Berroco Touro Bag Knitting Pattern

Berroco Touro Crochet Bag

Project Overview

The Touro is an intermediate-level crochet bag designed by the Berroco Design Team, featured in Book #417. This downloadable pattern creates a structured tote bag with finished measurements of approximately 10 inches across the bottom, 24 inches around the top, and 17½ inches high (not including handles). The bag is worked seamlessly in the round from the bottom up, making it an excellent project for crocheters looking to develop their shaping and construction skills.

Construction Technique

The Touro is constructed using a bottom-up, seamless, worked-in-the-round method. This approach begins with a foundation chain that establishes the base of the bag. The pattern uses strategic increases at marked corner points to shape the bag as it grows upward, creating a structured rectangular form. The seamless construction eliminates the need for finishing seams, resulting in a clean, professional appearance. Removable markers are used to track the corner stitches throughout the project, ensuring consistent shaping and proper stitch placement.

Stitches and Techniques

This pattern relies primarily on single crochet (sc) as the foundational stitch, which creates a dense, sturdy fabric ideal for a functional bag. The pattern employs several key techniques:

• Single crochet increases: Strategic placement of 3 single crochets in marked stitches creates the shaping that transforms the flat base into a three-dimensional tote
• Slip stitch joins: Used to connect rounds and maintain the seamless structure
• Marker placement: Corner markers are positioned and moved throughout the project to track increase points
• Foundation chain: The pattern begins with a chain-20 foundation that establishes the initial base dimensions

The structured increases in designated rounds gradually expand the bag's circumference from the 40 single crochets of the set-up round, creating the desired silhouette. This methodical shaping approach is characteristic of intermediate-level crochet construction.

Materials

The Touro pattern calls for Berroco Gingham yarn in the colorway #3131 Blue Corn. The project requires 2 balls of yarn, with each ball weighing 100 grams. A 5.50 mm (size I) crochet hook is recommended to achieve the correct gauge, though the pattern notes that hook size may be adjusted to obtain gauge. Additional notions include 2 removable markers for tracking corner stitches during construction.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 single crochets and 12 rounds equal 4 inches in single crochet fabric. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished bag meets the specified measurements. The pattern includes handle construction instructions, with handles sewn to the front and back of the bag at marked points 5 inches in from each side edge. Final finishing involves weaving in all ends and blocking the completed bag as desired to set the shape and even out the fabric.