The Companion Crossbody Bag: Crochet Flap Bag Pattern

 

Pattern name: Companion Crossbody Bag

Designer: Mirrymas

Difficulty: Intermediate

Hook size: 6.00 mm

Size: One size: 17 cm (about 6.5 in) tall and 24 cm (about 9.5 in) wide

Gauge: 9 stitches x 10 rows = 4 in (10 cm), in single crochet worked in rows

Steps: 8

Images: 19

Description

The Companion Crossbody Bag is a neat little flap bag with a raised ridge texture. It is worked flat in rows, in three pieces: one large piece for the front, bottom, back and flap, and two small sides with metal rings for the strap. The pieces are sewn together, a button closes the flap, and a long chain strap finishes it off. Every step is written out in full, with photos.

Materials

• Hook — 6.00 mm crochet hook
• Yarn — macramé cord, rope yarn, t-shirt yarn or any other bulky yarn about 3 mm thick; about 140 metres (153 yards)
• Stitch markers — 4 [icon: notions]
• Button — 1 button, 20 mm across [icon: notions]
• Metal rings — 2, for the strap [icon: notions]
• Notions — scissors, tapestry needle, sewing needle and sewing thread (for the button) [icon: notions]

Special Stitch Instructions

• Slip stitch and half double crochet row: begin with a slip stitch, then take turns between 1 half double crochet and 1 slip stitch, ending with a slip stitch.
• Row space: the edge of a row along the side of your work. There are no stitches here, so you insert the hook into the edge of each row.

Step 1: The Large Piece, Rows 1 to 3

The large piece makes the front, the bottom, the back and the flap of the bag.

Row 1: chain 50. Work 1 single crochet into the 2nd chain from the hook, then 1 single crochet into each of the remaining chains. Chain 1 and turn. The chain 1 is a turning chain and does not count as a stitch. (49 stitches)

Row 2: work 1 slip stitch into the first stitch. Then work 1 half double crochet into the next stitch and 1 slip stitch into the following stitch, and repeat until the row is done. Chain 1 and turn. (49 stitches: 25 slip stitches and 24 half double crochet)

Row 3: work 1 single crochet into each stitch until the row is done. Chain 1 and turn. (49 stitches)

In the single crochet rows, make sure you insert the hook into the top of each stitch. The slip stitches are small and easy to miss, so count your stitches at the end of the row.

Step 2: The Large Piece, Rows 4 to 21

Repeat Row 2 and Row 3 until you have worked 21 rows. The even-numbered rows are slip stitch and half double crochet rows, and the odd-numbered rows are single crochet rows. Row 21 is a single crochet row. Do not cut the yarn.

Step 3: The Buttonhole

1. Look at the side edge on the left of Row 21. Count the rows along this edge and place a stitch marker in the 11th row.

2. Without cutting the yarn after Row 21, turn to work along this side edge. Insert the hook into each row space and work 1 single crochet into each.

3. When you reach the marked row, skip it and chain 2. This is the buttonhole.

4. Carry on with 1 single crochet into each row space until you finish the side. Cut the yarn and fasten off the ends.

Step 4: The Small Sides (Make 2)

Row 1: chain 14. Work 1 single crochet into the 2nd chain from the hook, then 1 single crochet into each of the remaining chains. Chain 1 and turn. (13 stitches)

Row 2: work 1 slip stitch into the first stitch, then take turns between 1 half double crochet and 1 slip stitch until the row is done, ending with a slip stitch. Chain 1 and turn. (13 stitches)

Row 3: work 1 single crochet into the top of each stitch until the row is done. Chain 1 and turn. (13 stitches)

Rows 4 and 5: repeat Row 2 and Row 3. Row 5 is a single crochet row. Cut the yarn and fasten off the ends.

Make a second side in the same way.

Step 5: The Metal Rings

Using the tapestry needle and yarn, attach a metal ring to the top of each small side.

Step 6: Joining the Pieces

The end of the large piece with the buttonhole is the flap, which folds over the front, so join the small sides to the other end of the large piece. Each small side has 3 edges to join: a long edge of 13 stitches, a short bottom edge (the edge opposite the metal ring), and another long edge of 13 stitches. These are joined to 13 stitches of the large piece for the front, 5 stitches for the bottom and 13 stitches for the back. The remaining 18 stitches of the large piece become the flap.

1. Line up the 13 stitches of one long edge of a small side with 13 stitches of the large piece, and hold them together with stitch markers.

2. For the bottom of the bag (the curved part), line up 5 stitches of the large piece with the short edge of the small side, the edge opposite the metal ring.

3. Line up the remaining long edge of the small side with the next 13 stitches of the large piece, and hold them with stitch markers.

4. Sew the small side to the large piece with the tapestry needle.

5. Join the second small side to the other edge of the large piece in the same way.

Step 7: The Button

Fold the flap over the front and sew the button onto the front, directly opposite the buttonhole.

Step 8: The Strap

1. Make a slip knot on the hook and attach it to the metal ring on one side.

2. Chain 80, then join the chain to the metal ring on the other side.

3. Turn, and slip stitch into each chain until you are back at the starting point.

4. Work a slip stitch into the ring, cut the yarn and fasten it off along the strap. Cut and fasten off all the remaining ends.

Your Companion Crossbody Bag is complete!

Author Notes

• You work in rows, turning at the end of each row.
• The chain 1 at the end of each row is a turning chain and does not count as a stitch.
• The number at the end of a row is the total number of stitches you should have for that row.
• You can see how I sew the sides together and make the strap in the video tutorial.

Customizing

• Strap: chain more than 80 for a longer crossbody strap, or fewer for a shoulder strap.
• Deeper bag: add rows to the small sides, and join that many more stitches of the large piece for the bottom.
• Taller bag: make the small sides from a longer chain and the large piece longer to match, with enough stitches for the front, bottom, back and flap.
• Always chain an even number for each piece, so the slip stitch and half double crochet rows begin and end with a slip stitch.
• Yarn: a bigger bag needs more than 140 metres, so buy extra and keep all your yarn from the same dye lot.

Video

Watch the video tutorial

Conclusion

Congratulations, your Companion Crossbody Bag is ready to wear! I love its neat flap and ridged texture, and it is just the right size for your everyday essentials. 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!