Free Pattern: American Car Tote Bag

A pet peeve of mine is garbage in the car. After searching for a “cute” garbage bag for my car, I decided to make my own. As I thought through it, a flag came to mind and we love Americana things. I made this one for my dad for Father’s Day.

It is a great size tote for the car to hold a trash bag or necessities and tissues. Make it in your choice of colors. Handle buttons on one end to make it easy to attach wherever needed.

American Car Tote Bag

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Materials

Yarn: Worsted yarn in colors of choice. Sample was made from Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry, White and Blue.

Crochet Hooks: H hook

Miscellaneous: yarn needle, sewing needle, thread, ½” button

Gauge: 4″ = not necessary for this project

Finished size: 12” wide x 9” tall when measured flat.

Work in continuous rounds unless instructed to join.

Directions
1. With H hook and red yarn, ch 17, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, with 4 sc in last ch. Working across back of beginning chain, sc in each st across, with 2 sc in last st. (35sts) Do not join. Place marker for working in the round.
2. 2 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc 14, 2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc 15, 2 sc in next st. (41sts)
3. 2 sc in next st, sc, repeat once, sc 13, 2 sc in next st, sc, repeat 3 more times, sc 14, 2 sc in next st, sc. (48sts)
4. Sc, 2 sc in next st, repeat once, sc 17, 2 sc in next st, sc, repeat 3 more times, sc 16, 2 sc in next st, sc, 2 sc in next st. (56sts)
5. Sc, 2 sc in next st, repeat 2 more times, sc 18, 2 sc in next st, sc 2, repeat 3 more times, sc 18, 2 sc in next st, sc. (64sts)
6. 2 sc in next st, sc 2, repeat 2 more times, sc 20, 2 sc in next st, sc 2, repeat 3 more times, sc 20, 2 sc in next st, sc 2. (72sts)
7. 2sc in next st, sc 3, 2sc in next st, sc 31, 2sc in next st, sc 3, 2sc in next st, sc 31. (76sts)
8. 2sc in next st, sc 5, 2sc in next st, sc 31, repeat to end of round. (80sts)
9. 2sc in next st, sc 6, 2sc in next st, sc 32, repeat to end of round. (84sts)
10. Sl st in next st. Work in BLO for this round. Ch 1, sc in each st to end of round, sl st to join.
11. Ch 1, sc 19, sc2tog, repeat to end of round. Do not join. Place marker for working in the round. (80sts. Stitch count will remain the same until noted in pattern.)
12. sc, hdc, dc 3, hdc, sc 2, repeat to end of round.
13. Sc in each st to end of round. Change to white yarn in middle of last st. See “help tips” at end of pattern.
14. dc, hdc, sc 3, hdc, dc 2, repeat to end of round.
15. sc 4, hdc 4, repeat to end of round. Change to red yarn in middle of last st.
Note: this pattern works with the wave. It is not meant to fill in the valleys.
16. Sc, hdc, dc 3, hdc, sc 3, repeat until 7 sts remain, hdc, dc 3, hdc, sc 2.
17. hdc 4, sc 4, repeat to end of round, making last st an hdc instead of sc. Change to white yarn in middle of last st.
18-29. Repeat steps 14-17 three times, ending with a red round. There will be 8 stripes, counting from the first white stripe made. For taller bags add more rounds to this section. Change to white yarn in middle of last st.
30. dc, hdc, sc 3, hdc, dc 2, repeat to end of round.
31. sc 4, hdc 4, repeat to end of round. Change to red yarn in middle of last st. Note: this pattern works with the wave. It is not meant to fill in the valleys.
32. Sc, hdc, dc 3, hdc, sc 3, repeat until 7 sts remain, hdc, dc 3, hdc, sc 2.
33. Hdc, sc 4, hdc 4, repeat until 7 sts remain, sc 4, hdc 3.
34. sc 8, sc2tog, repeat to end of round.
35. Sc in each st to end of round, sl st in next st. Finish off and weave in ends.

Tissue Holder Pocket (make 2):
1. With H hook and blue yarn, ch 19, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (18sts)
2-4. Ch 2, turn, hdc in each st to end of row.
5. Ch 2, turn, hdc in same st, hdc 3, sc 10, hdc 4.
6. Ch 1, do not turn. This step is worked along the 3 other edges of the pocket, to the left. Sc evenly along short side of pocket. (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner. Sc across long edge. (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner. Sc evenly along short side of pocket. Finish off, leaving a tail for sewing to bag.

Lay one pocket piece approximately ½” from top of bag at left hand corner as shown in photo. Last row of pocket piece is slightly arched and should be towards the middle of the pocket. Place second pocket piece directly below first piece. First piece should overlap second piece slightly.
With yarn needle and matching yarn, sew pocket pieces along out edges to bag. Do not sew center edges to the bag. Slip travel tissue package inside pocket.

Handle:
1. Leave a tail in the beginning for sewing to bag. With H hook and red yarn, ch 61, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (60sts)
2-3. Ch 2, turn, hdc in each st to end of row.
4. Ch 1, turn, sc in each st to end of row.
5. Working across short end of handle, ch 1, sc in same st, sc 5 evenly across.
6. Ch 1, turn, sc 2, ch 2, sk 2, sc 2.
7. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc 2 in ch space, sc2tog. (4sts) Finish off and weave in ends.

Fold handle in half, lengthwise. With yarn needle and matching yarn, sew edges together, leaving 2” on each end open.

Fold bag in half. With yarn needle and matching yarn, sew end without the button hole to top edge of back layer of bag.

With needle and thread, sew button to top edge of back layer of bag, approximately 1” from side and top. See arrows in photo.

Common Crochet Abbreviations
Ch – chain    Sl st – slip stitch
St – stitch    Hdc – half double crochet
Sp – space; sps – spaces    Dc – double crochet
Sc – single crochet    Trc –treble/triple crochet
** – repeat instructions between, as many times as indicated

This pattern is copyrighted to snappytots and may not be copied for resale in part or whole. It is illegal to post this pattern online or share with others without written consent from Heidi Yates.  Items created from this pattern MAY be sold. Please include a link to snappy-tots.com if selling online.

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