individual chain stitches. This will help make the handle more sturdy.

Finish the round with a slip stitch, cut the yarn, and pull it all the way through the loop to make a knot. Then, hide the yarn end inside the bag between your stitches. If it feels tight to weave in the end, you may find it helpful to use a smaller crochet hook.

Your bag is now ready to be used!