I created this bag to take to the CGOA conference a couple of weeks ago. I wanted a large tote (this measures 11″ tall x 14 1/2″ wide and 5″ deep) that I could carry all of my class info and papers in. I like chunky textures so I used three strands of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease held together with a P hook – it worked up super fast. The pocket on the front carried business cards and keys. Since I wanted it to keep its shape I gave it a fabric lining and added real handles instead of crocheting them.
Overall I am really pleased with how this turned out and got great reviews of it at the conference from other crochet lovers. The skill level on this is easy and it makes a good project for beginners since there is no shaping – simply hdc and slip stitches. So – without further ado…
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Buckle Bag
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease, 3.50 oz/100g, each approx 207 yards/188 meters (cotton/acrylic): 6 Balls #100 Snow (This yarn has been discontinued. A great substitute is Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton)
Hook: P (11.50mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions:
- Yarn needle
- Lining and Backing Fabrics (optional) – 1 yard each
- Purse Handles
- 1/2 yard 1 ½” ribbon
- 1 slide buckle 1 ½”
GAUGE: 9 sts and 11 rows = 4 1/2” in st pat
NOTES
Hold three strands together.
Ch 2 at beg of row counts as hdc.
Stitch Pattern (St Pat):
Row 1: 2ch, skip 1 st, *sl st into next
hdc, 1 hdc into next sl st; rep from * ending sl st into top of turning ch,
turn.
hdc, 1 hdc into next sl st; rep from * ending sl st into top of turning ch,
turn.
Repeat row 1 for pattern.
FRONT
Ch 31.
Row 1: Ch 2, sk 2 ch, *sl st into next ch, 1 hdc into next ch; rep from * ending sl st into last ch, turn – 30 sts.
Work even in St Pat until piece measures 11 inches from beginning.
Fasten off.
Fasten off.
BACK
Work same as front.
SIDES AND BOTTOM
Ch 11.
Repeat row 1 of front – 10 sts.
Work in St Pat on 10 sts until piece measures 36”.
POCKET
Ch 17.
Repeat row 1 of front – 16 sts.
Work in stitch pattern for 16 rows. Fasten off.
FINISHING:
Sew ribbon in place around pocket, placing slide buckle through ribbon before stitching. Sew lining fabric to back of pocket, if desired.
Center pocket on front and stitch in place on three sides, leaving top open.
Lined bags only: Create backing for panels by cutting backing fabric same dimensions as crocheted pieces and hand stitching to backs.
Create lining for bag by cutting lining fabric 1” wider and taller than crocheted pieces and sewing together by hand or machine with ½”
seam allowances on all sides.
seam allowances on all sides.
Lined and unlined bags: Sew front and back to side/bottom strip.
Lined bags only: To attach lining, fold down ½” on top, press with iron if
desired, and hand sew to top of crocheted bag with a whip stitch with right
side of fabric showing inside bag. Attach handles.
desired, and hand sew to top of crocheted bag with a whip stitch with right
side of fabric showing inside bag. Attach handles.
That’s it! If you don’t want the fabric lining it is amazingly easy – if you do want the lining and are intimidated, don’t be! I have completed a tutorial to help guide you through the lining process. It can be found here.
Jennie
I can not wait to make one of these bags!!!
amanda
Thanks! Send me pictures when you do – I would love to post them!
Emy
Wow!! I will put it on my looong to do list..lol..very pretty!
amy buroker
I love this! I just started crocheting this week So this is a project for down the road.
Jessica
Beautiful! I am opening a shop on etsy for crochet/ crafts and i would love to make this to sell. Please let me know if that would be ok with you. I will make and sell the purse but give credit to you for the pattern? I am going to specialize in purses for the crochet part of my store and i think that this pattern and tutorial are amazing. This purse is very functional and i think it will sell very well. I plan to make one for myself as well. i will be checking your blog for a response back. thank you! (I will post pics of any and all purses i make for you too!)
amanda
Jessica,
I think it would be great to sell these on Etsy! I've always wanted to do that but find that once I make an item I am ready to move on and design another pattern so I never get around to it. 🙂
Feel free to make and sell these with credit for the pattern. I would also advise that you add interior pockets as that was the thing I wished I had done! If you need help I could walk you through it – not much more work and so much more functional. With two small kids I was always searching for the small things I didn't put in the front pocket!
Please share pictures when you make these – and you can add them to the project page on ravelry, too so everyone can see them there.
Good luck with your Etsy shop!!
Jessica
I am waiting on 6 skeins of the charcoal cotton ease yarn to arrive any day now and am going to make the first one for my sister her bday is on the 19th of nov. I so i will def. post pics when i'm finished but i am going to definitely make a few for my etsy shop and i'm sure they will sell great.. I would love a tutorial on making the pockets on the inside lining. i've made purses before and lined them but i have yet to attempt the pocket so if you have it figured out i would greatly appreciate a tutorial on the inside pocket. thanks so much you are already contributing greatly to my shop and i really can't thank you enough! (ps.. do you drink wine?) my family owns a winery a thank you bottle i believe is in order…?
noor
So beautiful I also love crochet this wonderful and useful work
Maria Torres
thank you! I love this
amanda
You're so welcome! 🙂
anna
Really beautiful !!!!
Anna
amanda
Thank you! 🙂
DONNA
Thank you for this lovely pattern and am looking to make one for myself.
amanda
You are so welcome! 🙂 If you make one I would love to see pictures.
Courtney E.
Beautiful! I love making crochet purses, bags, totes, etc. I can’t wait to give this one a go!
amanda
Thanks Courtney! If you make it, I would love to see pics! 🙂
Courtney Echeverria
I made the purse this weekend and I love it! I’m not fully finished (Need to sew on the insert and handles) and won’t be for a couple of weeks. (Hurt my hand) I ended up using acrylic yarn. I couldn’t find 24/7 Cotton (I was too impatient to buy on-line 🙂 ) which is the comparable to the yarn used in the pattern. But, I still think it came out really good! To get the correct gauge I used an N hook (10 mm) with 2 strands of yarn. I have no idea how to post pics, but would love to show you. When finished, it will be my new favorite purse! Thanks for the pattern!
amanda
Yay!! So glad it turned out well 🙂 Let me know when you are done because I would love to see it.
Teresa Pedraza
Hello Amanda, I just want to say that I love your patterns, and video tutorials, thank you so much. I specially want to thank you for allowing us to sell our finished items while giving you the credit for the patterns, I have search and is hard to find people that are ok with reproduction of their work. thank you and hope to see all the new things you will be creating.
amanda
Thanks Teresa! Before I began designing I wanted to make and sell items and it always frustrated me when I would find a cute pattern and was not allowed to sell the finished items. Once I started making my own patterns I wanted everyone to feel free to make and sell the finished products – crochet and knit items are great for craft fairs and things like that! Unfortunately I get bored after making something once so I am always ready to move on to the next and couldn’t make myself knit or crochet to sell the items themselves – patterns have been the way to go for me. 🙂 Good luck in your endeavors!