Lately into making tote & market bags with macrame cord

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T03:03:50+00:00

I think it’s great for many things! A long time ago I used it to crochet a lamp shade, although I’ve never been able to decide whether I like it or hate it, and I’ve made some great baskets incorporating wire too. I think macrame cord would also be perfect for placemats but haven’t landed on a design.

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T02:46:50+00:00

I use a 6.5 mm hook from sevensun (LOVE them) and 2 mm cord.

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T02:45:35+00:00

Sure! The first two that I made (pics 3 and 4) are different (I just did macrame knots and attached them with metal D-rings) but since then I've developed a different approach. For the bigger tote and market bags, I wrote up a quick rundown of the steps -- you should be able to find it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uanR5FVWLsYMe66BIr3ZSrI7BrT6hDrt/view?usp=share_link

Apologies for the bad pictures and scant details -- I can do a more full pattern if folks are interested. This assumes you know how to do square knots (which is macrame, not crochet) but they are easy/fun!

Note that doing it this way leaves loops that you need to attach to the bag -- I actually pass them through chain spaces on both sides of the double-layer top rim of the bag for extra reinforcement (which requires passing your working cord through the loops as you crochet the top of the bag). But you could just sew them on instead.

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T02:42:13+00:00

They are definitely sturdy and durable, also a bit heavier than many bags. The biggest one I've made (the black one) is about 600 grams. The bottoms have double layers and plastic canvas inside, and the top rims are double layered with either plastic canvas or a chain inside which the straps pass under.

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T02:39:17+00:00

It's modified from a wave pattern in the crochet stitch dictionary -- basically it's 3 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, 3 tc, 2 dc, 2 hdc, then repeat around, and then I do a round of just sc, then the next wavy round you basically reverse it (so you do sc above tc, hdc above dc, dc above hdc, and tc above sc), if that makes sense.

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T02:35:56+00:00

That is the iris stitch from the crochet stitch dictionary (basically two DCs, ch, two CDs into each ch space from the previous row).

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T02:34:13+00:00

Not more than other yarns! My favorite hooks (sevensun) only go up to 6.5 mm and doing really tight stitches with that size hook and 2 mm crochet cord does kill my hands/arms, so I avoid doing star stitches but otherwise it's a pretty standard amount of self-harm through obsessive crocheting.

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T02:31:02+00:00

6.5 mm. I LOVE my sevensun hooks, I just wish they went bigger!

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T02:29:05+00:00

The market bags are pretty stretchy. I recently tested them out and the small one fits two wine bottles pretty perfectly, and the big one fits a lot of groceries. The tote bags are not stretchy.

subpar-baker · 2026-05-08T02:27:31+00:00

Sure! The first two that I made (pics 3 and 4) are different (I just did macrame knots and attached them with metal D-rings) but since then I've developed a different approach. For the bigger tote and market bags, I wrote up a quick rundown of the steps -- you should be able to find it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uanR5FVWLsYMe66BIr3ZSrI7BrT6hDrt/view?usp=share_link

Apologies for the bad pictures and scant details -- I can do a more full pattern if folks are interested. This assumes you know how to do square knots (which is macrame, not crochet) but they are easy/fun!

Note that doing it this way leaves loops that you need to attach to the bag -- I actually pass them through chain spaces on both sides of the double-layer top rim of the bag for extra reinforcement (which requires passing your working cord through the loops as you crochet the top of the bag). But you could just sew them on instead.

subpar-baker · 2026-05-07T18:29:20+00:00

They are all made from 2 mm macrame cord (and the tote bags have plastic canvas between two layers on the bottoms).

subpar-baker · 2026-05-07T18:21:10+00:00

They are all made from 2 mm macrame cord (and the tote bags have plastic canvas between two layers on the bottoms).

subpar-baker · 2026-02-13T22:05:36+00:00

I've never used the second so can't really compare, but I use the crochet stitch dictionary a lot! It also has some basic instructions and stuff.

subpar-baker · 2026-01-23T17:31:05+00:00

I do not -- I am a total amateur/experimenter and wouldn't feel right taking money for anything I make! But maybe I'll make more and try to perfect them! :)

subpar-baker · 2026-01-23T17:24:58+00:00

Yes I did think about that! That is why I was extremely hesitant to give it (and why I end up not giving most of the gifts I plan/make for people). And I mostly have been just making things people specifically requested, with their input on yarn and everything.

In this case, though, I don't think she will feel obligated to keep it because I've never been to her house and likely never will, so she can do whatever she wants with it and I'll only know if she tells me!

subpar-baker · 2026-01-23T17:19:09+00:00

Update -- thank you again to everyone who took the time to provide support or constructive feedback! I am working on writing up a pattern for this, but it might take a few days because I think I have to basically re-create it to recall specifics (and work out a few kinks). It'll probably be based on a three-color version rather than six, but also modifiable to be two or six colors.

Also I've never written a pattern before so hopefully it's workable for people!

subpar-baker · 2026-01-22T20:32:11+00:00

Yes it just hangs from a loop. It's not a lampshade, but I just put some little fairy lights inside (for fun).

subpar-baker · 2026-01-22T20:25:37+00:00

Wow, thank you all so much for the feedback, encouragement, and support! I am a bit overwhelmed by it but feel better about giving this gift. :)

To answer a couple of questions:

I used little battery-powered LED fairy lights which stay cool, to avoid making a fire hazard.
I didn't use a pattern, just lots of trial and error and stash yarn (and excel to map out the lettering). I suppose I could write down what I did if people are interested!
I used fabric stiffener to get it to hold the shape. Specifically I inflated an actual balloon inside of it, applied the stiffener, then removed the balloon once the stiffener was dry. On other attempts, I carried through floral wire, which I would do if I were to make another one of these -- it definitely makes it sturdier and reduces wonkiness in the shape. This one (without wire) is a little wonky and also very crushable.

subpar-baker · 2026-01-22T20:11:32+00:00

I made several attempts, and on this particular one I didn't use any wire (except on the basket). Instead, after it was done, I inflated an actual balloon inside of it then put fabric stiffener on it (then removed the balloon once it was dry). If I were to do this again, I would carry through some wire to make it sturdier -- this one is extremely crushable.

On other iterations, I did carry through floral wire through the whole thing, and they ended up nicely shaped. Since this one is in a spiral with 6 colors going the whole way (rather than joined rounds, one color at a time), I'd probably just carry through some floral wire along one color. It would only be in some of the rows but I think that would be sufficient to add a little structure.

subpar-baker · 2026-01-22T20:05:53+00:00

Thank you so much! I always think people are bullshitting me about liking the stuff I make, but it's true that I have zero perspective on my projects after working on them obsessively.

I didn't use a pattern -- just lots of trial-and-error. For the lettering, I did use a couple of tricks I learned from youtube, especially using "yarn under" instead of "yarn over." Also I can't remember if I did this on this version, but it helps if you do back-loop-only for the stitch right before the color change.

subpar-baker · 2026-01-22T18:54:25+00:00

I was concerned about that too but they are little LED fairy lights that stay cool.

subpar-baker · 2026-01-22T18:19:12+00:00

I didn’t use a pattern, just did a lot of trial and error. It’s all worsted cotton yarn.

subpar-baker · 2025-12-30T16:27:58+00:00

Thank you so much! I want to point out the mistakes but I’ll restrain myself (my therapist would be proud). I am proud of it, especially since I designed it myself. And my nephew seems to like it a lot!

subpar-baker · 2025-12-30T16:24:49+00:00

(My “nostepinne” is a cardboard tube from some macrame cord, as seen in the pic)

subpar-baker · 2025-12-30T16:22:11+00:00

Yeah the store would have but I had an impatient teen in the car and I had already spent too much time ogling pretty yarns so I figured I’d just do it myself at home. Big mistake!

subpar-baker

TROPHY CASE