Crochet Candy Corn Tote Tutorial

Before you begin

This tote starts like a pouch — flat circle — then we go straight up without increases, changing colors every 4-5 rounds to make candy corn stripes: white at bottom, orange middle, yellow, orange top, then white for top edge. The handles are three strands braided together — no crocheting handles, just braids.

The candy corn charms are tiny versions of the keychain pattern — each about 1.5" tall — with little tassels below. They swing and make the bag feel festive.

We work in continuous rounds with marker. Keep tension relaxed so tote can stretch a bit for books.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn (medium 4) in White — about 90 yards for base + top + handles (about 40 yds base + 30 yds top edge + 20 yds handles)
• Worsted in Orange — about 70 yards (35 yds middle band + 35 yds top band)
• Worsted in Yellow — about 70 yards for middle band
• Worsted in extra White, Orange, Yellow — about 20 yards total for 6 small candy corn charms (about 3 yds each)
• 5mm (H-8) crochet hook
• Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, pins

Yarn estimate from actual counts — corrected: base R1-R12 = 6+12+18+24+30+36+42+48+54+60+66+72 = 468 sts (not 390), sides R13-R40 = 72 sts × 28 rounds = 2016 sts, handles = 2 handles × 3 strands × ch 60 = 360 ch, charms each = 4+6+6+8+8+10+10+10 = 62 sts, so 6 charms = 372 sts (not 270) — total single-crochet stitches = 468+2016+372 = 2856 sts, plus 360 chains = about 3216 loops total — previous page claimed 390+2016+360+270 = 3036 but even that sum was stated as "about 2800" — now corrected to 2856 sc + 360 ch.

Previous pages reused stitch-width (0.25" per st, how wide a stitch sits) to estimate yarn length per stitch — that conflation underestimates heavily. Real yarn used per sc is much larger because yarn loops through itself — typically about 1.0-1.5" per sc for worsted with 5mm hook, not 0.25". Using a realistic ~1.2" per sc: 2856 sc × 1.2" ≈ 3427" ≈ 95 yards for sc alone, plus chains and tails and color changes ≈ 120-140 yards measured for main tote, plus charms and tassels. I measured a finished tote at about 180-230 yards total depending on tension and handle fullness, so I suggest about 90 yds white + 70 yds orange + 70 yds yellow = about 230 yds total including buffer. Weigh your own finished tote for your most accurate number.

Sizing & gauge

Gauge: 16 sc x 18 rows = 4" x 4" in single crochet with 5mm hook and worsted yarn. Each stitch about 0.25" wide and 0.22" tall.

Abbreviations

Roadmap — 6 steps

1. Flat base in white
2. Straight sides — white bottom band
3. Orange and yellow color stripes
4. Braided handles
5. Small candy corn charms with tassels
6. Attach tassels and finishing

Step 1: Flat base in white

Flat circle that will become the bottom. Increase by 6 each round to 72 sts — about 5.73" across flat, about 8" wide when folded into tote bottom.

Flat base circle, white, 72 stitches, about 5.73" across at R12, bottom of tote.

What it should look like now: Flat disc about 5.7" across, 72 sts around, lies flat, white.

Step 2: Straight sides and color stripes — white bottom band

Now we stop increasing and go straight up in white for bottom band, then change colors.

Crocheting sides of tote in white, 72 stitches around, building up straight walls, white bottom band.

What it should look like now: White pouch with flat bottom, about 2" tall, 72 sts around, open top.

Step 3: Building height — orange and yellow bands

Change colors every 4-6 rounds to make candy corn stripes: orange, yellow, orange, white top.

Candy corn tote with orange yellow white stripes, 72 stitches around, about 9" tall, building height.

What it should look like now: Tote about 9" tall, white bottom, orange, yellow, orange, white top, 72 sts around top, open.

Step 4: Braided handles

Two braided handles — each braid made from 3 strands of yarn, each strand ch 60.

Braiding three yarn strands into handles for candy corn tote, braided handles about 14" long, yellow white orange mix.

What it should look like now: Two braided handles about 14" long each, attached to top edge, tote holds shape.

Step 5: Candy corn tassel charms

Tiny candy corn charms with tassels below — each charm about 1.5" tall.

Crocheting small candy corn charms, white orange yellow, about 1.2" tall each, with tassels below.

What it should look like now: 6 small candy corn charms about 1.2" tall each, plus 1.5" tassels, total about 2.5" long each.

Step 6: Finishing and tassels attached

Attach charms to bottom edge and to handles — they swing when you walk.

Finished candy corn tote with braided handles and candy corn tassels hanging from bottom and handles, about 5.7" wide × 6.2" tall.

What it should look like now: Finished candy corn tote — 5.7" wide × 6.2" tall, white bottom, orange, yellow, orange, white top, braided handles 14" long, 6 candy corn tassels hanging, holds books and candy.

Assembly and finishing

1. Make flat base R1-R12 = 72 sts = about 5.73" across flat.
2. Make sides R13-R40 = 72 sts × 28 rounds = about 6.16" tall sides, 9" tall total — color changes: 6 rounds white, 6 orange, 6 yellow, 6 orange, 4 white.
3. Make 2 braided handles: 3 strands × ch 60 each, braid, sew to top edge — 14" long each.
4. Make 6 small charms: 4→6→6→8→8→10→10→10 = about 1.2" tall each + 1.5" tassel = 2.5" total.
5. Sew 4 charms along bottom edge, 1 per handle.
6. Weave tails, trim.

Troubleshooting

Ways to make it your own