Mermeri Crochet
Mermaid Market Bag
By Meri
~ Embrace your whimsy ~
Materials
Hook – G/4.25mm
Yarn – Any cotton or linen yarn – pattern as written uses 335 yards
I recommend Yarn Bee – Sugarwheel Cotton Yarn (colorway as shown is Sprinkles On Top)
Scissors
Yarn Needle
Abbreviations
Ch- chain
St – stitch
Sc- single crochet
Dc – double crochet
Tr – treble crochet
Hdc – half double crochet
Sl st – slip stitch
Sk – skip
Notes
Gauge is not extremely important for this project. You are certainly able to use any hook or yarn you wish, I do find cotton yarn to be the sturdiest when it comes to market bags. The pattern is easily altered to make a bigger or smaller bag. To alter the overall width, add or remove rows to the base. To alter the length, add or remove as desired to the rows of shells. To jump back in to using the pattern as written when altering the length, make sure your rows of shells are an even number as you want to begin and end on the shell stitch.
Beginning chains do not count as a stitch
Instructions
Ch 4 and join to make a circle.
Base of the bag:
Round 1: ch 2, 12dc into the ring, sl st to join [12]
Round 2: ch 2, 2dc into each st around, sl st to join [24]
Round 3: ch 2, *dc into first st, 2dc in the next st* repeat * to * around, sl st to join [36]
Round 4: ch 2, *dc into first 2 sts, 2dc in the next st* repeat * to * around, sl st to join [48]
Round 5: ch 2, *dc into first 3 sts, 2dc in the next st* repeat * to * around, sl st to join [60]
Round 6: ch 2, *dc into first 4 sts, 2dc in the next st* repeat * to * around, sl st to join [72]
Round 7: ch 2, *dc into first 5 sts, 2dc in the next st* repeat * to * around, sl st to join [84]
Round 8: ch 2, *dc into first 6 sts, 2dc in the next st* repeat * to * around, sl st to join [96]
Round 9: ch 2, *dc into first 7 sts, 2dc in the next st* repeat * to * around, sl st to join [108]
Bag Body:
Round 10: ch 3, 3 tr in first st *sk 2 sts, dc in the next, sk 2 sts, 5tr* repeat * to * around. Complete row with 2tr to complete the beginning shell and sl st to join.
Round 11: ch 2, *dc in first stitch, sk 2 sts, 5tr in next st, sk 2* repeat * to* around, sl st to join
Round 12 – 24: Repeat round 10 and 11
To Finish: -2 options-
Option One:
Round 25 – 27: ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to join
Option Two:
For a brim that closes in a bit
Round 25: ch 1, hdc in next 2 sts, hdc2tog into the fifth tr and the next tr, skipping over the dc, repeat around, sl st to join
Round 26 – 27: ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to join
Strap:
Row 1: ch 1, hdc in next 9 sts, sl st into next
Row 2: ch 1 turn, hdc in each st
~ Repeat as necessary until you obtain the desired length. Once you reach your preferred length, sl st the last round to the last round of the bag. ~
For those that would like to support me and obtain a pdf copy of this pattern, you can find it on ravelry here –
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mermaid-market-bag
Thank you so much for supporting Mermeri Crochet of Mermaid Treasures Fiber Arts! Please let me know if you have any questions or would like additional information about the pattern. I’d love seeing your creations on Ravelry or Instagram, and I am always happy to offer pattern support for all of my crochet patterns as written.
You are more than welcome to sell any finished items made from this pattern. Please use your own photos and credit Meri Parko as the designer. Links back to my pattern or ravelry are greatly appreciated! Please feel free to share this pattern by directing others to the blog post or Ravelry listing, NOT by distributing the pattern or photos as your own.
Want to connect? You can follow me on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerMeriCrochet
Instagram: @Mermericrochet
Ravelry: AdelruneTisai
This pattern was inspired by Salty Pearl Crochet’s Venus Shell Slouch Hat. Permission was granted by the original creator to write up and distribute my bag pattern.
If you love this pattern, please show some love on Katie’s original pattern here – https://saltypearlcrochet.com/venus-shell-slouch-hat-crochet-pattern-free-crochet-beanie-pattern
Mermaid Treasures Fiber Arts 
I am confused about you saying to begin and end on a shell. after the base they are all shell rows, until row 25.
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I think she means half the time you end with a DC and the other half you end attaching to the 5trb
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Torrie is correct. As the body of the bag is a two row repeat, if you are adjusting how many rows you do, I recommend starting the hdc row after a row where you end on the treble shell stitch, not the singular double crochet.
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Probably a silly question, but is this a one-skein pattern?
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It is indeed a one skein pattern!
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OK – I’ve got the cotton yarn – can you give me an idea of the finished dimensions of the body of the bag (width & length)? Thanks!
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This may be a silly question, but is this pattern UK terms or us terms?
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US terms
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Thanks a lot for this free, pretty pattern !
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Why does the first treble row start with ch 3 and 3 treble? Shouldn’t it be 4 treble?
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The rows where you start with a shell are divided, so you create half the shell, work all the way around, and then finish the shell with two more treble stitches and the sl st into what is essentially the top of the shell.
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Rather, the end is throwing me off. Do I do the DC before the final 2 TR and WHERE do the final 2 TR go exactly?
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The final 2 treble stitches go in the same stitch the first 3 are in.
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Hi! The pattern looks really cute. I just would like to know the dimensions of the finished product. Thanks so much!
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I added loops at the top of mine and ran a piece of satin ribbon through them for a draw string, then put little shells at the ends! It’s beautiful!
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If the shell rows are a 2-row repeat of rows 10 and 11, why does it end on row 24? Shouldn’t it end on row 25, the second row of the repeat??
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I found that in option 2 for finishing that 3 HD worked out and not 2 hd
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I’ve only just started on the bag and I’m a little nervous about how it’s turning out so far – I followed the pattern for the base and it’s looking much pointier than I expected it to look, almost like a beanie! Is this how it’s supposed to look, or did I mess up somewhere?
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I’m a bit confused about the strap. It says to do 9 hdc, and then a slip stitch. wouldn’t you just do the 9 hdc and then ch1 and turn? and if you do the slip st, does it count as a st going back (making the strap 10 stitches wide instead of 9)
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I love this pattern! However I’m (intermediate) beginner and the end of the 10th row is confusing me. If I do the chain 3 at the beginning + 3T in first stitch, then repeat (sk2 + dc + sk2 + 5T) 17 times that gets me up to 103 stitches. 5 stitches remaining in that row. This is where I’m not sure what to do. Should I sk2, dc, sk1 and 1Tr to complete the first shell? Instruction say to complete the row with 2Tr? Wouldn’t that make the first shell 6Tr? And no dc to separate the last shell from the first? Hope someone can show me the way, this is a beautiful bag.
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Followed the pattern exactly as the instructions stated and my strap was shorter than the one in the picture
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Easily one of my favorite things I have ever made. Thank you! I will be checking out your other patterns and supporting in the future. I crochet a bit loosely, so I ended up using I Love This Cotton #340 / Brights for about half the strap, but it looks amazing and I think I like it even better than I would have without the extra little rainbow. Thank you so much for this free resource!
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I see that the comments are old but I’m making this bag now. It’s lovely! But, so far it’s becoming a giant doily!!! How do I keep it from getting that way???? Thanks!😁
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The first few rows of shells might look like they are laying flat but as long as you aren’t putting any increases into the rows you’ll be able to see the body of the bag taking shape.
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Thanks!!😁
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