The Everyday Bag: Easy Crochet Shoulder Bag Pattern

 

Pattern name: The Everyday Bag

Designer: Mirrymas

Difficulty: Intermediate

Hook size: 5.00 mm

Size: One size: 25 cm (about 10 in) tall and 35 cm (about 14 in) wide, laid flat

Gauge: 11 stitches x 5 rounds = 12 cm, in back loop double crochet worked in the round

Steps: 8

Images: 11

Description

The Everyday Bag is worked in the round from the bottom up, all in one piece. A v puff stitch runs up each corner and stacks into a pretty braid, and the handle is a separate cord that is threaded through the top round. The pattern is written out in full, with no abbreviations, so it is a lovely project for a confident beginner.

Materials

• Hook — 5.00 mm crochet hook
• Yarn — macramé cord, rope yarn, t-shirt yarn or any other bulky yarn about 3 mm thick; about 245 metres (268 yards)
• Stitch markers — 5 [icon: notions]
• Scissors — 1 pair [icon: notions]

Special Stitch Instructions

• V puff stitch: two puffs worked into the same place, each followed by a chain. (1) Wrap the yarn over the hook, insert the hook into the stitch, wrap the yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). (2) Repeat step 1 two more times into the same stitch, so you have 7 loops on the hook. (3) Wrap the yarn over and pull through all 7 loops. (4) Chain 1. This completes the first puff. (5) Repeat steps 1 to 3 into the same stitch again, then (6) chain 1. This completes the second puff. One finished v puff stitch makes 4 stitches across the top: a puff, a chain, a puff and a chain.
• Increase: in this pattern, an increase means working 3 stitches into the same stitch.
• Back loop (outer loop): the top of every stitch looks like a sideways "V" made of two loops. The back loop is the loop farthest away from you, on the outside of the bag.
• Join: connect the end of a round to its beginning by working a slip stitch into the top of the stitch named in the pattern.

Step 1: The Bottom, Round 1 (Foundation Round)

The bottom is an oval, worked around both sides of a starting chain.

1. Chain 16.

2. Work 1 single crochet into the 2nd chain from the hook. Place a stitch marker in this stitch. This marker shows the start of the round, so use a different colour from the other markers if you can, or take note of its colour.

3. Work 1 single crochet into each of the next 13 chains.

4. Work 5 single crochet into the last chain. Place a stitch marker in the 2nd and in the 4th of these 5 stitches.

5. Now work along the back of the starting chain: work 1 single crochet into the back of each of the next 13 chains.

6. Work 4 single crochet into the last chain (the one that holds your very first single crochet). Place a stitch marker in the 2nd and in the 4th of these 4 stitches.

7. Join the last stitch to the first stitch with a slip stitch. (36 stitches)

You now have 5 stitch markers: 1 marking the start of the round and 4 marking the corners.

Step 2: The Bottom, Rounds 2 to 4

The 4 corner markers show where the bottom grows. In Rounds 2 to 4, work 3 single crochet into each marked stitch, then move the marker into the 2nd (middle) stitch of those 3.

Round 2: (1) Chain 1. This chain counts as the first stitch. Move the start marker into it. (2) Work 1 single crochet into each stitch until you reach a stitch with a marker. (3) Work 3 single crochet into the marked stitch. Move the marker into the 2nd of these 3 stitches. (4) Work 1 single crochet into each stitch without a marker until you reach the next marker. (5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you are back at the starting point. (6) Join the last stitch to the first stitch with a slip stitch. (44 stitches)

Round 3: repeat Round 2. (52 stitches)

Round 4: repeat Round 2 again. (60 stitches)

Step 3: The Bottom, Round 5 (Slip Stitch Round)

1. Place a stitch marker in the slip stitch you made at the end of Round 4. This is the starting point for this round only.

2. Work 1 slip stitch into the next stitch, and into each stitch after it, until you are back at the starting point.

3. Leave the 4 corner markers where they are. You will need them in the next round.

4. Join the last slip stitch to the first slip stitch with a slip stitch.(60 stitches)

The base of the bag is done.

Step 4: The Sides, Round 1

1. Remove the stitch marker that marks the start of the round. You no longer need it. Keep the 4 corner markers.

2. Chain 3. This chain counts as the first double crochet of the round.

3. Work 1 double crochet into the back (outer) loop of each stitch until you reach a stitch with a marker.

4. Work 1 v puff stitch into the marked stitch.

5. Work 1 double crochet into the back loop of each stitch without a marker until you reach the next marker.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you are back at the starting point.

7. Join the last stitch to the 3rd chain of the chain 3 from the start of the round with a slip stitch.(72 stitches: 56 double crochet and 4 v puff stitches of 4 stitches each)

Step 5: The Sides, Round 2

1. Chain 3.

2. Work 1 double crochet into the back loop of each stitch until you reach a v puff stitch.

3. Do not work into the 4 stitches on top of the v puff stitch. Skip them.

4. Work a new v puff stitch into the chain-1 space in the middle of the v puff below (between its two puffs).

5. Work 1 double crochet into the back loop of each stitch until you reach the next v puff stitch.

6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 until you finish the round.

7. Join the last stitch to the 3rd chain of the chain 3 from the start of the round with a slip stitch.

Step 6: The Sides, Rounds 3 to 10

Repeat Round 2 eight more times, once for each of Rounds 3 to 10. The v puff stitches stack on top of each other and form a braid up each corner of the bag.(72 stitches in each round)

At the end of Round 10, cut the yarn and fasten off. The sides of the bag are done.

Step 7: Making the Handle Cord

1. Chain 3.

2. Insert the hook into the 2nd chain from the hook, wrap the yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook).

3. Insert the hook into the next chain, wrap the yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).

4. Carefully take your hook out of the 3 loops, making sure you do not lose any of them.

5. Insert the hook into the first loop, wrap the yarn over and pull up a loop. Insert the hook into the next loose loop, wrap the yarn over and pull up a loop. Do the same in the 3rd loop. You now have 3 loops on the hook again.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the handle is 1 metre long, or the length you would like.

Step 8: Attaching the Handle

In the top round of the bag (Round 10), there is a small hole just before each v puff stitch and another just after it. These holes are big enough to fit your handle.

1. At the first corner, thread the handle in through the hole just before the v puff stitch and out through the hole just after it.

2. Do the same at each of the other 3 corners, working all the way round the bag.

3. When the two ends of the handle meet, check that the handle is straight and not twisted.

4. Join the two ends by passing the yarn back and forth between them neatly until the join is firm.

5. Hide the yarn ends inside the handle.

Your Everyday Bag is complete!

Author Notes

• You will work in rounds, joining the end of each round to its beginning with a slip stitch. You do not turn your work.
• The number at the end of a round, for example "(44 stitches)", is the total number of stitches you should have for that round.
• The slip stitch that joins each round does not count as a stitch, so do not work into it.
• The chain 1 or chain 3 at the beginning of each round counts as the first stitch.
• The bag is made in three parts: Part 1 is the bottom (Steps 1 to 3), Part 2 is the sides (Steps 4 to 6), and Part 3 is the handle (Steps 7 and 8).
• When you lift the bag by its handle, the short sides of the bag fold inwards. This is how the bag is designed to sit.

Video

Watch the video tutorial

Conclusion

Congratulations, your Everyday Bag is ready to carry! I love how the v puff stitches stack into a braid up each corner and give this simple bag such a special finish. You are very welcome to sell finished bags made from this pattern; please credit Miriam from Mirrymas Crafts as the designer with a link to my shop.

If you have any questions, leave a comment below or email me at mirrymascrafts@gmail.com. I'd love to see your finished bags, so please share your photos and tag me on Instagram, TikTok or Pinterest at @mirrymascrafts.

More patterns to try:

• Forest Green Classic Handbag: a structured handbag with built-in handles, a button and a tassel.
• The Mellow Tote: an easy, roomy double crochet tote with built-in handles.
• Crochet Granny Stripe Stitch: the classic granny look worked in rows.
• Crochet Cobblestone Stitch: round bumps made with single and treble crochet.

Thank you so much for supporting independent crochet design, and happy crocheting!