Okay, this is the granny square bag I had been dreaming about — one that actually holds its shape and looks polished enough to carry everywhere. Warm sunset colors, sturdy cotton construction, and a cute little button closure that keeps everything secure. The flower motif came together so beautifully, and I’m honestly obsessed with how this tote turned out!
You’ll make 27 sunny flower granny squares in coral, peach, and cream, then join them into a roomy tote with a cute little button closure. Market bag, beach buddy, everyday catch-all — this one covers it all.
If granny square joining has been on your someday list, or you’re ready to graduate from blankets to actual bags, you are going to love this one. I’m sharing my whole process, step by step — let’s go!
Project Overview
Skill Level: Intermediate — you will want to be comfortable joining motifs and changing colors.
Finished Dimensions: 12 inches wide × 12.5 inches high × 4 inches deep (30 × 32 × 10 cm). Handle drop is approximately 9 inches (23 cm).
Time to Complete: About 18 to 24 hours, mostly spent making the squares.
Construction: Twenty-seven flower squares plus a top band, two handles, and a button loop.
Sizes are approximate and will shift a little with your yarn and tension. I’ve included resizing tips below if you want to go bigger or smaller.
Materials and Yarn
For this Coral Sunset Granny Square Tote, grab some worsted weight cotton yarn (weight 4). Cotton gives the tote its crisp stitch definition and structure — a firm, smooth fiber holds the bag’s shape best.
Yarn Colors and Amounts
-
Color A (Coral): approximately 250 yards / 230 meters
-
Color B (Peach): approximately 220 yards / 200 meters
-
Color C (Cream): approximately 320 yards / 293 meters
Recommended Yarn Brands
-
Lily Sugar’n Cream (worsted cotton)
-
Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran
-
Bernat Handicrafter Cotton
Additional Supplies
-
4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
-
Tapestry needle
-
Stitch markers
-
Scissors
-
Optional: cotton lining fabric for extra body
Gauge
One finished flower square should measure 4 inches × 4 inches (10 × 10 cm) after a light block, using a 4.5 mm hook.
Make one square first and measure it. Square too small? Go up a hook size. Too big? Go down. Matching the motif size keeps the whole tote on target.
Abbreviations
This pattern uses US crochet terms — here is the quick key:
-
ch = chain
-
sl st = slip stitch
-
sc = single crochet (insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops)
-
dc = double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops)
-
st(s) = stitch(es)
-
sp = space
-
rep = repeat
-
MR = magic ring
-
beg = beginning
-
BLO = back loop only
For UK Crocheters
US terms throughout. Convert as follows: US sc = UK dc, US dc = UK tr. Everything else reads the same.
Special Stitches
Corner cluster: Work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into one space. That is the corner of your square.
Petal loop: A ch-3 arch that skips one stitch, made in Round 2. These become the flower petals.
Pattern Notes Before You Begin
Take a moment to skim these tips — they will make the whole project so much smoother.
-
You will make 27 flower squares: nine for the front, nine for the back, and nine forming a single wrap-around gusset (two sides plus the base).
-
Each square begins in a magic ring and is worked in joined rounds. The ch-3 at the start of a round counts as the first dc unless noted otherwise.
-
Rounds 1 and 2 make the flower. Rounds 3 and 4 square it off in cream.
-
Carry your colors neatly or fasten off and weave — your call, both work.
-
Leave a long tail (about 12 inches / 30 cm) on the final round of each square for joining.
-
Every round ends with its stitch count in parentheses — use it as a checkpoint to stay on track.
-
Block your squares to a true 4 inches before joining. Flat, even motifs make assembly a dream.
The Flower Square Pattern (Make 27)
This is where it all comes together. Work Rounds 1 and 2 in a flower color (A or B), Rounds 3 and 4 in Cream (C).
Round 1 (Flower Color)
Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (this counts as your first dc), then work 15 dc into the ring. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. Pull the ring tight.
(16 dc)
Round 2 (Same Flower Color, Petals)
Ch 1, sc in the same st. Ch 3, skip 1 st, sc in the next st. Repeat from * around. On the last repeat, ch 3 and skip the final st, then join with a sl st to the first sc.
Now you have eight little petal arches.
(8 sc, 8 ch-3 spaces)
Round 3 (Cream, Begin the Square)
Join Color C in any ch-3 space. Ch 3, then work (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same space. That’s your first corner made.
Work 3 dc in the next space.
(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next space, 3 dc in the next space. Repeat from * around. Join to the top of the beginning ch-3.
(28 dc, 4 corner spaces)
Round 4 (Cream, Finish the Square)
Sl st into the first corner ch-2 space. Ch 3, then work (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same corner space.
Dc in each dc to the next corner.
(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the corner space, dc in each dc to the next corner. Repeat around. Join.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for joining.
(44 dc, 4 corner spaces)
Each finished side now holds 11 dc — that is your 4-inch square.
Choosing Your Colors
For the look shown in the photos, make:
-
14 squares with a Coral (A) flower
-
13 squares with a Peach (B) flower
All 27 squares use Cream (C) for Rounds 3 and 4.
Arrange them in a relaxed checker so coral and peach alternate across the front and back, and blend the two colors naturally across the gusset.
Best tip I can give you: there is no wrong layout. Spread all your squares on the floor or the bed and shuffle until the colors feel balanced — before you sew a single stitch.
For an extra-soft accent, you could work a few flower centers in cream instead of coral or peach to soften the look.
Joining and Assembly
Now for the fun part — let’s build this bag piece by piece.
Step 1: Make the Panels
Using Color C, hold two squares with wrong sides together. Work sc through the back loops of both edges to join them.
Build a Front panel of 3 × 3 squares (9 squares total).
Build a Back panel of 3 × 3 squares (9 squares total).
Step 2: Make the Gusset
Join 9 squares into one long 1 × 9 strip. This strip wraps the bag like this: left side (3 squares) + base (3 squares) + right side (3 squares).
(9 squares)
Step 3: Attach Front to Gusset
With Color C, sc the gusset strip around the Front panel’s left edge, across its bottom, and up its right edge. Match square to square as you stitch.
(9 joined edges)
Step 4: Attach the Back
Sc the Back panel to the gusset’s free long edge in the same way.
And now the bag stands up on its own!
(9 joined edges)
Top Band, Handles, and Button
These finishing touches bring it all together and give the tote that polished look.
Top Band (Around the Opening)
Round 1 (Color C): Join at a back corner. Sc evenly around the whole opening. Join. (88 sc)
Rounds 2 and 3 (Color A): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (88 sc)
Round 4 (Color C): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. Fasten off. (88 sc)
Handles (Make 2)
With Color A, ch 81.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (80 sc)
Rows 2 through 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. (80 sc)
Optional: Edge each strap in Color C for a tidy trim.
Sew the ends firmly inside the band. Attach one handle to the front and one to the back, about a third in from each side.
Button
With Color A, make a magic ring. Work 8 sc into the ring. Then 2 sc in each st around. (16 sc)
Sc 1 round, stuff lightly with a small bit of yarn or fiberfill, then close the opening.
Sew the button to the center front of the band.
Loop
With Color C, join at the center back of the band. Ch 10, then sl st back to form a loop. Make sure it slips over your button comfortably.
Finishing Your Tote
Almost there! These final steps will make your bag look polished and last for years.
-
Weave in every end securely on the inside of the bag.
-
Steam or wet-block the whole bag, squaring the corners and flattening the base gently.
-
Optional lining: For extra structure, cut a cotton lining from your panel measurements and hand-stitch it inside the band — especially nice if you plan to carry heavier things.
Care Instructions
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Do not bleach.
Press the water out gently in a towel, reshape, and lay flat to dry. Cool-iron through a cloth if needed.
Don’t overload the tote and the handles will keep their shape for ages.
Make It Your Size
Want to customize? Try these easy adjustments:
-
Bigger bag: Add a column or row of squares to the front and back, and lengthen the gusset to match.
-
Deeper base: Widen the gusset to 2 squares instead of 1.
-
Firmer fabric: Drop to a 4.0 mm hook for a tighter stitch.
-
Softer or larger: Go up to a 5.0 mm hook.
-
Sturdier construction: Add the optional lining and a base insert — a piece of cardboard or plastic canvas cut to size works great.
Troubleshooting Tips for Beginners
Squares coming out different sizes? Check your tension. Cotton can feel stiffer than acrylic, so relax your grip and just let the yarn flow.
Flower center pulling through? Pull your magic ring nice and tight before Round 2.
Joining feel awkward? Practice on two scrap squares first. Working through just the back loops gives you a neat, flat seam that looks intentional.
Bag feeling floppy after assembly? Blocking really does help. Soak the whole thing, squeeze out the water, and shape it while damp.
Why This Pattern Works
Granny square tote construction is perfect for so many reasons: each square is portable enough for anywhere-making, the repetitive rounds are meditative without being boring, and the finished bag looks impressive even though each piece is simple on its own.
This design balances traditional granny square charm with modern colors — coral and peach feel fresh and summery, while the cream borders keep it all cohesive.
Plus, cotton is naturally sturdy and gets softer with washing — this tote only gets better with use.
Final Thoughts on the Coral Sunset Granny Square Tote Crochet Pattern
There is something deeply satisfying about watching those flower squares stack up, then assembling them into something this useful and beautiful.
This one is perfect for gifting, too — imagine it filled with goodies for a birthday, or handed to a friend who loves handmade things. It is the kind of make that starts conversations everywhere you take it.
Thanks so much for stitching along — I truly appreciate every single one of you who tries this pattern!
