Ellesmere Market Bag

Hello everyone, I'm Sarah of Rich Textures Crochet and welcome. Welcome to week four of the 2025 Marvelous Market Bag Crochet Along. Today we are going to learn how to crochet the Ellesmere Market Bag. Now this market bag is absolutely wonderful, quite robust and it has a great texture and a thickness to it. This bag measures approximately 11 and a half inches across and then from top to bottom it measures approximately 16 inches when it's laid flat. It's worked from the bottom all the way up through to the top. Today for our crochet along I'm going to be working in a 100% cotton yarn. This is the 24-7 cotton by Lion Brand. It's a number four or medium worsted weight yarn. There's about 286 yards per ball of yarn. You're going to need about two and a half balls of yarn to complete your project. Today I'm going to be working in the color sky. The color that you see the bag worked in here is the color succulent. You're also going to need a four millimeter crochet hook or a G crochet hook and links to these items are in the description of this video. Also down in the description you'll find a direct link to the free written instructions which are on my website at richtexturescrochet.com. So thank you so much for joining me. While you're here I invite you to subscribe, take a look around. All four of this year's market bags are now available and you will find them under the Marvelous Market Bag Crochet Along playlist here on YouTube and of course on my website. So thank you so much for joining me. Let's grab our hooks and yarn and get started. Now I neglected to mention it before but one thing you may wish to have on hand are four or five stitch markers. They're not necessary, they're purely optional and I'll show you how we will use them a little bit later on. For our bag we're working down at the bottom and we're going to start by making a slip knot. You're then going to work a foundation chain and your foundation chain today is going to be 41 chains. If you wish to change the size of your bag you'll simply need to chain an odd number of stitches for this first row. There's 30, 40 and 41. Once you've worked that foundation chain you're going to begin round one by working a half double crochet into that second chain from your hook and then half double crochet each stitch in each stitch all the way across until you have one stitch remaining. When you come across and have one stitch remaining into that final stitch you're going to work three half double crochet stitches and you're going to turn your work so that you're working along the opposite side of your foundation chain. You're then going to continue working all the way across working one half double crochet in each stitch, working opposite your previous stitches, one stitch in each chain all the way across once again until you have one stitch remaining. Once you come all the way across the end of round one and have one stitch remaining you're going to work two half double crochets into that final stitch and then join with a slip stitch into the top of your first half double crochet. You're then going to chain one, continue working in the same direction. At the end of round one you're going to have a total of 82 stitches. For round two continue working in the same direction. You've chained one, you're going to begin by working three half double crochets into the same stitch as joining. There's one, two and three all into the same stitch. Now with these three half double crochets every time you come to the set of three in every row following this one for your bottom you're going to be working three half double crochets into that second stitch in the set of three. So to make it a little bit easier and give me less counting later on I'm just going to mark that second half double crochet in the set of three. You're then going to work one half double crochet into each of the next 38 stitches. Next you're going to work three half double crochets into the next stitch and once again you can mark that second half double crochet stitch. Work one half double crochet into the next and then work three half double crochets into your next stitch. If you wish mark the second stitch and then work one half double crochet into each of the next 38 stitches until you have two stitches remaining. Work three half double crochets into your next stitch, one half double crochet into your final stitch and then join with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch. At the end of round two you're going to have a total of 90 stitches. Chain one and continue working in the same direction. For round three you're going to half double crochet into the first stitch which is your same stitches joining and then at your next stitch marker in the next stitch work three half double crochets. Next work one half double crochet into each of the next 40 stitches. Next you'll be at your stitch marker you're going to work three half double crochets into the next stitch, work one half double crochet into each of the next three stitches, at your next stitch marker or in the next stitch work three half double crochets and then work one half double crochet in each of the next 40 stitches or until you come across and to your final stitch marker. You're then going to work three half double crochets into your next stitch and finish off by working one half double crochet in each of the final two stitches. That brings you to the end of your round three. You're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of the first stitch. You will have a total of 98 half double crochet stitches. Chain one and continue working in the same direction. For round four we're going to begin by working a half double crochet into each of the first two stitches. You're then going to work three half double crochets into your next stitch. Work one half double crochet into each of the next 42 stitches or until you come across to your next stitch marker. Work three half double crochets into your next stitch. Then work one half double crochet into each of the next five stitches. Three half double crochets into the next stitch. Then work one half double crochet into each of the next 42 stitches or until you come back, come around to your final stitch marker. Work three half double crochets into your next stitch. Then work one half double crochet into each of the final three stitches. You're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch. At the end of this round you have a total of 106 stitches. For round five you're going to chain one, half double crochet into each of the first three stitches, and then work three half double crochets into your next stitch. If you are using stitch markers at this time you can just remove them and set them aside. Then work one half double crochet into each of the next 44 stitches or until you come across to your next stitch marker. Work three half double crochets into your next stitch and then half double crochet into each of the next seven stitches. Work three half double crochets into your next stitch and then work one half double crochet into each of the next 44 stitches or until you come across to your final stitch marker. Work three half double crochets into that next stitch and then finish off round five by working one half double crochet into each of the final four stitches. Join with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch and chain one. Now for the next three rounds, round six, seven, and eight, you're going to continue working in the same direction and you're simply going to work one half double crochet into that same stitches joining and then one half double crochet into each stitch all the way around. When you come to your first stitch, join with a slip stitch into the top, chain one, and repeat. You will work three rounds of half double crochet stitches in each stitch. At the end of each round, you will continue to have 114 stitches and then you can meet me back here at the end of round eight. At the end of round eight, this is what your work is going to look like from the beginning. This is your bag bottom. You're then ready to begin your bag sides. So for our bag sides, what we're going to do is we're going to chain one, continue working in the same direction, and for round one, you're simply going to single crochet into that same stitches joining and then single crochet in each stitch all the way around. You will continue to have 114 stitches. When you come to that first stitch, you're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of the first single crochet stitch. At the end of round one of your bag sides, join with a slip stitch into the top of your first single crochet. You're going to chain one and this time turn your work so that the inside of your bag is showing. We're now going to work a round of front post single crochet stitches. When you're working this front post single crochet, you're going to begin in the same stitch as joining by bringing your hook in front, inserting it under the top two loops, and then around back out under the top two loops of the next stitch. You're going to yarn over, draw up a loop, and complete your single crochet stitch. So that's your front post single crochet. You're going to do that in each stitch all the way around. So in the same stitch as the previous stitch, insert your hook around the post and out under the top two loops of the next stitch. Single crochet. That's your front post single crochet. So you're going to work front post single crochet stitches in each single crochet all the way around. When you come to your first stitch, you're simply going to join in the top. I'm going to work a few more here just so that you can see what it looks like on the front side. When you turn it to the front side, you're going to see this little pop of texture. A hard ridge right there all the way around the bag. So front post single crochet in each stitch around. So I'm just working my final front post single crochet. If you wish, you may wish to go back and count just to make sure you have the 114 stitches, but then you're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of that first single crochet. You can then chain one and turn your work. You now have the right side of your bag facing out and you'll see that ridge of texture. For round three, we're going to single crochet into the first stitch and then single crochet into each stitch all the way around. At the end of round three, you're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch. You're then going to chain three and at this time do not turn your work. We're going to continue working in the same direction and our chain three counts as a double crochet stitch. You're then going to work a double crochet stitch, one double crochet stitch into each into the next stitch and then into each stitch all the way around. Including your starting chain three, you will continue to have a total of 114 stitches. When you come around to the first stitch, which is that starting chain three, you're going to join with a slip stitch into the third chain of that starting chain three. At the end of round four, you're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of that starting chain three. Chain one and do not turn your work. For round five, we're going to work a front post cluster stitch into the same stitch as joining. To work your front post cluster stitch, you're going to yarn over, bring your hook in front of your work and insert your hook from front around back and out through the front again around the post of this first stitch. Yarn over and draw up a loop. You're going to do that one more time. Yarn over, insert your hook around the post of that same stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop. You're then going to draw your yarn over and draw a loop through the first four loops on your hook and then yarn over and pull through the final two loops on your hook. That is your front post cluster stitch. You're going to want to pull this stitch up just a little bit. You will be working into the top of your next stitch a double crochet. So if you can pull that cluster up to about the height of a double crochet stitch and into your next stitch work one double crochet. You're then going to repeat that all the way around. Around the post of your next stitch work a front post cluster stitch. Yarn over, bring your hook in front and insert your hook from the front around back and out through the front again around the post of that next stitch. Yarn over, draw up a loop. Do that one more time around the post of the same stitch. Yarn over and pull through four loops. Yarn over and pull through two more. You're going to then work a double crochet into the top of your next stitch. Repeat this all the way around. At the end of your round four you're going to or your round five you're going to finish off with the double crochet stitch and then join with a slip stitch into the top of your first cluster stitch. You're then going to chain one. Do not turn your work and you're simply going to work a single crochet into that same stitch as joining and then single crochet into each stitch all the way around. When you come around to your first stitch you're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch. At the end of round six you're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch and you're now at a repeat in the pattern. So for at the end of round six you're going to chain one and turn your work and now for rounds seven through to forty one you're simply going to repeat rounds two through to six a total of seven more times. So round two began with that front post single crochet in each stitch all the way around that's where you're going to begin and then you're just going to repeat rounds two three four five and six for the total of seven more times and then meet me back here at the end of round 41. Once you have worked all of your repeats and you've worked your way through to the end of round 41 this is what your bag will look like from bottom up through to the top. We have one more round before we work begin working the top and handles of our bag so what we're going to do is chain one and turn and then you're simply going to for round 42 work one more round of the front post single crochet stitches. All the way around when you come back to that first stitch join with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch. You're going to continue to have 114 stitches at the end of this round. At the end of round 42 join with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch chain one and turn your work. We're now going to work the top of the bags and the handles this part of the bag will all be worked in the same direction so you won't be turning at the end of each round. We're going to begin the bag top by working three rounds of single crochet so single crochet into the same stitch as joining and then work one single crochet into each stitch all the way around. When you come all the way around join with a slip stitch into the top chain one continue working in the same direction and repeat. For rounds one two and three of the bag top you're going to work one single crochet into each stitch all the way around and then you can meet me back here at the end of round three. So I've now worked my three rounds of single crochet stitches we're now going to work the foundation for the bag handles. To work our bag handles you're going to begin by chaining one work a single crochet into the first stitch into the same stitch as joining and then single crochet into each of the next 26 stitches. There's 20 and 26 you'll have a total of 27 single crochet stitches. You're then going to chain 35 chains and you'll want to chain these fairly loose because we're going to be working into them later on so chain 35. If you'd like to change the length of your handle you can work more or less chains just make note of it so that you can work the same on the other side. Today I'm going to chain 35 that's 20 30 and 35. Then on your bag you're going to skip the next 30 stitches being sure that you do not twist your chain so on your bag count 30 and then work a single crochet stitch one single crochet stitch into each of the next 27 stitches. the next 30 chains which will bring you back to your first single crochet stitch and you're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of that first stitch. Then for round five you're going to chain one single crochet into that same stitch as joining and then single crochet into each stitch including each chain stitch all the way around. So I'm just going to work my 27 single crochet stitches here first which will bring me to the bag handle. So you're just working one single crochet into each single crochet and each chain stitch all the way around. So when you come to this first handle just into the chain stitch work your single crochet stitches. Again you'll want to make sure that the chain doesn't twist as you're working into it. Make sure they're all lined up correctly. If you're finding it challenging to work into these chain stitches you may also simply work your single crochet stitches, 35 of them, into the chain space. It's really up to you. I find working them in the chain just helps to spread them out a little bit more and keep them even. So you're just going to work one single crochet in each chain stitch and each single crochet all the way around. Join with a slip stitch into the top of that first stitch. When you come all the way around at the end of round five you're going to join with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch. At the end of your round five you're going to have a total of 124 single crochet stitches. Now for the next seven rounds, for rounds six through to twelve, you're simply going to work rounds of single crochet. Chain one, single crochet into the same stitches joining, and then single crochet into each stitch all the way around. When you come to that first stitch join with a slip stitch in the top of the first stitch. Chain one and continue working in the same direction. Now if you wish there is a slight seam that you'll see here forming up the side. If you wish to not have that seam you can work continuous rounds. So instead of joining with your slip stitch you would use a stitch marker, mark that first stitch, and simply work without joining, just single crochets in each stitch around and move your stitch marker as your work progresses. It's really up to you. So go ahead and work through to the end of round 12, working seven more rounds of single crochet stitches, and then meet me back here. At the end of round 12 you will have joined with a slip stitch into the top of your first stitch. You can then go ahead and fasten off. Then all there is to complete your market bag is to weave in your ends. So take your yarn needle and then take a look for any ends that might be remaining from your bag and you're just going to tuck those in. You can then go ahead, trim those ends, and your Elsemere market bag is then complete. That's all there is. So thank you so much for joining me on this 2025 Marvelous Market Bag Crochet Along. I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have and do be sure to keep checking back. Don't forget to subscribe. This channel is updated every single week and I look forward to seeing you again again. Until then, happy crocheting. Bye!