# Whale and Wave Ocean Tote Free Crochet Pattern
I designed this bag to bottle up that breezy coastal feeling without being kitschy — a mama whale and her baby swimming across a light blue sea, with textured waves rolling along the bottom. It is the kind of tote that gets compliments at the farmer’s market, and yes, people will ask if you bought it.
This is a substantial project, so set aside a weekend or two. But the construction is straightforward: a sturdy single crochet body worked from the bottom up, a decorative wave round and shell border at the top, mesh handles, and applique whales you make separately and sew on. If you have done any amigurumi or surface crochet, you will feel right at home. Trust me, the finished tote is worth every single stitch.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted weight cotton yarn (category 4) — cotton holds structure and does not stretch under weight:
- Light blue (main color), 400 grams or approximately 720 yards
- Navy blue (large whale), 75 grams or approximately 135 yards
- Cream or off-white (whale belly and waves), 50 grams or approximately 90 yards
- Gray (baby whale), 25 grams or approximately 45 yards
- Dark blue (wave border), 25 grams or approximately 45 yards
- US H-8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook for the main body and appliques
- US G-6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook for smaller details (optional but helpful)
- Tapestry needle, stitch markers, scissors, straight pins
- Two small black buttons or 6 mm safety eyes for the whale eyes, plus matching sewing thread
Finished size:
- Bag body approximately 14 inches wide x 12 inches tall (excluding handles)
- Handles approximately 20 inches long x 2 inches wide
- Total height with handles approximately 22 inches
The Pattern
Gauge:
- 18 sc stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches in single crochet with the 5.0 mm hook. If your gauge is too loose, the bag will be floppy and stretch under weight
- Too tight and the fabric will be stiff and smaller than intended. Check it
Special stitches: A shell = 5 dc worked into the same stitch or space. Mesh stitch = ch 1, sk 1, sc in next st, repeated for an open net-like fabric.
Bag Base
Worked from the bottom up, starting with an oval base. With light blue and the 5.0 mm hook:
Row 1: Ch 41. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across to the last ch; in the last ch work 3 sc. Rotate to continue along the opposite side of the foundation chain; sc in each ch across to the last ch, work 2 sc in the last ch. Join with sl st to first sc. (84 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch throughout). Sc in each of the next 39 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc in next 39 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 3 sts. Join. (90 sts)
Round 3: Sc in each of the next 39 sts, [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 3 times, sc in next 39 sts, [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 3 times. Join. (96 sts)
Round 4: Sc in each of the next 39 sts, [sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] 3 times, sc in next 39 sts, [sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] 3 times. Join. (102 sts)
Rounds 5-6: Sc in each st around. Join. (102 sts)
The base should measure approximately 14 inches long and 4 inches wide.
Bag Body
Work in continuous rounds without joining; place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round.
Rounds 7-50: Work Round 7 in back loops only (this creates a crisp defined edge at the base), then in both loops for all remaining rounds. Sc in each st around. (102 sts)
The body should measure approximately 10 inches tall from the base.
Wave section:
Round 51: With dark blue, sc in each st around. (102 sts)
Round 52: Work the wave pattern: *sl st in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st.* Repeat from * around. Join with sl st. (102 sts)
Rounds 53-54: Change back to light blue. Sc in each st around. (102 sts)
Round 55 — shell border: *Sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st (shell made), sk 2 sts, sl st in next st.* Repeat from * around. Fasten off. (17 shells) This creates the decorative scalloped edge around the top of the bag.
Handles (make 2)
With light blue and the 5.0 mm hook:
Row 1: Ch 91. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (90 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 1, sk 1 st, sc in next st.* Repeat from * across. Turn.
Rows 3-6: Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 1, sk ch-1 sp, sc in next sc.* Repeat from * across. Turn.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch-1 sp across. (90 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Position the handles on the inside of the bag, approximately 3 inches from each side edge, pin in place making sure both are even, and whipstitch securely along the bottom edge of each handle end with several reinforcing passes.
Large Whale Body
With navy blue and the 5.0 mm hook:
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull tight. (6 sts)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st.* Repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st.* Repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st.* Repeat around. (30 sts)
Rounds 6-10: Continue increasing by 6 sts each round, maintaining the spiral. (60 sts after Round 10)
Rounds 11-12: Sc in each st around. (60 sts)
Fasten off. This creates a slightly oval, domed shape.
Whale Belly
With cream and the 5.0 mm hook:
Row 1: Ch 20. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (19 sts)
Rows 2-6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (Decreasing 2 sts each row)
This creates a curved, tapered belly piece. Fasten off.
Whale Tail (make 2 fins)
With navy blue:
Row 1: Ch 8. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog. Turn. (3 sts)
Fasten off. Sew the two fins together at the narrow end.
Baby Whale
Work the same as the large whale body but stop after Round 6. (24 sts) Make a smaller cream belly piece the same way as the large belly but starting with ch 10.
Wave Appliques
With cream: ch 25. In the 2nd ch from hook: *sl st, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc.* Repeat from * across to create undulating waves. Make 2 or 3 wave pieces of varying lengths.
Bubble Details
With cream, work small French knots or bobbles directly onto the bag above the whale’s head. Alternatively, crochet tiny circles (ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join) and sew them in a spray pattern.
Assembly
1. Position the large whale on the front of the bag, centered above the dark blue wave border.
2. Pin the belly piece to the lower portion of the whale body, overlapping slightly.
3. Attach the tail at the back edge of the whale body, angled slightly upward.
4. Position the baby whale to the right of the mama whale, slightly lower.
5. Arrange the cream wave appliques along the bottom, partially overlapping the whale bodies for depth.
6. Sew all pieces with whipstitch and matching yarn colors — pin frequently and take your time.
7. Add the bubbles above the whale’s head in a spray pattern.
8. Attach the button eyes or embroider eyes with black yarn.
Sophie’s Tips
- Block your applique pieces before sewing them on — they lie flatter and look so much more polished.
- Take a photo of your pinned whale arrangement before you commit to sewing. You will catch spacing issues on screen that your eyes miss in person.
- Reinforce those handles with extra passes (or add a fabric lining if you plan to haul heavy groceries). Handles bear the weight, so do not rush them.
This tote stands up on its own, holds a surprising amount, and swims straight into compliments everywhere. Happy crocheting!
