I made this crochet bag for a birthday present for one of Matthew’s best friends, Charlotte. She just turned seven. She really liked it, so did my daughters, who are now both asking for one just the same.

I made up the pattern, based on a few stitches and techniques that I know and like. I thought I would write the pattern down here as a way of sharing and of keeping a record for myself, because I think I might be making a few more of these!

Little crochet bag pattern

what you need:

10 ply/ worsted weight cotton: one ball each of colour A and B
4.5mm hook
4 stitch markers

Tension is not important; you might like to make a tighter or looser fabric for your bag. I crochet loosely.

This bag measures about 22 cm wide and 20 cm tall

UK crochet terms used:

Ch chain
Tr: Treble crochet
Dc: Double crochet
Sk: skip
Sl st: slip stitch
3 st cl: 3 stitch cluster: make 1 Tr but leave 2 loops on hook, as if you were decreasing; make another Tr and leave 3 loops on hook; make 3rd Tr, leaving 4 loops on hook, then draw hook through all 4 loops, making a cluster.
Pm: place marker

the pattern

make the base of the bag

~using colour A, Make 4 ch
~Sl st into first ch, making a ring (NB you could make a magic ring instead)
1~Ch 3, 12 Tr into ring. Sl st into top of 1st Tr
2~ch 3, 2 Tr into each Tr, Sl st into 1st Tr
3~ch 3, *2 Tr into first Tr, Tr into next Tr* repeat until end of round, Sl st into 1st Tr
4~ch 3, *2 Tr into first Tr, Tr into next 2 Tr* repeat until end of round, sl st into 1st Tr
5~ch 3, *2 Tr into first Tr, Tr into next 3 Tr* repeat until end of round, sl st into first Tr with colour B

I made 5 rounds for my bag but you can make more rounds for a bigger bag by following the same pattern for crocheting a disc.

make the sides of the bag

6~ tie ends of A and B together at back of work and continue with B. Ch 3, 2 st cluster in same stitch (draw hook through all 3 loops), *sk next Tr, 3 st cl in next Tr* continue to end of round, sl st in top of 3 ch.
7~ ch 3, 2 Tr cl in same stitch, *3 st cl in space between the two clusters in row below* repeat until end of round, sl st into top of 3 ch.
8~ repeat round 7 until you have the desired height of the bag. I made 7 rounds of the cluster pattern for my bag.

Change to colour A
9~ ch 1, *2 dc in space between cluster* repeat around the round, join with a sl st in top of first ch at beginning of round.
10~ ch 1, dc in each dc in round, join with sl st in too of first ch (74 dc in total)
11~ repeat row 10

make handles of bag

If you don’t have 74 stitches in the round, count your stitches and decide where you want your handles to be. I divided mine up to be 22 stitches at the sides of each bag, with 15 stitches in the middle of the bag for the handles. I placed the markers accordingly. You can use anything for a marker, like scrap yarn or paper clips or safety pins.

12~ ch 1, dc in each of next 22 dc, pm, sk next 15 dc, ch 20, join with sl st at 16th dc from last dc, pm, dc in next 22 dc, pm, sk next 15 dc, ch 20, join with sl st at beginning of round.
13~ ch 1 dc in each dc in round, join with sl st at beginning of round
14-15~ repeat round 13.
Fasten off.
Weave in ends.

I made a flower to decorate my bag. You could leave it plain or embellish it with something else, like a bow or appliquéd something or rather.

I enjoyed making this bag so much. It did not take long and I hope to make some more for some of the other little girlies in my life. What a pretty way to carry around some of their little treasures!

If you make the bag from this pattern, please let me know if my instructions are ok and if you have any questions! Just email me any feedback at rebecca (at) fangornfarm (dot) com.

Happy crafting xxx