11. French Net Produce Market Mesh Bolsa
What This Idea Means
An eco-friendly staple, the French net produce bag expands to hold surprisingly large loads while contracting down small enough to stuff inside a pocket. Its breezy openwork lattice stitch feels light, practical, and charmingly French.
How to Make It
- Start Bottom Center: Begin in the round using a magic ring, working expanding double crochet rounds to form a small 3-inch flat base.
- Build Lattice Mesh: Transition to long chain-space loops (ch 5, sc in next loop) working continuously in a spiral to build the expandable net walls up to 12 inches.
- Dense Top Rim: Decrease chain loop lengths down to single crochets to gather the net top into a firm rim.
- Crochet Integrated Handles: Chain 60 stitches on opposite sides of the rim and work 4 rounds of single crochet over the chains to form thick, comfy shoulder handles.
Tips & Variations
- Tip: Use mercerized cotton or hemp yarn to prevent the expandable net from stretching out permanently over time.
- Variation: Dye the finished white cotton net bag in an avocado-pit pink or onion-skin yellow natural dye bath.
What You Need
- Mercerized cotton or hemp yarn
- 3.5mm crochet hook
- Stitch markers & scissors