# Ocean Wave Granny Square Tote Free Crochet Pattern
This tote looks like the ocean decided to become a bag. Blue and teal granny squares arranged in rolling wave stripes with cream borders — I get asked about it every single time I carry it. The wave effect is just clever color placement, not clever stitching, which means the crochet itself is dead simple.
It’s the same classic granny square repeated, joined in a specific color order. I’ll give you the exact layout so your waves roll perfectly.
I used five shades from deep navy to pale seafoam, and the gradient does all the talking. Dig through your blue stash — this is the ultimate stash-buster.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted-weight yarn in 5 blue/teal shades (approx. 150 yards each) plus cream (approx. 200 yards)
- Size H-8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
Finished size:
- Approximately 16 inches wide and 13 inches tall, not including handles
The Pattern
Granny Square (make 30 — 6 of each blue shade)
With your square color, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as DC), work 2 DC into the ring, Ch 2, *work 3 DC into the ring, Ch 2,* repeat 3 times, join. (4 clusters, 4 corners)
Round 2: Slip stitch to the first corner. Ch 3, (2 DC, Ch 2, 3 DC) in the corner, *Ch 1, (3 DC, Ch 2, 3 DC) in the next corner,* repeat around, Ch 1, join.
Round 3: Slip stitch to the first corner. Ch 3, (2 DC, Ch 2, 3 DC) in the corner, *Ch 1, 3 DC in the next Ch-1 space, Ch 1, (3 DC, Ch 2, 3 DC) in the next corner,* repeat around, Ch 1, join. Fasten off.
Round 4 (cream border): Join cream in any corner. Repeat Round 3 entirely in cream. Fasten off.
Each square measures about 4.5 inches with the cream border.
Wave Layout and Assembly
Arrange each panel 5 squares wide × 3 tall (15 squares per panel, 2 panels). For the wave effect, order the blue shades diagonally:
Row 1 (top): navy, teal, medium blue, light blue, seafoam.
Row 2: teal, medium blue, light blue, seafoam, navy.
Row 3: medium blue, light blue, seafoam, navy, teal. The diagonal shift makes the colors roll like waves.
Join each panel with whipstitch, then join the panels along the sides and bottom.
Top edging: Join cream and work 3 rounds of SC around the top opening (about 92 SC per round). Fasten off.
Handles (make 2)
With navy, Ch 10. Work 75 rows of SC across 9 stitches. Fasten off with long tails. Sew each handle to the top edge, 4 inches from each side, stitching a reinforced square with an X.
Weave in all ends.
Sophie’s Tips
- Lay out the full wave on the floor and photograph it before joining — it’s much easier to spot a color out of order in a photo.
- The cream border round is what makes the waves read clearly; don’t skip it.
- Handles in the darkest shade ground the whole design.
Ride the wave — this tote is pure ocean joy!
