Get ready for your next trip to the farmer’s market or grocery store with filet crochet produce bags. Reusable produce bags are great for cutting back on our plastic use. Best of all, these bags are washable, sturdy, and will expand to hold more produce than you might expect.

Customize your bag with filet crochet. Choose from the two designs provided (the Cherries design and a bonus Polka Dot design), or create your own design using the blank chart to make a one-of-a-kind bag you’ll want to take everywhere.

Want more design options? Check out the complete Filet Crochet Produce Bag Collection, featuring 10 filet crochet designs from fruits and vegetables to flowers and popular geometric patterns.

This drawstring bag is crocheted in the round from the bottom up, working on the right side throughout. After crocheting the mesh base, you will move on to the filet section. Each filet design is presented on its own page, which includes:
• written instructions for the first few filet crochet rounds to get you started
• photo of the finished crochet design
• full crochet filet chart for the design
• stitch key
• quick reference guide for how to work open and closed blocks

Once you’ve completed your filet crochet design for the sides of the bag, you’ll add a top edge using simple stitches while creating the holes through which a crochet drawstring can be threaded.

New to filet crochet? Here are the basics: Filet crochet combines double crochet stitches with chain spaces to create open and closed blocks across the fabric. Filet crochet charts, included with the pattern, show you which blocks to fill in and which blocks to leave open. The placement of the solid, closed blocks creates the visual image.

Whether you’re an expert with filet crochet or you’re trying it for the first time, you will love using this traditional technique to make unique bags you can use every day.

Skill Level
Confident Beginner

Finished Measurements
9 inches (23 cm) wide across top edge x 9 inches (23 cm) long, measured flat

Materials for One Bag
• Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet Thread Size 10 lace weight 100% mercerized cotton
(350 yds/320 m per ball): 1 ball of Victory Red
• Size 4/0/1.75 mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry/yarn needle
• 5/8 inch (16 mm) wooden round bead with 3/16 inch (5 mm) hole

Suggested Yarn Substitutes
Red Heart Classic Crochet Thread No. 10; Hobbii Rainbow Lace Yarn; Artiste #10 Cotton Crochet Thread; Scheepjes Maxi or Maxi Sugar Rush

This pattern includes
• Premium pattern pdf with professional full-color photographs
• List of abbreviations used, plus detailed instructions for special stitches and techniques
• 2 filet crochet charts
• 1 bonus blank chart to help you draw your own design
• Tips to help you crochet filet designs that are balanced and look great
• How to read the crochet filet charts in this pattern
• Instructions for crocheting a simple drawstring and adding it to your bag
• Care tips for your bag

Stitches Used
Chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and extended double crochet (optional)

Techniques Used
Working in the round, working into chain spaces, reading a filet crochet chart, and working into the back bar (bump) of a foundation chain

Pattern written in US crochet terms.

This pattern listing includes 2 downloadable files:
(1) Main Pattern PDF presents the pattern in a 3-column layout with color photos and a full filet crochet chart for each design, plus a blank chart you can use to create your own design. Images include alt text. PDF has been tagged for accessibility and tested on a screen reader.
(2) Print- and Screen-Friendly PDF: An additional text-only pdf presents the pattern in a simplified 1-column layout. All text is in black. PDF has been tagged for accessibility and tested on a screen reader.

This pattern was tested by Lee Smith

Technical editing by Randy Cavaliere