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This is a pattern that will teach you a few basic crochet stitches and skills that you’ll be able to take into many new projects. By the end of the project, you should be familiar with chains, slip stitches, single crochet stitches, and double crochet stitches.
I recommended materials for this projects in a previous post, and my reasoning for those materials, so if you want more information on suggested tools you can refer to the resource post. We’re not going to retype everything over here, so here’s our simple guide for what to bring:
- a 6mm crochet hook (also known as a US10 or J)
- Medium weight yarn (weight 4 or worsted) in acrylic or cotton
- A piece of scrap yarn, or a stitch marker that will work with crochet
- scissors
- a yarn needle
We’re going to start this post with the beginner pattern. Below the pattern will be a guide to the stitches and techniques listed, and we’ll also have a full video that follows the entire creation process. There will be videos and images for each stitch so you can learn in the way that’s most helpful to you!
At the very bottom will be a shorter version of the pattern for people that are familiar with written crochet patterns. You can use it if you’re already familiar with crochet and don’t need the beginners’ version, and it can also serve as a way to introduce yourself to more standard pattern formats if you’re beginning (or experienced!) and want to see how typical crochet patterns are written.
Keep in mind that yarn will stretch. Acrylic stretches more than cotton, but both will stretch. Keep this in mind when you’re deciding how large to make the base and the sides of your bag.
The Pattern
Row 1: To start, make a slip knot and chain 4. The first chain will be the chain that you work all of your stitches into, and the following 3 chains will count as your first double crochet.
Once you have chained 4, do 2 double crochets into the fourth chain from your hook (the one furthest away). You’ll have a group of three double crochets, including the initial 3 chains. Chain 2.
*Do three more double crochets into the first loop. Then chain 2.* Repeat this step 2 more times. On the final repeat, after you’ve done your chain 2, slip stitch into the top of the first chain 3.
You should have 4 groups of 3 double crochet (including the first group with the chain 3), and you should also have chain 2 spaces connecting all of the groups together.
To finish this round, we’re going to slip stitch into the next two double crochets, and then into the chain 2 space – not into the chain itself. This will position our yarn for the next round, so that we’re making stitches into the space formed by the chains instead of the individual chains.
Row 2: Chain 3. This counts as your first double crochet in every round. Make 2 double crochets into the same chain space, then chain 2. Make 3 double crochet into the same chain space that we’re already working in.
This is our first corner.
*Make 3 double crochet into the next chain space. Chain 2, and make 3 more double crochet into the same chain space.* Repeat this step 2 more times, until you have 4 corners made (including the first corner we made with the initial chain 3). We’re going to join our last double crochet to our first chain 3 by slip stitching into the top of that chain.
Note that we now have additional spaces in the sides of our square, formed between the 3 double crochet groups without the chain 2 corners. We’re going to work into those starting in the next round.
Once again, to finish this round, we’re going to slip stitch into the next two double crochets, and then into the chain 2 space.
Row 3: Chain 3. Make 2 double crochets into the same chain space. Chain 2, and make 3 more double crochet into the same chain space.
Make 3 double crochet into the non-chain space formed between the groups in the previous round.
*Make 3 double crochet into the next chain space. Chain 2. Make 3 double crochet into the same chain space.
Make 3 double crochet into the non-chain space.* Repeat the steps between the *s 2 more times. This will create 4 corners, and 4 sets of 3 double crochet in the spaces between those corners. Once again, we’re going to finish the round by joining/slip stitching into the top chain of the first chain 3, then slip stitching into the next 2 double crochets, and finally into the chain space.
Row 4: This row is going to be repeatable. We are going to create our 4 corners, and fill every space with 3 double crochet.
To start, we’re going to chain 3. Make 2 double crochet into the same chain space. Chain 2, and make 3 double crochet into the same chain space.
Make 3 double crochet into the next non-chain space. Repeat this for each non-chain space until you reach the next corner/chain space.
*Make 3 double crochet into the chain space. Chain 2, and make 3 double crochet into the same chain space.
Make 3 double crochet in the next space. Repeat this step until you reach the next corner/chain space.* Repeat between the *s until you have 4 corners made, and have 3 double crochet groups in each space. Finish the round by joining/slip stitching into the top chain of the first chain 3, then slip stitching into the next 2 double crochets, and finally into the chain space.
Repeat row 4 until the base of your bag is your desired size – make sure you have an even number of 3 double crochet groups between each corner.
Once you have the desired size for your bag’s base, we’re going to make the sides of the bag.
Bag sides: You will repeat this row until your bag is your desired size. You need to identify the center non-chain space of each side of the bag and either mark them with a stitch marker/scrap yarn, or count to them.
Chain 3. 2 double crochet into the same chain space. Chain 2, and make 3 double crochet into the same chain space. Make 3 double crochet in each non-chain space until you reach the middle space. Do not double crochet into the center space. Skip the center space and make 3 double crochet in the next space. Continue making 3 double crochet in each space until you reach the next corner/chain space.
*When you reach the chain space, make 3 double crochet in the chain space. Chain 2, and make 3 more double crochet in the same chain space.
Make 3 double crochet in each non-chain space until you reach the middle space. Do not double crochet into the center space. Skip the center space and make 3 double crochet in the next space. Make 3 double crochet in each space along the side.* Repeat the steps between the *s 2 more times. Finish the round by joining/slip stitching into the top chain of the first chain 3, then slip stitching into the next 2 double crochets, and finally into the chain space.
Repeat this round until your bag is the height you want.
Once your bag is the height you want, we’re going to make handles.
In the last round, you slip stitched into the chain 2 space.
Chain 1, and make a single crochet in that same chain space. You can place a stitch marker in this single crochet that you just made. Make a chain that stretches from the current chain space to the next chain space. Make the chain the length you desire, and make sure you count how many chains you make. I go for 15 or 30 chains for my smaller bags, depending on if I want a longer or shorter handle (it depends on the bag size).
Once you’ve made your chain, be careful not to twist it. Single crochet into the next chain space, then single crochet in every double crochet until you reach the next chain space. Single crochet into this next chain space, then make another chain that is the same length/number of chains as your previous chain. Single crochet into the next chain space (don’t twist it!), and single crochet in each stitch along the top of the bag until you reach your first single crochet. Use a slip stitch to join the first single crochet. Chain 1 and single crochet into the same stitch. You can place a marker here. Single crochet in every chain and single crochet from the previous round. Once you reach the first single crochet you made, where you possibly placed the stitch marker, you can slip stitch to the first single crochet. Cut your yarn so you have at least a 6 inch tail, and weave the end in through the bag.
