Intermediate
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Bags & Purses 16 Laid out for paper No account, no download
Ocean breeze ombre braided t-shirt yarn purse
Braided ombre tote in t-shirt yarn: flat base, 52-st rounds, 10mm or 12mm hook.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- Super Bulky
- Hook
- 10 mm
- Rounds
- 16
Super Bulky
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 purse starts flat as a 3 by 8 inch rectangle, then builds upward in continuous rounds around that base to form the body. Four shades of t-shirt yarn move from white at the floor to deep teal, medium teal, and light aqua as the rounds climb, with a braided stitch pattern worked in bands between plain hdc rounds. A second flat panel grows the same way in rows rather than rounds. Have your D-rings, metal chain strap, and a 10mm or 12mm hook on hand before you begin.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Working FPdc stitches out of order
- Skip one stitch first, work the FPdc around the next stitch, then go back and work the FPdc around the skipped stitch. Working them in the order they appear flattens the braid instead of crossing it.
- Losing the 52-stitch count at corners
- Count each corner's 2 sc as you go during the joining round rather than after, since a miscount there throws off every round stacked on top of it.
The materials list
- Yarn
- T-shirt yarn (also called trapillo or ribbon yarn) in the following colors:
Deep teal
- approximately 150 yards
- Medium teal/aqua: approximately 100 yards
Soft sage green
- approximately 100 yards
Light mint
- approximately 75 yards
White
- approximately 200 yards
- T-shirt yarn is a super bulky weight yarn made from jersey cotton fabric strips. It creates substantial, structured fabric perfect for bags. Popular brands include Hoooked Zpagetti, Lily Sugar’n Cream Scrub Off, or you can cut your own from old t-shirts.
- Hook
- 10mm or 12mm crochet hook (adjust based on your yarn thickness and tension)
- T-shirt yarn varies widely in thickness between brands. Make a small swatch first to ensure your fabric is firm enough to hold structure but not so tight you cannot work the stitches.
- Hardware and Notions
- 2 D-rings (approximately 0.75 inch)
- 1 metal chain strap (approximately 45 inches with lobster clasps)
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
- Optional Supplies
- Bag base insert (plastic canvas or foam board cut to size)
- Fabric for lining (cotton quilting fabric works well)
- Sewing needle and thread for lining attachment
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 7 short forms
Main Pattern
Round 1
Ch 17, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (16 sc)
Round 2
through 8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (16 sc) You now have a rectangular base approximately 3 inches by 8 inches. Fasten off white.
Bag Body
Now we work up from the base in continuous rounds, incorporating the color changes and braided stitch pattern.
Part 2
Round 1
Joining round With deep teal, join with sl st to any corner of the base. Ch 1, work sc evenly around the entire base perimeter. Work 16 sc along each long side and 8 sc along each short side, with 2 sc in each corner. Place marker at start of round. (52 sc)
Round 2
Hdc in each st around. (52 hdc)
Round 3
through 4: Work braided stitch pattern around. Remember to skip one stitch, FPdc around the next, then FPdc around the skipped stitch. (52 sts)
Round 5
Change to medium teal. Hdc in each st around. (52 hdc)Rounds 6 through 7: Work braided stitch pattern around. (52 sts)
Round 8
Change to sage green. Hdc in each st around. (52 hdc)Rounds 9 through 10: Work braided stitch pattern around. (52 sts)
Round 11
Change to light mint. Hdc in each st around. (52 hdc)Rounds 12 through 13: Work braided stitch pattern around. (52 sts)
Round 14
Change to white. Sc in each st around. (52 sc)
Round 15
Sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join. Fasten off. (52 sc) The bag body is now complete. It should measure approximately 5.5 inches tall from base to top edge.
Bag Flap The flap is worked flat and attached to the back of the bag.
With white yarn:
Part 3
Round 1
Ch 17, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (16 sc)
Round 2
Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (16 sc)
Round 3
Change to light aqua. Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), turn, hdc in each st across. (16 hdc)Rows 4 through 5: Work braided stitch pattern across. (16 sts)
Round 6
Change to medium teal. Ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across. (16 hdc)Rows 7 through 8: Work braided stitch pattern across. (16 sts)
Round 9
Change to deep teal. Ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across. (16 hdc)
Round 10
through 11: Work braided stitch pattern across. (16 sts) Border round: Change to white. Ch 1, do not turn. Work sc evenly around entire flap edge, working 3 sc in each corner for smooth turning. Sl st to first sc to join. Fasten off.
Twisted Handle The handle creates that gorgeous twisted rope effect.
Cut 6 strands of t-shirt yarn, each approximately 36 inches long. Use 2 strands each of deep teal, medium teal, and sage green.
1. Knot all 6 strands together at one end 2. Secure this end (clip it to something stable or have a friend hold it)
3. Twist all strands together tightly in one direction until the yarn starts to kink 4. Fold the twisted length in half, holding the middle
5. Let the two halves twist around each other naturally 6. Knot the loose ends together
Trim ends and attach to D-rings on each side of the bag using small wraps of matching yarn to secure.
Tassel
Cut 8 strips of t-shirt yarn, each approximately 8 inches long. Use a mix of sage green and light mint.
1. Fold strips in half 2. Use a separate small strip to wrap tightly around the folded end, about 1 inch from the top 3. Secure the wrap with a knot
4. Trim tassel ends evenly Attach tassel to a small jump ring or directly to the chain strap using a slip knot.
Assembly and Finishing Attaching the Hardware
Twist lock placement: Center the twist lock on the bag front, approximately 1 inch from the top edge. Mark the placement, then carefully cut small slits through the crochet fabric for the prongs. Push prongs through and secure on the inside by bending them flat. Attach the corresponding turn piece to the flap in the same manner.
D-ring attachment: Use white yarn to create small loops on each side of the bag opening, approximately 0.5 inch from the top edge. Thread the D-rings through these loops and secure tightly with several wraps and a firm knot.
Attaching the Flap
Position the flap along the back top edge of the bag, with the white border row aligned with the bag opening. Using white yarn and a tapestry needle, whip stitch the flap securely to the bag back, working through both layers.
Optional Lining
For a polished interior, cut fabric to fit inside the bag with a 0.5 inch seam allowance. Fold seams under, press, and hand stitch the lining inside the bag using small, invisible stitches.
Chain Strap
Clip the metal chain to the D-rings on each side. The chain provides a crossbody option while the twisted handle works perfectly for hand carrying.
Customization Ideas
Color variations: Try sunset shades (coral, peach, cream), monochromatic grays, or bold jewel tones. The ombre effect works with any palette.
Size adjustments: For a larger bag, increase your base chain and add more rounds to the body. For a clutch version, skip the handle and chain entirely.
Hardware swaps: Rose gold hardware creates a warmer feel. Matte black hardware gives an edgier vibe.
Care Instructions
T-shirt yarn bags can be spot cleaned with mild soap and cool water. Lay flat to dry, reshaping gently. Remove hardware before any cleaning. Store stuffed with tissue paper to maintain shape.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Bag is too floppy: Your tension may be too loose. Try going down a hook size or adding a plastic canvas insert to the base.
Braided stitches look uneven: This gets easier with practice. Keep your tension consistent and make sure you are crossing the stitches in the same direction every time.
Colors pooling oddly: T-shirt yarn can be inconsistent in thickness. If one section looks different, embrace it as part of the handmade charm, or unravel and reposition.
I truly hope you love making this Ocean Breeze Ombre Braided Purse as much as I loved designing it. Thank you so much for choosing this pattern for your next project. I would absolutely love to see your finished bags, so please tag me on Instagram or share in our Facebook group when yours is complete!
If this pattern inspired you, go ahead and save it to your Pinterest boards so you can find it easily when you are ready to start. And please drop a comment below if you make one. I read every single comment and it genuinely makes my day to see your creations come to life!
Check these before you start
- Use a 10mm or 12mm hook and let your swatch decide between them; t-shirt yarn brands differ enough in thickness that the stated hook size is a starting point, not a fixed rule.
- The braided stitch pattern only works correctly over a round of plain stitches, since the FPdc stitches need posts to wrap around; do not attempt it directly into chain stitches.
- Change colors on the last stitch of the previous round so the new color starts clean at the join marker; t-shirt yarn's thickness makes a sloppy color change far more visible than it would be in standard yarn.
On one line
| Rounds | 16 |
|---|---|
| Parts | 3 |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Time | 4-6 hours |
| Hook | 10 mm |
| Yarn | Super Bulky |
Set-up
- Confirm you have all four t-shirt yarn colors on hand before starting the base, since color changes are placed mid-round and running short partway through is harder to fix than running short at a row end.
- Make a small swatch in your chosen t-shirt yarn with the 10mm or 12mm hook first; t-shirt yarn thickness varies by brand and your fabric needs to be firm without being too tight to work.
- Place a stitch marker at the start of the joining round before the first body round, since every round after that is continuous and unmarked rounds are easy to lose track of.
- Read through the braided stitch round once before working it: it depends on skipping a stitch, working an FPdc around the next stitch, then working an FPdc around the stitch you skipped.
Finishing
- Weave in every color-change tail separately along the inside of the bag body, since t-shirt yarn's bulk means tails cannot be hidden by simply running them through a few stitches.
- If using a base insert, cut your plastic canvas or foam board to match the finished 3 by 8 inch base and slide it in before closing the bag, not after.
- Attach the D-rings at the top edge of the body and clip on the metal chain strap last, once the body and any flat panel are both complete and the bag holds its shape.
Construction
The joining round turns a flat rectangle into a tube by working 16 sc along each long side and 8 sc along each short side, with 2 sc worked into each corner so the perimeter turns without pulling in.
Part 3 is worked flat in rows of 16 stitches rather than in the round, which keeps it as a straight panel rather than a closed tube, matching the flat construction used for the base.
Time per section
| Main Pattern (base) | about 30-45 minutes because it is only 7 rows of plain sc over 16 stitches |
|---|---|
| Part 2 (bag body) | about 2-3 hours because the 8 rounds mix color changes with the slower braided FPdc stitch pattern |
| Part 3 (flat panel) | about 1.5-2 hours because it runs 40 rows total across several color changes and braided stitch bands |
Photographs of this one
Every one was taken by whoever published the pattern, in the order the source listed them.
Common questions
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.