Crochet Cross Body Bag

Crochet Cross Body Bags are not just practical but also incredibly stylish! When you carry one of these charming bags, you're not only keeping your essentials handy but also adding a touch of handmade flair to your outfit. They are perfect for any casual day out or a fun weekend adventure. The intricate crochet details and the convenient crossbody style make it a must-have accessory for those who appreciate a blend of functionality and fashion. So, grab your crochet cross body bag, head out with confidence, and show off your unique style with a friendly flourish!

What You’ll Need for Your Crochet Cross Body Bag:

Materials:

• Yarn: 4 tubes of RED HEART Crochet Nylon, 100% Nylon Size 18 in Natural (Art. R138, 150 yd/137m tubes)
• Crochet Hook: Susan Bates 3.75mm [US F-5]

Notions:

• Susan Bates Knit Clips (10 pack)
• Clear nail polish (or super glue)
• 10-11 inch [25.5-28 cm] piece of heavy cardboard or a thin book (for making the tassel)
• Yarn needle

Optional:

• Decorative tassel cap and super glue
• Lining and stiffening materials (e.g., craft felt, fabric, interfacing, plastic canvas)

Gauge:

• 17 stitches = 4 inches [10 cm]
• 20 rows = 4 inches [10 cm] in single crochet (sc)

Important: Always check your gauge. Use any size hook necessary to obtain the specified gauge.

Important Notes Before You Begin:

• The bag is constructed in five separate pieces: Front, Back, “Sides” Panel, Flap, and Strap.
• These pieces are then crocheted together using a reverse single crochet technique.
• The flap features a decorative thick surface slip stitch curve and a tassel.
• To secure woven-in ends, apply a small drop of clear nail polish or super glue to all cut nylon ends.
• While a lining is suggested for a more finished look and added structure (craft felt is an easy, non-fraying option), it is not mandatory. Plastic canvas can be used, especially in the bag’s bottom, for extra support.
• Decorative tassel caps can often be found in the notions section of fabric and craft stores. You might even be able to repurpose a cap from a store-bought faux-leather tassel by carefully removing the original tassel.

Special Stitches and Techniques:

This free crochet cross body bag pattern utilizes a few special stitches and techniques to achieve its unique structure and design:

Reverse Single Crochet (reverse sc): Also known as the crab stitch, this technique involves working single crochet stitches in the opposite direction you normally would (left to right for right-handed crocheters, right to left for left-handed). It creates a distinctive rope-like, twisted single crochet edging.

Single Crochet 2 Stitches Together (sc2tog): This is a decrease stitch. [Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Adjustable-Ring: Wrap yarn to form a ring, ensuring the tail is behind the working yarn. Hold the ring and tail. Insert your hook through the center of the ring, yarn over (with the working yarn), and draw up a loop. Work the first round’s stitches into this ring. After completing the first round, gently pull the tail to tighten the ring.

Surface Slip Stitch: Create a slip knot and hold it on the wrong side of your crochet piece. Insert the hook from the right side to the wrong side in the space between stitches. Place the slip knot on the hook and draw up a loop, stretching it to about 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) long. *Insert the hook from the right side to the wrong side in the next space, yarn over, and draw the loop through the crochet fabric and through the loop currently on your hook. Repeat from * as desired. To finish, on the right side of the piece, remove the loop from the hook. Insert the hook from the wrong side to the right side in the next space, return the loop to the hook, and draw it to the wrong side. Cut the nylon, draw the end through the loop, and pull to tighten. Securely weave in the end.

Free Crochet Cross Body Bag Pattern Instructions:

FRONT:

Beginning at the top edge, chain (ch) 41.

Row 1: Single crochet (sc) in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each remaining ch across – 40 sc.

Rows 2-34: Ch 1, turn, sc in each stitch (st) across.

Shape Lower Section (Front):

Rows 35-42: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in each st to the last 2 sts, sc2tog – 24 sc will remain in Row 42.

Fasten off.

BACK:

Make the same as the Front piece.

FLAP:

Begin at the center of the top edge by making an adjustable ring. You will work back and forth in rows, not rounds.

Row 1: Ch 1, 3 sc in the ring.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each st across – 6 sc.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next st, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st] twice – 9 sc.

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 2 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 2 sts] twice – 12 sc.

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 3 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 3 sts] twice – 15 sc.

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 4 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 4 sts] twice – 18 sc.

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 5 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 5 sts] twice – 21 sc.

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 6 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 6 sts] twice – 24 sc.

Row 9: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 7 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 7 sts] twice – 27 sc.

Row 10: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 8 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 8 sts] twice – 30 sc.

Row 11: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 9 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 9 sts] twice – 33 sc.

Row 12: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 10 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 10 sts] twice – 36 sc.

Row 13: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 11 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 11 sts] twice – 39 sc.

Row 14: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 12 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 12 sts] twice – 42 sc.

Row 15: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 13 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 13 sts] twice – 45 sc.

Row 16: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 14 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 14 sts] twice – 48 sc.

Row 17: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 15 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 15 sts] twice – 51 sc.

Row 18: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 16 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 16 sts] twice – 54 sc.

Row 19: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 17 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 17 sts] twice – 57 sc.

Row 20: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 18 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 18 sts] twice – 60 sc.

Row 21: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 19 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 19 sts] twice – 63 sc.

Work Along Straight Edge (Top) of Flap:

Row 1: Ch 1, do not turn. Working in the ends of the rows, draw up a loop in the end of the next 2 rows, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on the hook (this makes an sc2tog). Sc in the end of the next 18 rows. Draw up a loop in the end of the next row, draw up a loop in the center adjustable ring, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on the hook (sc2tog made). Sc in the end of the next 19 rows. Sc2tog (working in the ends of the last 2 rows) – 40 sc.

Rows 2-8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.

Do not fasten off.

Connect Flap to Back:

Hold the Flap and Back pieces with the wrong sides (insides) together, ensuring the stitches of the top edges match.

Use Knit Klips™ to hold the pieces securely together.

With the right side of the Flap facing you and working through both thicknesses, reverse sc in each st across the top edges to connect the Flap to the Back.

Continue around the remaining edges of the front, working reverse sc evenly spaced along the curved edges of the Flap.

Fasten off.

“SIDES” PANEL:

Ch 12.

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each remaining ch across – 11 sc.

Rows 2-112: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.

Do not fasten off.

Important: Measure the “Sides” Panel to ensure it will fit correctly around the side and lower edges of the Back piece. Work additional rows or unravel rows if necessary to achieve the correct fit.

Connect “Sides” Panel to Back:

Place the Back piece on a flat surface with the wrong side (inside) facing up.

Starting at one top corner and ending at the other top corner of the Back, arrange one long edge of the “Sides” Panel along the sides and lower edges of the Back. Use Knit Klips, evenly spaced, to hold the pieces together.

Working from the right side (outside) and through both thicknesses, join the yarn at one corner and work reverse sc evenly spaced all the way along the edges to join the “Sides” Panel to the Back.

Connect “Sides” Panel to Front:

Place the Front piece on a flat surface with the wrong side (inside) facing up.

Arrange the remaining long edge of the “Sides” Panel around the sides and lower edges of the Front. Use Knit Klips, evenly spaced, to hold the pieces together.

Working from the right side (outside) and through both thicknesses, join the yarn at one corner and work reverse sc evenly spaced all the way along the edges to join the “Sides” Panel to the Front.

STRAP:

Ch 6.

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each remaining ch across – 5 sc.

Rows 2-188: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.

Fasten off.

Sew the ends of the Strap to the right side (outside) of the ends of the “Sides” Panel, overlapping the ends by about 1-1.5 inches [2.5-4 cm].

Finishing Your Crochet Cross Body Bag:

Surface Slip Stitch Line: Holding 3 strands of nylon together, and beginning and ending at the top edge of the Flap, work a surface slip stitch curve along the spaces between the stitches of Row 17 of the Flap.

Tassel:

Using a 10-11 inch [25.5-28 cm] piece of heavy cardboard or a thin book, wrap the nylon thread around it 25 times.

Cut a 12 inch [30.5 cm] piece of nylon thread for tying the tassel top.

Thread this 12-inch piece under one end of the wraps and tie a strong knot.

If using a decorative tassel cap, place a few drops of super glue inside the cap and quickly insert the tassel top section into it.

Once the glue is dried (if used), trim the tassel ends to create a clean, even edge.

Follow the instructions on your tassel cap package (if using) to attach the tassel to the bag flap.

Lining (Optional): Line the bag if desired. Refer back to the “Notes” section for suggestions on materials and methods.

Weave in any remaining ends securely.

Abbreviations:

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• st(s): stitch(es)
• []: work directions in brackets the number of times specified
• sc2tog: single crochet 2 stitches together
• reverse sc: reverse single crochet