In this pattern I’ll teach you to make this simple but good looking handbag. The pattern is very simple and easy to adjust in size. The tutorial is beginner friendly and consists of just single crochet stitches.

Materials

– 175 grams of jute twine, about 150 meters or 164 yards
– 6 mm J/10 crochet hook
– stitch marker
– a pair of scissors
– a tapestry needle

Terms used/abbreviations

ch        chain
sl st     slip stitch
sc        single crochet
blo       use the back loop only
sc2tog single crochet two stitches together

Notes

  • This pattern is written in US terms.

Pattern

Body of the bag

Make a slip knot and ch the amount of chains you need to reach 24 cm. or 9.5”.

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in every stitch across.

Row 2: ch 1, turn your work. Sc in every stitch across.

Rows 3-23: Repeat row 2 until your work is about 14 cm. or 5.5”. I worked 23 rows to reach that height.

Row 24: ch 1, turn your work. Work sc in the blo in every stitch across. The unworked loops are used to attach the divider later on in the pattern.

Row 25-46: repeat row 2. If you’ve worked more or less rows than I did then you work the same amount of rows after the row of sc blo as you did before that row. So back and front of the bag are the same height. Don’t bind off, now it is time to make the front flap.

Flap

Row 47: ch 1 and turn your work. Make a sc2tog in the first 2 stitches to decrease. Sc in every stitch across until you have 2 stitches left. Sc2tog in the last 2 stitches to decrease.

Repeat row 47 until you have about 5 or 6 stitches left. Cut your yarn. Bind off and weave in your end.

Divider

Attach your yarn in the corner of the row unworked front loops.

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in every loop across.

Row 2: ch 1, turn your work. Sc in every stitch across.

Repeat row 2 until the divider is the same height as the back of your bag.

Cut your yarn, bind off and weave in your end.

Assemble the bag

Fold the front of your back over the back to form the bag. Make sure the right side is out and the divider is not sticking out at the top. Cut 25 cm. of yarn or 10” and put in through a yarn needle. Close the side of the bag by picking up the front the divider and the back. You can put in some stitch markers to make sure your layers stays in place. Bind off and weave in that end.

Before we close the other end we attach the magnetic closure. Choose the closure you want and place it according to the instructions on the packaging. I chose a magnetic closure. You can attach a push button as well.

If the closure is attached you can close the other side at the same way you closed the first side.

Bind off and weave in your ends.

You can choose to make a row of sc along the edges of the flap to make it a bit neater. Start in one corner of the flap, attach your yarn and sc across to the other corner. If there is no stitch you can eyeball where you place your sc. At the end cut your yarn, bind off and weave in the end.

I didn’t make a strap for my bag because I want to use it as some sort of clutch but if you want a strap you can use one from an old bag or make one yourself, for example, by making a roman cord.

Enjoy making this fun bag and have fun using it!