DIY CROCHET BAG

DIY Crochet Bag

Great gift idea for the Mother’s Day

With the Mother’s Day approaching, it’s time to think about some easy gift ideas like a DIY crochet bag! This simple project is a lovely way to practice creative skills and make someone feel special with the result. All you need is choose whether you want to make a round purse or a rectangle clutch. The material and tools are very simple – some jute twine and a crochet hook! I’ll be making the rectangle clutch, here is how!

DIY Crochet Bag

Skill: beginner to advanced

Tools:

• jute twine
• crochet hook (size 3.5 – 5.5)
• knitting needle (optional)
• embroidery thread and needle (optional)
• fabric for lining and hand/machine sewing tools (optional)

Instructions

To make a rectangle clutch, begin by making a simple stitch crochet chain. The number of stitches will depend on the size of your hook but the length of the chain should be approx. 20cm. Then make the second row by stitching simple stitch in each of the chain stitches, until you reach the first stitch of the chain. Now make another row by simple stitching into each stitch of the second row. Follow this simple pattern as shown on the pattern sketch until you have a rectangle mat of approx 20 x 30cm. When you fold it, you should have a nice ‘pocket’ looking like a little purse, with bigger width than the height.

Then make the triangle fold for the bag to close. You can continue from the corner where you finished the rectangle. The diffrence is that now you will stitch the same simple stitch along the shorter side of the rectangle, as opposed to going back on the longer side. Stitch towards the other corner of the shorter side and go backwards, skipping one stitch towards the end as shown. Follow this rule until there is no space for more rows, at this point the hook should be in the middle – at the tip of the rectangle.

Before you cut the twine, create a small loop. Then stitch the clutch sides together, you can do this with the hook or with a knitting needle. Make another short chain about 10cm long and attach to the middle of the front side of the clutch. It will allow you to tie the triangle fold to close the bag. As a handle, make a couple of simple stitch chains attached to each side or one long one to go over the shoulder.

Optional:

Try making a round purse with embroidery and lining! It is a bit more complex to make but looks amazing. The pattern is very similar, except you will need two sides and crochet them together with a long 5-stitches-wide strip forming a bottom of the bag. Then make an equal bag out of fabric and place it inside as a lining, raw edges down. Stitch along the top to attach the crochet jute bag to the lining, folding the fabric inwards about half an inch. For even more decoration, embroider one crochet bag side before attaching the lining!