Free Pattern Step-by-Step Crochet
Bags

A textured crochet shoulder bag worth making

An oval-base crochet shoulder bag with a woven texture and a separate strap.

Level
Easy to Intermediate
Time
6-8 hours
Hook
5 mm
Yarn
Worsted
A textured crochet shoulder bag worth making

Pattern highlights

  1. Chain a foundation row and work single crochet around both sides, increasing at the two curved ends to form an oval.
  2. Build up the oval base with a few more increase rounds until the bottom lies flat and even.
  3. Settle into the body rounds, alternating single crochet and double crochet to grow the woven texture.
  4. Near the top, chain across to open two strap gaps, skipping stitches on either side.
  5. Work back over those chains with single crochet so the strap openings close into finished edges.
  6. Crochet the strap separately, then attach it securely where the openings were worked.
  7. Weave in ends and block the bag so the texture sits evenly before using it.

About This Pattern

A shoulder bag like this earns a spot in any crochet notebook of purse patterns. I keep a running list of oval-base bags, and this one joins it. The construction is familiar—start flat, build up—but the textured body sets it apart from plainer totes. It is the kind of project I file under 'useful,' not just pretty. A good catalog entry, and a good excuse to use up worsted cotton.

The bag starts with an oval base worked in rounds, increasing at both curved ends. Then the body alternates rounds of single crochet and double crochet. That height difference gives the surface a woven look without going lacy. Near the top, two chain spaces open up for the strap, closed in again on the next round. It is straightforward stitch work, but the sequencing matters. Skip a step and the shape drifts.

What comes off the hook is a medium purse with a rounded bottom and a dense, textured body. The alternating stitch heights read almost like a woven fabric from a distance. A long strap, worked separately and attached at reinforced points, makes it wearable over the shoulder. It is roomy enough for a wallet, phone, keys, sunglasses, and a small notebook. Not a clutch — a real daily bag.

Worth knowing

The satisfaction here is in the texture. Alternating single crochet and double crochet rounds sounds simple. Watching the woven effect build up round by round is genuinely pleasing. The oval base is a nice technical warm-up too. Increasing evenly at both curved ends takes a little attention. Getting it symmetrical feels like a small win. I like that the strap openings are worked right into the body. They're chained open and then filled back in, so there is no separate seam fighting for strength later. This is not a fussy pattern. It is a dense, sturdy, wearable object, and every round earns its place in the final shape.

Common mistakes

  • Miscounting the starting chain Count the 31 chains twice before turning; one off and the oval won't close evenly. Recount at the first join too.
  • Skipping the curve increases Increasing only at the two curved ends is what shapes the oval. Skip one and the base starts to pucker or stay too narrow.
  • Losing the sc/dc texture rhythm It's easy to lose track of which round is single crochet and which is double. Mark the end of each round with a stitch marker to stay on pattern.
  • Opening the strap gaps unevenly The two strap openings in round 20 should skip the same number of stitches on each side. Measure from the join to keep both sides matching.
  • Rushing the join at each round A sloppy slip stitch join blurs the line between texture rounds. Take an extra second to join cleanly so the woven look stays crisp.
Ruby

The story behind Stitch Obsession, and Ruby, who writes and tests every pattern on the shelf.

Easy to Intermediate

The kit

  1. Worsted weight cotton yarn in main color: approximately 400 yards (366 meters)
  2. Optional contrast yarn for stripes or edging: approximately 50 yards (46 meters)
  3. 5 mm US H-8 crochet hook
  4. Yarn needle
  5. Stitch marker
  6. Scissors
  7. Optional fabric lining

Bag Base

Round 1Ch 31. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and across remaining chains. Work 3 sc in last chain. Turn work and sc along the opposite side of the chain. Work 2 sc in the final stitch. Join with sl st. (64 sts)

Round 2Ch 1. Sc around, increasing 3 times evenly at each curved end. Join with sl st. (70 sts)

Round 3Ch 1. Sc around, placing 3 sc in each of the four curve sections. Join with sl st. (82 sts)

Round 4Ch 1. Sc in each stitch around. Join with sl st. (82 sts)Step by step: Ch 2. Dc in each stitch around. Join with sl st. (82 sts).Rounds 9-18: Repeat rounds 7 and 8 five more times. You will have 14 additional rounds of texture after round 8. (82 sts each round)

Top Edge and Strap Preparation

Round 19Ch 1. Sc around. Join with sl st. (82 sts)

Round 20Ch 1. Sc 18, ch 24 for first strap opening, skip 23 stitches, sc 18, ch 24 for second strap opening, skip 23 stitches. Join with sl st. (82 total including chains)

Round 21Ch 1. Sc around, working into each chain space with 24 sc over each strap opening. Join with sl st.

Special Stitch

Round 1Step by step: Ch 2. Dc in each stitch around. Join with sl st. (82 sts).

Round 2Textured stitch pattern: Alternate one round of single crochet with one round of double crochet. The difference in stitch height creates a simple woven texture.

Strap

Join yarn at one strap opening.

Chain 90 for a long shoulder strap.

Sc back across the chain.

Attach the end securely to the opposite side of the opening using slip stitches and reinforced sewing.

Repeat for a second strap layer if extra strength is desired.

Assembly

Step 1After completing your crochet shoulder bag, gently shape the body and smooth the stitches. Blocking helps even out the texture and improves the final appearance.

Step 2For long-lasting use, hand wash or use a gentle wash cycle with mild detergent. Allow the bag to air dry completely before storing.

Finishing

  1. Weave in every yarn end along the inside of the bag, especially around the strap openings.
  2. Attach the separately worked strap securely at the reinforced points left in round 21.
  3. Block the finished bag gently to even out the sc and dc texture before it's used.

Why it works

The oval base grows only at its two curved ends, in rounds 1 through 3. The straight sides hold steady, one stitch per stitch, by round 4.

Strap openings are chained open in round 20, then closed with single crochet in round 21. The body stays one piece; there is no separate strap seam to join later.

Every round joins with a slip stitch instead of spiraling. That keeps the alternating sc and dc texture rounds lined up in even horizontal bands.

What it becomes

  • An everyday errand bag for a wallet, phone, keys, sunglasses, and a small notebook.
  • A casual companion piece for jeans and a simple top, nothing fussy.
  • A handmade alternative to a store-bought crossbody, worn over one shoulder or across the body.

Original pattern: https://duniarecipe.com/crochet-shoulder-bags-stylish-handmade-purse-patterns-diy-ideas/

FAQ

Can I use a different yarn weight?

Stick with worsted weight cotton or a cotton blend for the best stitch definition. A thinner yarn will make the texture rounds harder to read and the bag less sturdy.

Do I need the contrast yarn?

No, the contrast yarn is optional and only used for stripes or edging. The main color alone is enough to complete the bag.

Why alternate single and double crochet instead of one stitch throughout?

The height difference between the two stitches is what creates the woven texture. A single stitch throughout would give a flatter, plainer surface.

Is the strap adjustable?

The strap is worked separately, so you can lengthen or shorten it to taste before attaching it. Just make sure it still reaches the reinforced attachment points from round 21.

The next find, by post

One pattern from the collection when it is ready. Nothing else.