Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means the American Crochet Association may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through links on our site, at no additional cost to you. Learn more on our Disclosures and Disclaimers page.
Crochet a bag. Meet crochet friends. Win yarn + signed crochet books + patterns. What could possibly be more fun?
To celebrate the launch of Crochet Bags and Totes, I’m hosting a fun Crochet-A-Long (CAL) Challenge – if you love crochet, you’re invited.
Over the next several weeks, I’ll feature one crochet bag pattern each week (four total in August 2026).
Some designs are directly from the Crochet Bags and Totes collection (or individually in my Ravelry shop) and others are free patterns designed exclusively for Yarnspirations.
Each week I’ll share helpful tips to make every crochet bag fun and easy to follow, including:
- Choosing the best yarn for each bag (plus, helpful substitutions)
- Selecting colors that complement the stitch pattern (not hide it)
- Creating sturdy, practical crochet bags (that you can actually use)
- Building your crochet knowledge and skills along the way (have fun while you learn)
You can follow along for inspiration, make one bag, or crochet every featured project.
There’s no pressure and no required number of projects.
And, of course, there will be prizes!
Table of contents
How to Participate in this CAL
If you know how to crochet, joining in and following along is easy!
A CAL (short for Crochet-A-Long) is a community event where I’ll highlight a pattern that we will all work on together at the same time.
To celebrate the launch of Crochet Bags and Totes, this CAL will feature crochet bag patterns only.
Each week in August 2026, I’ll feature a design from the book (also available individually in my Ravelry shop), or a free crochet bag pattern I designed exclusively for Yarnspirations.
That’s right – I’m including free patterns throughout this CAL so that anyone can join the fun without having to make a purchase.
This CAL is designed for people who already know how to crochet, and are comfortable reading crochet patterns and using basic crochet stitches.
If you want to learn how to crochet, you’ll need to have a few basic skills before you’ll be able to comfortably follow the patterns in this CAL, and this is a great place to start: How to Crochet for Beginners
CAL Schedule
Week 1 – 3 August
If complicated increases and decreases are not your favorite thing, this tote is right up your alley.
Start by chaining the width of the bag, and work rows of single crochet to form a rectangular bottom.
Then, build up the sides of the bag with simple, repeating combinations of double crochet stitches and chain spaces for a fabric that is both strong and flexible.
Weekly Ravelry Winners:
- Winner 1: TBD 9 August 2026 –
- Winner 2: TBD 9 August 2026 –
Week 2 – 10 August
Will be posted on 10 August!
Week 3 – 17 August
Will be posted on 17 August!
Week 4 – 24 August
Will be posted on 24 August!
Weekly CAL Giveaways
If you’re following along and finishing the crochet bags in this CAL challenge, you can enter to win each week when you link your completed projects to Ravelry!
Each week, two (2) completed Ravelry projects will be selected to win, and here are the prizes for each:
- One signed copy of Crochet Bags & Totes for winners in the United States
- A $50 shopping spree in the Salena Baca Crochet Ravelry shop
How to add a project to Ravelry
If you’re not sure how to add a project to Ravelry, watch the following video tutorial to quickly and easily walk you through the steps.
Check out our Crochet Memberships for all skill levels!
From First Stitch to Crochet Career, Unravel Your Complete Journey With The American Crochet Association!
For a Ravelry project to be considered in this giveaway, it must:
- Be linked to the featured pattern before Sunday of the week it is featured
- Include your own picture of your own finished project
Here is an example of all Ravelry projects linked to a specific pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/peaches-and-creme-tote/people
Here is an example of a single Ravelry project with our giveaway requirements: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/TerryGcrochet/peaches-and-creme-tote
Entry Period
A new CAL will begin every Monday (3, 10, 17, and 24 August), and entries will be accepted for that specific pattern through Sunday (9, 16, 23, 30) in the same week.
Winner Selection and Notification
Winners will be selected on Ravelry and announced in this article every week (see individual weeks for specific giveaways), and will also be contacted via Ravelry message.
Once contacted, winners will have five (5) days to claim their prize.
If a winner does not respond within that timeframe with their mailing address, the prize will be considered forfeited.
Eligibility
This giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada only.
If a selected winner resides outside of these regions, they will instead receive a $65 total shopping spree to the Salena Baca Crochet Ravelry shop with over 500 individual patterns to choose from.
Yarnspirations Giveaway
Whether or not you’ll be crocheting along with us every week, anyone can enter our Yarnspirations giveaway, which is generously sponsored by Yarnspirations (the yarn exclusively used to create every project in the Crochet Bags and Totes collection).
One Grand Prize winner will receive:
- 1 signed copy of Crochet Bags and Totes from the Author (me, Salena Baca!)
- Up to 14 skeins, cakes and cones of yarn to make the projects featured in this collection. The winner will receive a curated selection of yarn from the Yarnspirations website, based on availability.
- Winner: TBD 1 September 2026
How To Enter
To enter for a chance to win, simply complete the entry form.
Entry Period
Entries will be accepted through August 31, 2026.
Winner Selection and Notification
Winners will be selected and announced in this article on September 1, 2026, and will also be contacted via email.
Once contacted, winners will have five (5) days to claim their prize.
If a winner does not respond within that timeframe with their mailing address, the prize will be considered forfeited.
Eligibility
This giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada only.
If a selected winner resides outside of these regions, they will instead receive a $100 shopping credit to the Salena Baca Crochet Ravelry shop with over 500 individual patterns to choose from.
Peace + Love + Crochet
Salena Baca
