This sunflower crochet tote keeps the bag itself clean and simple so the flower becomes the focal point. A warm oatmeal body is paired with one large raised sunflower made from eight golden petals and a dense chocolate-brown spiral center.
The tote body is wider than it is tall and is made from two matching rectangular panels worked in straightforward double-crochet rows. The sunflower pieces are crocheted separately and layered onto the front panel, while two narrow sturdy straps create the tall handles.
Project at a glance
| Skill level | Confident beginner |
|---|---|
| Terminology | US crochet terms |
| Construction | Two rectangular panels, eight separate petals, one flower center, and two straps |
| Yarn | Medium/worsted cotton or firm cotton blend |
| Hook | 4 mm crochet hook, or a size that gives a firm fabric |
| Shape | Wide rectangular tote with a tall handle opening |
Materials
- Medium/worsted-weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn in warm oatmeal or natural beige for the bag and handles
- Small amount of deep chocolate-brown yarn for the sunflower center
- Small amount of muted mustard-gold yarn for the eight petals
- 4 mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers, optional
- Blocking mat and pins, optional
A firm cotton yarn works especially well here. The body needs enough structure to keep its broad rectangular shape, while the petals need enough stitch definition to hold their ridged teardrop silhouettes.
The exact finished measurements will depend on your yarn and tension, so matching the two body panels is more important than hitting a particular gauge. With a typical medium cotton yarn, this construction produces a roomy everyday tote with a body that is noticeably wider than it is tall.
Stitches and abbreviations
- ch — chain
- dc — double crochet
- hdc — half double crochet
- sc — single crochet
- sl st — slip stitch
- st/sts — stitch/stitches
- RS — right side
- WS — wrong side
Before you start
The front and back panels are worked in turned double-crochet rows. The ch 2 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch, so work the first dc directly into the first stitch and the final dc into the last stitch.
The sunflower is layered. All eight petals are made separately and attached to the front panel first. The brown center is sewn over their inner ends afterward, which hides the attachment area and leaves the broad outer portions of the petals slightly raised.
The two handles are narrow sc straps worked separately in rows. Make both straps to the same row count before attaching either one.
Crochet pattern
Front tote panel
With oatmeal yarn, ch 50.
Row 1: Beginning in the third ch from the hook, dc in each ch across. Turn. (48 dc)
Rows 2–22: Ch 2; this does not count as a stitch. Dc in each of the 48 stitches across. Turn after Rows 2–21. Do not turn after Row 22. (48 dc)
Do not fasten off yet.
Top finishing edge
Row 23: Ch 1; this does not count as a stitch. Sc in each dc across. (48 sc)
Fasten off.
This narrow sc row gives the open top a firmer, cleaner line than ending directly with a full-height dc row.
Back tote panel
Make a second panel exactly the same.
With oatmeal yarn, ch 50.
Row 1: Beginning in the third ch from the hook, dc in each ch across. Turn. (48 dc)
Rows 2–22: Ch 2; this does not count as a stitch. Dc in each stitch across. Turn after Rows 2–21. Do not turn after Row 22. (48 dc)
Row 23: Ch 1, sc in each dc across. (48 sc)
Fasten off.
🧶 Checkpoint: Lay the two panels directly on top of one another. They should be the same width and height, with the dc rows running horizontally and the narrow sc finishing rows aligned along the top.
Golden sunflower petals
Make exactly eight petals with mustard-gold yarn.
Each petal is worked around both sides of one foundation chain. The foundation remains visible as a subtle center ridge, while the shaped outer end creates the softly pointed petal tip.
Ch 8.
R1: Beginning in the second ch from the hook, sl st in the first ch, sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, dc in each of the next 2 ch, hdc in the next ch, then work (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the final ch.
Rotate the piece and work along the unused loops on the opposite side of the foundation chain: hdc in the next ch, dc in each of the next 2 ch, hdc in the next ch, sc in the next ch, sl st in the final ch. Join with a sl st to the first sl st. (16 sts, 1 ch-2 tip space)
R2: Ch 1; this does not count as a stitch. Sc in the same stitch as the join and in each of the next 7 stitches, work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the ch-2 tip space, then sc in each of the remaining 8 stitches. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off, leaving a long sewing tail. (18 sc, 1 ch-2 tip space)
Shape the petal into a broad tapered oval. The base should be narrow enough to disappear beneath the flower center, the middle should remain full, and the outer end should finish in a soft point.
Repeat until you have eight similar petals.
Chocolate-brown sunflower center
The dark center is worked in continuous sc rounds to create a clearly visible spiral. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round.
With brown yarn, make a magic ring.
R1: Work 6 sc in the ring. Do not join. (6 sc)
R2: Work 2 sc in each stitch around. (12 sc)
R3: [Sc in the next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch] × 6. (18 sc)
R4: [Sc in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch] × 6. (24 sc)
R5: [Sc in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch] × 6. (30 sc)
R6: [Sc in each of the next 4 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch] × 6. (36 sc)
Sl st in the next stitch to soften the end of the spiral. Fasten off, leaving a long sewing tail.
The finished center should be a dense flat circle with several clearly visible concentric spiral rounds. It should remain substantially smaller than the full eight-petal flower.
Handles
Make two matching straps in oatmeal yarn.
Ch 6.
Row 1: Beginning in the second ch from the hook, sc in each ch across. Turn. (5 sc)
Rows 2–72: Ch 1; this does not count as a stitch. Sc in each stitch across. Turn after Rows 2–71. Do not turn after Row 72. (5 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a long sewing tail at the final end. Attach another length of yarn at the starting end later for sewing.
Make a second handle to exactly the same row count.
🧶 Checkpoint: Place the two straps together without stretching them. Their ends should line up closely. Matching strap length matters more than the exact finished measurement because an uneven pair will make the tote hang crooked.
Assemble the sunflower
Position the petals
Lay the front tote panel RS up with the top edge at 12 o’clock.
Find the horizontal center of the panel and place the sunflower slightly above the exact vertical midpoint. This leaves a little more plain oatmeal fabric below the flower while keeping the motif visually centered on the bag.
Arrange the eight petals evenly around one central point. Place one petal straight upward, one upper right, one directly right, one lower right, one directly downward, one lower left, one directly left, and one upper left.
The narrow inner ends should overlap slightly at the center. The broad outer halves should remain clearly separated so all eight petals have complete readable outlines.
Attach the eight petals
Thread the sewing tail of the first petal onto a yarn needle.
Sew the narrow inner third firmly to the front panel. Continue with a few small hidden stitches along both sides through approximately the middle of the petal.
Leave the broad outer portion and pointed tip mostly free. This creates the dimensional lift visible around the outside of the sunflower without leaving the petal attached only at a single point.
Repeat for the remaining seven petals. Check the spacing frequently so the flower stays balanced.
Add the brown center
Place the brown circle over the meeting point of all eight petals.
The center should completely cover their narrow inner ends while leaving the broad gold sections exposed. Adjust the petals before sewing if any one appears much shorter or more hidden than the others.
Using the long brown tail, sew around the outside edge of the circle with small even stitches. Catch the petal bases and the tote panel beneath them.
Keep the sewing tension relaxed enough that the brown circle stays flat rather than cupping inward.
Join the tote body
Place the front and back panels together with their WS facing one another and both RS facing outward. Match the two top edges and all four corners.
Beginning at the upper-left corner, join oatmeal yarn through both panel layers.
Ch 1, then sc evenly down the entire left side, working through corresponding row ends of both panels.
At the lower-left corner, work 3 sc around the corner through both layers. Continue with sc through corresponding foundation-chain stitches across the bottom.
Work 3 sc at the lower-right corner, then sc evenly up the right side through both layers.
Fasten off when you reach the upper-right corner.
This produces the narrow visible crochet seam that frames the two sides and bottom of the tote while leaving the entire upper edge open.
Attach the handles
Front handle
Lay the tote with the sunflower side facing up.
Position one end of the first strap over approximately stitch columns 9–13 of the front panel. Position the other end over approximately stitch columns 36–40.
Keep both strap ends vertical and overlap them down the inside of the front panel by about four body rows. The strap should rise from the bag without twisting.
Using oatmeal yarn, sew securely around both long edges and across the lower edge of each overlapping strap end. Add a second line of small reinforcing stitches near the top of the overlap.
The handle should form one tall narrow arch centered above the bag.
Back handle
Turn the tote over and position the second strap at the same stitch columns on the back panel.
Match the attachment depth and spacing used for the front handle. Sew both ends securely over approximately four body rows.
Because the front and back handles are placed directly opposite one another, they align closely when the tote is photographed straight from the front. They remain two separate straps around the open top.
Finishing your sunflower tote
Weave in all remaining yarn tails securely, paying particular attention to the handle attachments and flower pieces.
Lightly block the tote if the body needs straightening. Shape the side and bottom seam into a clean rectangle, but avoid pressing the sunflower petals completely flat.
Finger-shape the eight gold petals so the foundation ridge remains visible through the center of each one. Allow the pointed ends to lift slightly away from the background while keeping every petal securely attached closer to the brown center.
The finished bag should have a broad rectangular oatmeal body, a tall centered pair of matching straps, one large eight-petal sunflower slightly above the body midpoint, and a dense round brown center layered over the petal bases.
Troubleshooting
- The tote body looks too tall and narrow: Check that you worked 48 dc across and only 22 full dc rows before the top sc edge. Adding many extra rows changes the broad rectangular proportions.
- The two panels do not line up: One panel probably has a different stitch or row count. Compare them before seaming and correct the mismatch rather than stretching one panel to fit.
- The sunflower center cups: Check that every increase round contains six evenly spaced increases, and keep the sewing stitches relaxed when attaching it.
- The petals look flat and leafless: Leave the outer portion of each petal free when sewing. Attach the base and middle securely while allowing the tip to retain a little natural lift.
- The handles twist or hang unevenly: Make sure both straps have the same row count and that corresponding ends are attached at matching stitch columns and row depth.
Once the sunflower, side seams, and handles are secure, the tote is ready to use. If you make one, feel free to share your finished bag or leave a question if you get stuck on any part of the construction.
