The Best Yarn for Tote Bags
The following article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase from these links, I may receive affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend yarns which I believe are truly sustainable and the companies who make them are following ethical textile and social practices.
The best yarn for tote bags will depend on what kind of tote bag you are planning to make and also some personal preference. Will you be using your bag daily or occasionally? Does your bag need to be sturdy and strong or soft and foldable?
In this article I will go through how to choose the right sustainable yarn for your new tote bag so that it can do the job you need it to do whilst also being kind to the environment and your health.
Lemona Tote Bag Crochet Pattern available in the shop.
What Kind of Tote Bag Are You Making?
Before you decide on the yarn, you need to think about what kind of tote bag you want to make. Thinking about how you will use it makes a huge difference to the type and weight of yarn you need to use.
Sturdy and Strong?
Will it be for carrying heavy things like books or a flask or both? Does it need to keep its shape and not sag? In this case you will want something sturdy and hard wearing.
Soft and Foldable?
Maybe you want your tote to be more of a day bag just to pop your essentials in or maybe a foldable bag that you can carry with you for unexpected food shopping? Then you may just want something that’s soft, that doesn’t need to keep a specific shape.
Which Weight of Yarn Should You Use?
The most popular yarn weights for bags in general are #3 Light / DK weight and above. This is because they will keep their shape better than a lighter weight of yarn, depending on the stitch you use as well of course.
However, we are talking tote bags here and so again we need to consider its use. If you are making a soft foldable tote bag then you will most definitely want a lighter weight of yarn.
A light weight yarn with either a closed or open stitch would make a great foldable tote bag that takes less space.
A sturdy bag will definitely need a heavier weight of yarn and a closed stitch to help it keep the shape that you want.
Which Yarns to Avoid
Consider the Fibre Content
Whether you’re making a bag for daily use or just for specific occasions, the one thing we definitely don’t want our tote bag to do is stretch. Even if it’s a soft tote bag that we’re going to fold, we still want it to keep its original shape as much as possible.
We will also most likely be washing our tote bags so we need something that is not going to shed micro plastics into the water system and something that degrades naturally, because it will degrade, without harming our planet.
Based on the fact that we need it to keep its shape and be environmentally friendly in the wash, we definitely want to avoid anything synthetic like acrylic, nylon, polyester, microfibre etc. All these yarns will shed micro plastics into the water system and most of them will also stretch.
The Best Yarn for Tote Bags
So to recap, are you making a soft tote bag or a sturdy one? Do you need it to be hard wearing to carry books or foldable and light weight for carrying a few essentials?
For a Durable, Sturdy Tote Bag
To make a tote bag that is sturdy, that will take the weight of heavy items and keep its shape, you need a #3 Light / DK weight of yarn or above and a yarn that is strong like hemp, jute and chunky cotton.
To make sure it is sustainable, choose a recycled or organic cotton. Read more about why standard cotton yarn is not that sustainable in my blog post about the difference between linen, cotton and hemp.
Hemp, jute and cotton yarns are sturdy, have little to no stretch in them and if your tote bag is made with a tightly worked crochet stitch it will keep its specific shape and be strong and sturdy.
Here are some options to choose from that I have personally used and love and are sustainable. I include where you can buy them from for convenience.
Hemp Yarn
byGoldenberry - DK Weight Hemp Yarn (Cyprus)
from €76.90 for 765 Yards
This completely natural DK weight hemp yarn is perfect for a sturdy tote bag. It will keep its shape and there are no worries about toxic dyes or micro plastics.
Darn Good Yarn - 3-Ply Hemp Yarn (US)
from $55.87 for 250 yards
Available in plum, teal and natural this 100% hemp yarn, in worsted weight, is handmade and naturally dyed in Nepal. Darn Good Yarn are a small company in the US who focus on high quality sustainable yarns whilst saving waste materials from landfills and supporting small yarn producers.
£7.49 for 93 yards
This yarn has been discontinued by Lion Brand however you can still find it on LoveCrafts which is based in the UK. Buddy Hemp is a chunky weight yarn that would be perfect for a sturdy tote bag. There are currently still 8 colours available. Make sure you get some before it’s completely gone!
Lana Knits - All Hemp 6 (Canada)
from $16.00 CAD for 165 yards
All Hemp 6 is a DK weight yarn that is ideal for making bags and available in a 29 different colours. Lana Knits is a small company in Canada that also supply many yarn companies across the world. Check their stockists to find your most local supplier.
Jute Yarn
LoveCrafts - Hoooked Jute (UK)
from £10.99 for 49 yards
A super chunky weight jute yarn available in 6 pastel shades that would make extra sturdy and durable tote bags.
Heavier Weight Cotton Yarns
GANXXET - 3mm Recycled Cotton (US)
$18.95 for 109 yards
The most perfect chunky recycled cotton available in a wide range of colours. Ganxxet yarns are not dyed but keep their original colours from the recycling process which I love! They are also certified by The Global Recycled Standard, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and REACH.
£3.50 for 170 yards
I used this very yarn to crochet my Lemona Tote Bag that is pictured at the beginning of this blog post. It’s one of my favourites. It’s a worsted weight yarn that is certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and available in many lovely colours.
Ice Yarns - Organic Baby Cotton (Turkey)
€1.65 for 125 yards
A worsted weight yarn that has GOTS certificates and is available in a huge range of colours.
For Softness and Flexibility
If you have decided that you want to make a tote bag that you can fold up and carry with you for emergencies or just for a day bag to put some small essentials in then there are two great options. A lighter weight cotton yarn or Raffia.
Here are a few sustainable options for you to choose from.
Lighter Weight Cotton Yarns
GANXXET - Organic Combed Cotton (US)
from $18.95 for 437 yards
A super soft, 100% organic cotton that is delicate and shinny. Certified by OEKO-TEX and GOTS. Their 2mm diameter yarn is perfect for making a soft tote bag that can be folded away.
LoveCrafts - Debbie Bliss Eco Baby Organic Cotton (UK)
£5.50 for 137 yards
Another super soft 100% organic cotton yarn available in a range of pastel colours that are certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and GOTS.
Knitpicks - Simply Cotton Organic (US)
$4.99 for 164 yards
This is great if you want a soft organic cotton yarn that is not dyed and completely natural. Knitpicks have a sport weight yarn that would be great for tote bags.Certified by GOTS.
Raffia Yarn
LoveCrafts - Wool and the Gang Ra-Ra Raffia (UK)
£16.75 for 273 yards
I absolutely love this yarn! It’s sustainable and would make a wonderfully lightweight tote bag for everyday use that is soft but will also keep its original shape. It is also water-repellent and quick to dry. It’s just perfect! Available in 9 different shades.
I really hope this list has been helpful. If you’ve tried any of the yarns mentioned above, please let me and others know what you think of them in the comments.
