The Browny Sling Bag: Easy Crochet Crossbody Bag Pattern

 

Pattern name: Browny Sling Bag

Designer: Mirrymas

Difficulty: Intermediate

Hook size: 6.00 mm

Size: One size: 17 cm (about 6.5 in) tall and 25 cm (about 10 in) wide

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

Steps: 7

Images: 13

Description

The Browny Sling Bag is an easy crossbody bag with a lovely raised ridge texture. It is worked flat as one rectangle, alternating a row of slip stitch and half double crochet with a row of single crochet. The rectangle is folded and sewn up the sides, then finished with slip stitch edging rounds, a long chain strap and a beaded tassel. 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 96 metres (105 yards)
• Stitch markers — 2 [icon: notions]
• Bead — 1 medium-sized bead, for the tassel [icon: notions]
• Notions — scissors and a tapestry needle [icon: notions]

Special Stitch Instructions

• Back bump of a chain: the bump on the back of a chain stitch. Turn the chain over to see it. Working into it gives a neat edge.
• 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.

Step 1: The Foundation Row

1. Chain 28. Turn the chain over so you can see the back bumps of the chains.

2. Insert the hook into the back bump of the 2nd chain from the hook and work 1 single crochet.

3. Work 1 single crochet into the back bump of each of the remaining chains.

4. Chain 1 and turn. The chain 1 is a turning chain and does not count as a stitch. (27 stitches)

Step 2: Rows 2 and 3

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. (27 stitches: 14 slip stitches and 13 half double crochet)

Row 3: work 1 single crochet into each stitch until the row is done. Chain 1 and turn. (27 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 3: Rows 4 to 23

Repeat Row 2 and Row 3 until you have worked 23 rows. The even-numbered rows are slip stitch and half double crochet rows, and the odd-numbered rows are single crochet rows. Row 23 is a single crochet row. Cut the yarn and fasten off.

Step 4: Joining the Sides

1. Fold the piece in two. The side with the raised ridges is the right side of the bag and faces outwards. The fold becomes the bottom of the bag: the first row is folded in half to make one side edge, and Row 23 is folded in half to make the other. The ridges run up and down the finished bag.

2. Line up the stitches of the two halves. Thread the tapestry needle with yarn and start joining from the far end.

3. As you sew, join the outer loop of the half nearer to you to the inner loop of the other half.

4. Join the other side of the bag in the same way. Cut and fasten off the ends.

Step 5: The Edging

Round 1: make a slip knot and attach the yarn along the edge of the opening of the bag. There are no stitches along this edge, so insert the hook between the rows. Work 1 slip stitch for each row, all the way round, until you are back at the starting point. You should have about 46 slip stitches (23 on each side). It is fine to have 2 more or 2 fewer: at the sewn edges, where there are no rows or stitches, you may work 1 or 2 slip stitches.

Round 2: work 1 slip stitch into the back loop of each stitch all the way round.

Round 3: repeat Round 2.

Step 6: The Strap

1. Lay your bag flat and place a stitch marker at each edge of the opening.

2. Make a slip knot on the hook and attach it to one of the marked stitches.

3. Chain 100, or as many chains as you need for the length you want.

4. Join the chain to the marked stitch on the other side.

5. Turn, and slip stitch into each chain until you are back at the starting point. Cut the yarn and fasten it off inside the bag.

Step 7: The Tassel

1. Cut 10 strands of yarn, each about 18 inches (46 cm) long.

2. Take another strand and tie the 10 strands together in the middle.

3. Thread the strands through the wooden bead.

4. Attach the tassel to the side of the bag, and trim the ends for a neat finish. Cut and fasten off all the remaining ends.

Your Browny Sling 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.

Customizing

• Bigger or smaller: chain an even number so you get an odd number of stitches and Row 2 can begin and end with a slip stitch (for example, chain 32 for 31 stitches).
• Work more or fewer rows, but always finish with a single crochet row (an odd-numbered row).
• At the gauge, every 2 stitches or 2 rows you add makes the piece about 2 cm bigger in that direction.
• Strap: chain more than 100 for a longer crossbody strap, or fewer for a shoulder strap.
• Tassel: use a bead in another colour, or leave the tassel off for a plain bag.
• Yarn: a bigger bag needs more than 96 metres, so buy extra and keep all your yarn from the same dye lot.

Video

Watch the video tutorial

Conclusion

Congratulations, your Browny Sling Bag is ready to wear! I love how the simple rows build up into such a lovely ridged texture. 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!