Intermediate
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Bags & Purses 10 Laid out for paper No account, no download
Two-strand crochet purse with flap and straps
Two-strand crochet purse: 32-sc circle base, flat side panels, folded straps, I hook (5.5 mm).
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 5-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 5.5 mm
- Rounds
- 10
Worsted
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
10
Each one is typed out whole and gets its own line.
This purse begins as a flat crocheted circle, held in two strands throughout, then grows into a boxy body worked back and forth in rows through the back loop only. Straps rise from the same two skeins, picked up straight from the body's middle stitches. Before the first stitch, have both yarns wound together, an I hook (5.5 mm) ready, and stitch markers on hand to track the base's increase rounds. A purse latch and small screwdriver are optional, useful only if a working clasp is part of the plan.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Losing count on increase rounds
- Count stitches at the end of every base round—8, 16, 24, 32—before starting the next; a marker at the join makes this fast.
- Splitting the held strands
- Keep both strands flat and even in the hook on each pull-through; a split strand thins the fabric and weakens the purse body.
- Working both loops instead of back loop only
- Check the first few stitches of each Side Panel and Strap row; working into both loops removes the ridge texture the pattern is built on.
The materials list
- Two different strands of medium weight #4 yarn (accent color: 230 yards, main color: 260 yards)
- I hook (5.5 mm)
- Stitch markers
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Row counter (optional)
- Purse latch (optional)
- Small Phillips screwdriver (if using a purse latch)
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 6 short forms
Circle Base
Round 1
With both strands together, ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring. Ch 1, 8 sc in the ring.Sl st to the first sc.
Round 2
Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around (16 sc). Sl st to the first sc. For Round 3 Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, 1 sc in the next st.Repeat around (24 sc).Sl st to the first sc.
Round 4
Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, 1 sc in the next 2 sts. Repeat around (32 sc). Sl st to the first sc.InRound 5: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, 1 sc in the next 3 sts.Repeat around (40 sc).Sl st to the first sc.In Round 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, 1 sc in the next 4 sts.Repeat around (48 sc).Sl st to the first sc.
Round 7
Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, 1 sc in the next 5 sts. Repeat around (56 sc). Sl st to the first sc.For Round 8: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, 1 sc in the next 6 sts.Repeat around (64 sc).Sl st to the first sc.
Round 9
Fasten off the accent color. Ch 1 with the main color, 1 sc in each st around (64 sc).Sl st to the first sc.Ch 1, fasten off.Repeat Rounds 1-9 to make a second circle.
Side Panels
Foundation Chain: Ch 17, skip the first ch, sc in the next ch. Sc in each ch across (16 sc).
Round 1
Ch 1, turn. Sc in the back loop only of each st across.Row 2-40: Repeat Row 1.
Straps
Attach yarn: Attach yarn to the first of the middle 8 sts on one side of the purse.
Round 1
Ch 1, sc in each st across (8 sc).
Round 2
56 Ch 1, turn. Sc in the back loop only of each st across.
Purse Flap
Foundation Chain: Ch 10, skip the first 2 ch, dc in the next ch.
Dc in each ch across (8 dc).
InRow 1: Ch 1, turn. Dc in each st across (8 dc).
Round 2
Ch 1, turn. Dc in each st across. 5 dc in the chain-2 space. Dc in each st across (8 dc).
Rounds 3–6
Repeat Row 3. For Row 7: Ch 1, turn. Dc in each st across. Ch 4, skip the next st, dc in each st across.
Border
Ch 1, 2 sc in the last st.
Turn.
1 sc in the side of each row (40 sc).
Turn. sc in the first ch, 1 sc in each ch across (14 sc), 3 sc in the last ch.
Turn.
1 sc in the side of each row (40 sc).
Turn. sc in the first st, 1 sc in each ch across (14 sc), 3 sc in the last st.
Turn.
1 sc in the side of each row (40 sc).
Sl st to the first sc.
Ch 1, fasten off.
Attaching Circles to Side Panels: Place the wrong sides of the first circle and the first side panel together.
Ch 1, sc in the first corner st of the side panel and the corresponding st on the circle.
Continue sc in each st of the side panel and the corresponding st on the circle around.
Place the wrong sides of the second circle and the second side panel together.
Ch 1, sc in the first corner st of the side panel and the corresponding st on the circle.
Continue sc in each st of the side panel and the corresponding st on the circle around.
Ch 1, sc in the first corner st where the circle was attached.
Sc in each st across the side panel.
Sc in each st across the circle.
Sc in each st across the second side panel.
Sc in each st across the second circle.
Sl st to the first sc.
Ch 1, fasten off.
Border
Ch 1, sc in each st across.
4 sc in the chain-4 space.
Sc in each st across.
3 sc in the last st.
Turn. 2 sc in the side of each row. 2 sc in the first st. Sl st to the first sc.
Ch 1, fasten off.
Attach flap
Attach the flap to the back of the purse, skipping stitches as needed to match the number of sts.
Sl st to the base of the strap. Ch 1, fasten off.
Assembly, in order
Step 1Weave in all ends.
Step 2Enjoy your new crochet purse.
Check these before you start
- Hold the accent and main strands together for every stitch in this pattern; dropping one strand partway through will show as a thin patch.
- Work Side Panels and Straps rows in the back loop only; skipping this removes the ridge texture and changes the drape.
- Keep tension even across the 32-stitch base rounds, since a loose or tight stitch there shows immediately once the flat circle meets the straight side panel.
On one line
| Rounds | 10 |
|---|---|
| Parts | 7 |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Time | 5-6 hours |
| Hook | 5.5 mm |
| Yarn | Worsted |
Set-up
- Wind both strands together, accent (230 yards) and main (260 yards), before starting the ring.
- Place a stitch marker at the start of each base round to catch the join point.
- Work a quick swatch in back loop only single crochet to check that the I hook (5.5 mm) gives fabric firm enough to hold a purse shape.
- Read through the Circle Base's increase rounds before starting, since each round's stitch count depends on the one before it.
Finishing
- Weave in all yarn ends from the base, panels, and straps using a yarn needle.
- Attach the Purse Flap and Straps to the body as directed, positioning the flap centered over the opening.
- If using a purse latch, fit it to the flap with the small Phillips screwdriver before final wear.
Construction
Circle Base grows through even increases each round—8, 16, 24, 32 stitches—keeping gain at 8 stitches per round and the disc flat across its five rounds.
Side Panels and Straps are worked flat in rows through the back loop only rather than joined in the round, which builds a ridged texture and lets each piece wrap and fold around the base.
Time per section
| Circle Base | about 45 minutes, because the base increases across its five rounds, from 8 stitches to 32. |
|---|---|
| Side Panels | about 2 hours, because the panel is worked flat across 40 rows in back loop only. |
| Straps | about 2.5 hours, because two straps are each worked across 56 rows in back loop only. |
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.