# Ocean Jellyfish Market Bag Free Crochet Pattern
Okay, this is the most fun I’ve ever had with a market bag. It starts as a sturdy ocean-blue mesh tote, but the top edge flares into a little jellyfish dome and the drawstrings dangle down like tentacles with tiny beads on the ends. I took mine to the farmers’ market last weekend and three different people stopped me to ask about it. Three!
The bag itself is a classic mesh construction — strong, stretchy, and it folds down to nothing in your purse. The jellyfish top is just a gathered dome with picot edging and curled tentacle cords. If you can work in the round, you can absolutely make this.
What You’ll Need
- DK weight cotton yarn: approx. 250 yards in ocean blue, 150 yards in aqua, small amounts of turquoise and white for accents
- 4.5 mm (US 7) hook
- 8 small beads or pearls for the tentacle ends, yarn needle, scissors
Finished size:
- Bag body approx. 14 inches wide x 16 inches tall
- Jellyfish dome adds approx. 4 inches. Stretches generously when filled
The Pattern
Bag Body
With ocean blue:
Base: Magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, sl st to join. (12 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in each st around, join. (24)
Round 3: Ch 3, *dc in next, 2 dc in next* around, join. (36)
Round 4: Ch 3, *dc in next 2, 2 dc in next* around, join. (48) Base is about 7 inches across.
**Mesh sides —
Round 5:** Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), *dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st* around, sl st into 3rd ch of beginning ch-4 to join. (24 dc, 24 ch-1 sps)
Rounds 6-28: Sl st into first ch-1 sp, ch 4, *dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1* around, join. (24 repeats) Keep going until the body measures ~14 inches from the base.
Round 29: Ch 1, sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp around. Join. (48 sc) Fasten off ocean blue.
Jellyfish Dome
With aqua, join at any sc:
Round 30: Ch 3 (dc), dc in each st around. Join. (48 dc)
Round 31: Ch 3, *dc in next, 2 dc in next* around, join. (72)
Rounds 32-34: Ch 3, dc in each st around, join. (72)
Round 35 (ruffled edge): Ch 1, *sc in next st, 5 dc in next st, skip 1 st* around, sl st to join. Fasten off.
Gently gather Round 30 with a running stitch of turquoise yarn, cinching it so the dome puffs up over the bag opening — this is the jellyfish bell.
Tentacles
Cut 10 strands of aqua, each 24 inches long. Fold in half and attach with a lark’s head knot through the ch-1 spaces of mesh Round 28 (the last open round before the sc round), spacing them evenly around. Thread a bead onto the two ends of each tentacle pair, knot below the bead to secure, and trim the ends to about 6 inches. For curly tentacles, twist each strand tightly, hold for a minute, and release.
Handles
With ocean blue, ch 90.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. Turn. (89 sc)
Rows 2-3: Ch 1, sc across. Turn. (89) Fasten off. Make 2. Sew one handle to the front and one to the back of the bag at Round 29, anchoring each end through two mesh rows so it can take a load of groceries.
Face (optional)
With white, stitch two small scallop rows across the dome front for the jellyfish’s wavy mouth, and two small turquoise circles for eyes — stitched flat so they’re purely decorative. It makes kids grin every single time.
Weave in all ends. Your jellyfish is ready to go grocery hunting!
Sophie’s Tips
- Cotton is non-negotiable for market bags — acrylic stretches out of shape under a bag of apples.
- The mesh rounds are the perfect TV crochet. Just keep a stitch marker at the round start so you don’t lose count.
- Make the tentacles longer or shorter to change the look — knee-length tentacles turn this into a statement piece.
Float through the produce aisle like the prettiest jellyfish in the sea — happy crocheting!
