The Brown Bliss Handbag: Crochet Shell Stitch Handbag Pattern

 

Pattern name: Brown Bliss Handbag

Designer: Mirrymas

Difficulty: Intermediate

Hook size: 4.00 mm

Size: One size: 14 cm (about 5.5 in) tall and 25 cm (about 10 in) wide; handle 51 cm (about 20 in) long

Steps: 10

Images: 28

Description

The Brown Bliss Handbag is a pretty little handbag covered in rows of puffy shells. It is worked in the round from the bottom up, in one piece: an oval single crochet base, sides of shells and single crochet that turn each round, and single crochet top rounds that hold two metal buckles for a slip stitch handle. Every step is written out in full, with lots of step-by-step photos for the shell rounds.

Materials

• Hook — 4.00 mm crochet hook
• Yarn — 3 mm polyester or cotton macramé cord; about 200 metres (219 yards)
• Stitch markers — 7, with 1 in a different colour to mark the start of the round [icon: notions]
• Metal ring buckles — 2, for the handle [icon: notions]
• Notions — scissors and a tapestry needle [icon: notions]

Special Stitch Instructions

• Shell: 5 double crochet worked into the same stitch. In this pattern the shells are worked into the back loop.
• Increase: work 2 single crochet into the same stitch.
• Under both loops: insert the hook under both loops of the "V" at the top of the stitch, as you normally would.
• Back bar of a chain: the bump on the back of a chain stitch. Turn the chain over to see it.
• Ending the rounds of the sides: if a round begins with a chain 3 and 2 double crochet, finish it with 2 double crochet so the first shell has 5. If a round begins with a single crochet, finish it with only a slip stitch.

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

1. Make a slip knot and chain 19. For a longer base, you can chain more here.

2. Work 1 single crochet into the 2nd chain from the hook. Place a stitch marker in this stitch. This marker also 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 16 chains.

4. Work 5 single crochet into the last chain. Place a stitch marker in the 2nd, 3rd and 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 16 chains.

6. Work 4 single crochet into the last chain (the back of the first single crochet of the round). Place a stitch marker in each of the last 3 of these 4 stitches. (42 stitches)

Step 2: The Bottom, Rounds 2 to 6

The 6 markers at the ends of the oval show where the bottom grows. The start marker is not an increase.

Round 2: (1) Work 1 single crochet into the first stitch (the one with the start marker) and put the marker back into it. (2) Work 1 single crochet into each stitch without a marker until you reach a stitch with a marker. (3) Work 2 single crochet into the marked stitch and put the marker back into the 1st of these 2 stitches. (4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you are back at the starting point. (48 stitches)

Rounds 3 to 6: repeat Round 2 four more times. (54, 60, 66 and 72 stitches)

If your base is bigger or smaller, make sure the last round of the base is a multiple of 4. Remove all the stitch markers except the one marking the start of the round.

Step 3: The Sides, Round 1

1. Insert the hook into the back loop of the first stitch and work a slip stitch.

2. Chain 3. This counts as the first double crochet of the round. Place a stitch marker in the 3rd chain of the chain 3.

3. Insert the hook into the back loop of the first stitch of the round (where you made the slip stitch) and work 2 double crochet.

4. Skip the next stitch. In the following stitch, insert the hook under both loops and work 1 single crochet.

5. Skip the next stitch. In the following stitch, work 5 double crochet into the back loop only (a shell).

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the round is done.

7. After the last single crochet, you will have 1 stitch left, plus the slip stitch from the start of the round. The slip stitch does not count as a stitch.

8. Skip the last stitch, insert the hook into the back loop of the slip stitch and work 2 double crochet, so the first shell has 5 double crochet.

9. Insert the hook into the marked chain of the chain 3 and work a slip stitch to complete the round.

Step 4: The Sides, Round 2 (Begins with a Single Crochet)

1. Chain 1 and turn.

2. Skip the chain you have just made. Insert the hook under both loops of the next stitch, work 1 single crochet, and mark this stitch.

3. Skip 2 stitches. In the next stitch (the top of the single crochet from the round below), work 5 double crochet into the back loop.

4. Skip 2 stitches. In the next stitch, insert the hook under both loops and work 1 single crochet.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the round is done. You may want to turn your work so it faces you, to see the tops of the stitches clearly.

6. At the end of the round you will have 2 stitches left, and a small upright stitch, which is the chain 1 from the start and does not count as a stitch.

7. Insert the hook under both loops of the first stitch of the round (the marked one) and work a slip stitch.

Step 5: The Sides, Round 3 (Begins with a Chain 3)

1. Chain 3 and turn.

2. Insert the hook into the back loop of the stitch at the base of the chain 3 and work 2 double crochet.

3. Skip the next 2 stitches. In the following stitch, insert the hook under both loops and work 1 single crochet.

4. Skip 2 stitches. In the next stitch (the top of the single crochet from the round below), work 5 double crochet into the back loop.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the round is done.

6. At the end you will have 3 stitches left: 2 normal-sized stitches and 1 small one. Skip the 2 normal stitches, insert the hook into the back loop of the small stitch and work 2 double crochet.

7. Insert the hook into the marked chain of the chain 3 and work a slip stitch to complete the round.

Step 6: The Sides, Rounds 4 to 9

Repeat Round 2 and Round 3 three more times: Rounds 4, 6 and 8 are worked like Round 2, and Rounds 5, 7 and 9 are worked like Round 3.

Step 7: Rounds 10 and 11

Rounds 10, 11 and 12 are worked in a spiral: go round and round without a slip stitch at the end of each round, and move the marker up to the first stitch of each round.

Round 10: chain 1 and mark the chain 1. Then skip the next stitch and work 1 single crochet under both loops of the following stitch. Repeat this (skip 1, 1 single crochet) until the round is done. Skipping stitches makes the opening of the bag smaller.

Round 11: work 1 single crochet into each stitch all the way round. Remember to mark the first stitch of the round.

Step 8: Round 12, Attaching the Buckles

1. Before you start, lay your bag flat. Place a stitch marker in the top stitch at one edge, and another at the other edge.

2. Work 1 single crochet into each stitch until you reach the marker at the edge.

3. Hold a buckle in front of the marked stitch. Insert the hook first through the buckle, then into the stitch, and work a single crochet, so the buckle is held by the stitch.

4. Do the same in the next stitch. The buckle is now held by 2 stitches. A bigger buckle can be held by more stitches.

5. Work 1 single crochet into each stitch until you reach the marker at the other edge, and attach the second buckle in the same way.

6. Work 1 single crochet into each of the remaining stitches of the round. Cut the yarn, fasten off and hide the ends.

Step 9: The Handle

Row 1: leave a tail of about 30 cm, make a slip knot and chain 80 (chain more for a longer handle). Turn the chain over and insert the hook into the back bar of the 2nd chain from the hook. Work 1 slip stitch into the back bar of each chain until the row is done. Chain 1 and turn. (79 stitches)

Row 2: work 1 slip stitch into the back loop only of each stitch until the row is done. Chain 1 and turn. (79 stitches)

Rows 3 to 5: repeat Row 2 three more times. At the end of Row 5, leave a tail of about 30 cm and pull it through the loop on the hook. For a thicker handle, work more rows.

Step 10: Attaching the Handle

1. Thread one tail onto the tapestry needle.

2. Pass the needle through a buckle, then through the loops along the edge of the end of the handle, and back through the buckle.

3. Repeat until 4 loops of yarn hold the handle to the buckle (or more if your handle is thicker).

4. Fasten off and hide the tail neatly along the underside of the handle. If you have fabric glue, a small dab will keep the ends secure.

5. Attach the other end of the handle to the second buckle in the same way. Cut and fasten off all the ends.

Your Brown Bliss Handbag is complete!

Author Notes

• You work in rounds. For the sides, you turn your work at the start of each round from Round 2 onwards.
• Mark the first stitch at the beginning of every round, so you never lose your starting point.
• When a round begins with a chain 3 and 2 double crochet, finish it with 2 double crochet. When a round begins with a single crochet, finish it with only a slip stitch.
• The photos show every small step of the shell rounds, so they look similar, but each one is slightly different. Follow them closely the first time.

Customizing

• A longer base: chain more than 19 at the start.
• A wider base: work more rounds of the base.
• Whatever size you make the base, the last round of the base must be a multiple of 4 so the shells fit.
• A longer or thicker handle: chain more than 80 for a longer handle, and work more rows for a thicker one.
• Bigger buckles: hold them onto the bag with more than 2 stitches.
• Lining and closure: you can line the bag and add a zipper or a button.

Video

Watch the video tutorial

Conclusion

Congratulations, your Brown Bliss Handbag is ready to carry! I love how the rows of puffy shells make this little bag look so special. 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!