Beginner
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Bags & Purses 16 Laid out for paper No account, no download
A crochet bow bag pattern for beginners
Beginner crochet bow bag: hdc panels, 8-round bow loops, 4mm hook.
- Skill
- Beginner
- Time
- 7-9 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 4 mm
- Rounds
- 16
Worsted
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
16
Each one is typed out whole and gets its own line.
This bow bag is built from five separate flat pieces: two 9 x 6 inch body panels worked in straight hdc rows, two shaped bow loops that increase at both edges over eight rows, a short center wrap that cinches the loops together, and a simple handle. Have 250 yards of medium weight cotton yarn, a 4 mm hook, stitch markers, and a yarn needle ready before starting, since every piece is seamed or sewn together at the end rather than joined in the round.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Miscounting after a Bow Loop increase row
- Count stitches immediately after rows 2 and 4 to confirm 17 and then 19 hdc before continuing. Use a marker at each edge stitch so the increase point is never lost mid-row.
- Treating the turning chain as a stitch
- Work the first hdc into the actual first stitch, not the turning chain, since the pattern states turning chains do not count. Recount to 30 on the Body Panels if the row looks off.
- Skipping a gauge swatch for the panels
- Check that an hdc swatch with the 4 mm hook matches the stated 9 x 6 inch panel size before working all 18 rows. Adjust hook size up or down if the swatch runs noticeably larger or smaller.
The materials list
- Medium weight cotton yarn in main color: approximately 250 yards (229 meters)
- 4 mm crochet hook (US G/6)
- Yarn needle
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Optional fabric lining for extra support
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 8 short forms
Body Panels: Make 2
Ch 31.
Row 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and across. Turn. (30 hdc)
Row 2
Ch 1, hdc across. Turn. (30 hdc)
Rows 3–18
Repeat Row 2. Fasten off after Row 18.
You should have two rectangles measuring approximately 9 x 6 inches (23 x 15 cm).
Bow Loops: Make 2
Ch 16.
Row 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and across. Turn. (15 hdc)
Row 2
Ch 1, increase in first stitch, hdc across until last stitch, increase in last stitch. Turn. (17 hdc)
Row 3
Ch 1, hdc across. Turn. (17 hdc)
Row 4
Ch 1, increase in first stitch, hdc across, increase in last stitch. Turn. (19 hdc)
Rows 5–10
Ch 1, hdc across. Turn. (19 hdc)
Row 11
Ch 1, decrease, hdc across until last 2 stitches, decrease. Turn. (17 hdc)
Row 12
Ch 1, hdc across. Turn. (17 hdc)
Row 13
Ch 1, decrease, hdc across until last 2 stitches, decrease. Turn. (15 hdc) Fasten off.
Center Bow Wrap
Ch 9.
Row 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and across. Turn. (8 hdc)
Rows 2–8
Ch 1, hdc across. Turn. (8 hdc) Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Handle
Ch 61.
Row 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and across. Turn. (60 hdc)
Rows 2–4
Ch 1, hdc across. Turn. (60 hdc) Fasten off.
Optional Border
Border Rnd
For a finished edge, attach yarn at the top opening and work one round of single crochet evenly around the edge. Join with a slip stitch and fasten off.
Assembly, in order
Step 1Place the two body panels together with the right sides facing outward.
Step 2Sew the side edges and bottom edge together using a whip stitch or mattress stitch.
Step 3Attach the handle ends evenly to the top corners of the bag.
Step 4Shape each bow loop slightly and sew them centered on the front of the bag.
Step 5Wrap the center bow piece around the middle of both loops and stitch securely.
Step 6Weave in all yarn ends.
Check these before you start
- The 4 mm (US G/6) hook paired with medium weight cotton is what produces the firm, dense fabric the bow shape needs to hold its form.
- Turning chains are not counted as stitches anywhere in this pattern, so recount after each row rather than trusting the chain at the edge.
- Mark the first and last stitch on Bow Loop increase rows before working them, since missing an edge increase will throw off the stitch counts given for rows 2 through the end of that piece.
- Skill level: advanced beginner, written in US crochet terms. Gauge is approximately 16 half double crochet stitches x 12 rows = 4 inches (10 cm). Finished size is approximately 9 inches wide x 7 inches tall (23 x 18 cm), excluding the handle. Crochet fabric can change significantly depending on yarn choice, tension, and hook size, so check your gauge before beginning if you want the finished measurements to closely match this pattern.
- Half Double Crochet Increase: work 2 hdc stitches into the same stitch. This is the technique used for the "increase" steps in the Bow Loops.
- Half Double Crochet Decrease: yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, insert hook into following stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all loops on hook. This is the technique used for the "decrease" steps in the Bow Loops.
On one line
| Rounds | 16 |
|---|---|
| Parts | 5 |
| Level | Beginner |
| Time | 7-9 hours |
| Hook | 4 mm |
| Yarn | Worsted |
Set-up
- Confirm you have close to 250 yards of medium weight cotton yarn on hand, since five pieces draw from the same ball before any is complete.
- Place a stitch marker at the first and last stitch of each Bow Loop row before working the increase rows, so the edge stitches stay easy to find.
- Work a small hdc swatch with the 4 mm hook and check it against the stated 9 x 6 inch panel size before committing to all 18 rows of a Body Panel.
- Read through Bow Loops rows 2 and 4 before picking up the hook, since these are the rows that set the stitch count for the rest of that piece.
Finishing
- Weave in ends on both Body Panels, both Bow Loops, and the Handle; leave the long tail from the Center Bow Wrap uncut for sewing.
- Light blocking can help the crochet bow bag panels relax and create a cleaner shape. Pin the pieces gently and allow them to dry completely before assembly.
- long-lasting care, hand wash the bag in cool water with mild soap and reshape it while damp. Avoid excessive heat because cotton fibers can shrink or change shape.
Construction
In the Bow Loops, increases are worked only at the first and last stitch of rows 2 and 4, which widens each loop symmetrically from 15 to 19 stitches without any shaping along the middle rows.
The Center Bow Wrap is worked flat and straight with no increases across its 8 rows, which keeps it a consistent width so it can cinch tightly around the two joined Bow Loops without distorting the bow shape.
color customization, use pastel yarn for a soft romantic look or bold colors for a playful statement accessory; a fabric lining can also be added for extra durability.
Time per section
| Body Panels (make 2, 18 rows each) | about 4 to 5 hours total because each panel repeats a 30-stitch hdc row 18 times |
|---|---|
| Bow Loops (make 2, 8 rows each) | about 2 to 3 hours total because every other row carries an increase that needs careful counting |
| Center Bow Wrap, Handle, and assembly | about 45 minutes to an hour because both pieces are short straight rows, leaving the remaining time for sewing and shaping the bow |
Common questions
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.