20 rounds · filed under dense · 17 of them
Bags and Totes · added 11 Oct 2026
Coral reef mesh tote with sewn-on starfish appliques
Firm single crochet base, open mesh sides, and cream-and-coral starfish appliques build a structured cotton tote.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Hook
- 4.0 mm
- Yarn
- Worsted
- Rounds
- 18
About this pattern
Above that firm rectangle the piece opens into a mesh zone of 30 diamond columns, a looser, more breathable hand that contrasts with the base the way a woven tote contrasts with its own strap. The shape that results is a squared-off tote body, ready for handles, a lining, or a plastic canvas base dropped into the bottom for extra stand. Two cream-and-coral starfish get sewn onto the front panel after blocking, so you position them once the fabric has already settled into its final width.
The swatch in numbers
- Rounds
- 18
- Parts
- 2
- Level
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Hook
- 4.0 mm
- Yarn
- Worsted
The yarn and the hook
- Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is 100% mercerized cotton in worsted weight. It gives crisp stitch definition and excellent beach bag structure.
- Paintbox Cotton Aran is 100% cotton in aran/worsted weight. The bright color range works beautifully for this project, and it creates a firm tote fabric.
- Knit Picks Dishie is 100% cotton in worsted weight. It is durable for everyday use and offers good yardage per skein.
- You can substitute with any firm cotton or cotton-linen yarn that matches gauge. Avoid very soft acrylics for the body because this tote needs structure to hold its shape.
Yarn
- Worsted weight cotton yarn in aqua: approximately 285 yards
- Worsted weight cotton yarn in coral: approximately 180 yards
- Worsted weight cotton yarn in cream: approximately 35 yards
- Worsted weight cotton yarn in turquoise accent: approximately 12 yards
Hooks
- US G/6 (4.0 mm) hook for body and mesh
- US F/5 (3.75 mm) hook for starfish edging, if needed for neat applique edges
Notions
- Yarn needle
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Rustproof pins and blocking mat
Optional extras
- Removable stiff plastic canvas base
- Magnetic snap
- Sewn cotton lining
Stitches, spelled out
beg beginning; ch chain; dc double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops twice)Drape; hdc half double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops)Dense; rep repeat; rnd round; RS right side; sc single crochet (insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over and pull through both loops)Dense; sl st slip stitch; sp space; st(s) stitch(es); WS wrong side.
Tension and hand-feel
16 single crochet stitches by 18 rounds equals 4 inches by 4 inches after light blocking, worked with the 4.0 mm hook.
6 mesh rounds equals approximately 2.75 inches in height after blocking.
Take time to make a small swatch before diving in. If your swatch is too loose, go down a hook size. If it is too tight, go up a hook size. The fabric should feel firm but not stiff.
After Row 17, lay your lower body flat and check it against 10.75 inches by 3.75 inches; this is the only checkpoint the pattern gives before the mesh begins.
Tote Body
Checkpoint: Your lower body should measure about 5 inches tall from the base edge, with a firm rectangular shape.
Checkpoint: Your mesh section should measure about 4.25 to 4.5 inches tall and show 30 open diamond columns around.
Checkpoint: After mesh, the body should measure about 9.5 inches tall from the base edge.
Starfish Applique
Make 2How the texture is built
- The lower body is worked flat for 17 rows rather than in the round because a single crochet rectangle folds and seams into a base more predictably than a tube would, and the firm gauge needed for structure is easier to control on straight rows.
- Round 1 converts that flat rectangle into a loop by single crocheting across the top 43 stitches, 17 stitches evenly down one side, 43 across the foundation, and 17 up the other side, which is why the Placement Map splits the 120-stitch circumference into front, side, back, side.
- Each round from Round 2 onward joins with a slip stitch rather than working continuously, which keeps a visible seam line at the marked first stitch instead of a spiral, so the starfish placement and side folds can be measured from a fixed point round after round.
Putting the pieces together
If you swap the yarn
| Cotton-acrylic blend, worsted weight | Keeps the same G/6 hook and stitch count but softens the hand of the lower body slightly, trading some of the firm, structured feel for a lighter bag. |
|---|---|
| Linen-cotton blend, worsted weight | Adds a crisper, drier hand to the single crochet base and holds the mesh diamonds open with less relaxing over time, though it is less forgiving on tension than straight cotton. |
| Acrylic, worsted weight | Drops the finished weight of the tote and the yardage needed stays close to the same, but the lower body loses firmness, so pair it with a plastic canvas base or add a lining to hold the rectangular shape. |
Colorways
- Pattern colorway Aqua for the base and lower body (Rows 1-17 and Rounds 1-23), cream for the decorative bridge (Rounds 24-25) and for each starfish center (Round 1), and coral for the diamond mesh section through the top rim and handles (Rounds 26-43) and for each starfish edge (Round 3). The turquoise accent yarn is listed among the materials for optional decorative use.
Washing and blocking
Hand wash in cool water, since cotton holds shape well but loses strength quickly in hot water and aggressive wringing.
Lay the bag flat to dry rather than hanging it by the handles, which keeps the firm single crochet base from stretching under its own damp weight.
Store with the optional plastic canvas base left in and the bag stuffed lightly with tissue so the mesh diamonds and the sewn-on starfish keep their shape between uses.
When it does not look right
- The lower body feels floppy instead of structured
- The single crochet rows were likely worked at too loose a gauge; drop to a smaller hook for the lower body or add a lining or plastic canvas base to restore the firm hand the pattern calls for.
- The mesh section flares wider than the solid rounds below it
- Stitch count crept upward across the diamond rounds; recount against the 120-stitch total at the start of a round and correct any extra increases before continuing.
- Starfish points look uneven or curl at the tips
- Round 2 chains were worked at inconsistent tension; keep the chain-6 loops relaxed and block the starfish flat before sewing them to the front panel.
Questions people ask
Can the starfish appliques be attached before blocking the tote?
The pattern places them after blocking so the front panel has already settled into its finished width, which keeps the two stars balanced across the 43-stitch front. Sewing them on early risks uneven spacing once the fabric relaxes.
How firm should the lower body feel compared to the mesh rounds?
The lower body should feel dense and almost board-like, close to the 10.75 by 3.75 inch checkpoint after Row 17, while the mesh rounds above it should feel open enough to show daylight through the diamonds. That contrast is intentional and marks the transition point in the construction.
Is the plastic canvas base necessary?
No, it is listed as optional and the firm single crochet lower body is designed to stand on its own. Add the canvas base only if you want extra rigidity or plan to carry heavier loads.
What is the running stitch step on the starfish for?
It is a cosmetic finishing pass in coral or cream, added across each star before sewing it on, purely for the striped look shown in the photos. Skipping it leaves a solid-color starfish with no change to its structure.
New patterns, as they are filed
One short email when a batch lands, with the feel of each.