Beginner Chicken Purse Tote

A mesh pet-carrier purse for your chicken

A sturdy, breathable market-style tote sized as a purse/carrier for a pet hen or bantam. Worked from the bottom up in easy rounds: a solid cotton base, stretchy mesh body, reinforced top, and sewn-on handles. Optional comb, beak, and wings add chicken charm using only beginner stitches.

Skill level: Beginner
Finished size: Base diameter 7½" (19 cm); bag height (excluding handles) 9" (23 cm); circumference 24" (61 cm) unstretched (mesh stretches); each handle 22" × 2" (56 × 5 cm); handle drop about 8" (20.5 cm). Fits a typical hen or bantam comfortably; supervise your bird while using.

Materials

Yarn (worsted weight / category 4, 100% cotton strongly recommended)

• MC (body): 400 yd / 366 m — golden yellow, cream, or natural
• CC1 (optional comb/wattle): 20 yd / 18 m — red
• CC2 (optional beak): 10 yd / 9 m — orange
• Small amount of black for embroidered eyes (optional)

Examples: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Knit Picks Dishie, or similar. Cotton holds up to washing and does not pill into toes/beaks the way acrylic can.

Hook: US H-8 / 5 mm (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, 4 stitch markers, locking stitch marker for the base spiral

Gauge

16 sc and 16 rows = 4" (10 cm) in sc with US H-8 / 5 mm hook.
Work a 4½" (11.5 cm) swatch, measure the inner 4" (10 cm).
If you have fewer than 16 sc in 4" (10 cm), go down a hook size; if more, go up a hook size. Gauge affects whether your chicken fits.

Abbreviations (US terms)

• ch — chain
• sl st — slip stitch
• sc — single crochet
• hdc — half double crochet
• dc — double crochet
• tr — treble (triple) crochet
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• sp(s) — space(s)
• BLO — back loop only
• MC / CC — main color / contrast color
• rep — repeat
• beg — beginning

Notes

• US crochet terminology throughout (sc, hdc, dc, tr).
• Base is worked in a continuous spiral; move a stitch marker up each round. Mesh and top band are joined rounds.
• Ch 4 at the start of a mesh round counts as dc + ch 1.
• Join mesh/top rounds with a sl st to the indicated stitch, then turn only if the pattern says so (this bag is not turned).
• Cotton relaxes after blocking/washing; mesh is meant to stretch.
• Pet safety: Supervise your chicken. Do not add beads, buttons, or safety eyes. Embroider features and sew all pieces on firmly. Check mesh for snags before each use. This is a carrier/purse, not an unattended enclosure.

Pattern

Solid base (MC)

Foundation: Make a magic ring.
Beginner alternative: Ch 4, sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Work 8 sc in ring. Pull tail to close. Do not join; work in a spiral. Place marker in first st. (8 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (8 increases → 8 + 8 = 16 ✓)

Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 16 + 8 = 24 ✓)

Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 24 + 8 = 32 ✓)

Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 32 + 8 = 40 ✓)

Rnd 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 40 + 8 = 48 ✓)

Rnd 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 48 + 8 = 56 ✓)

Rnd 8: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 56 + 8 = 64 ✓)

Rnd 9: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 64 + 8 = 72 ✓)

Rnd 10: *Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 72 + 8 = 80 ✓)

Rnd 11: *Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 80 + 8 = 88 ✓)

Rnd 12: *Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (8 increases → 88 + 8 = 96 ✓)

Base should measure about 7½" (19 cm) across (96 sc ÷ 4 sc per inch = 24" circumference; 24" ÷ 3.14 ≈ 7½" diameter ✓).

Rnd 13 (ridge / start of sides): Sc in BLO of each st around. Sl st in first sc to join and level the spiral. (96 sc)

The BLO ridge helps the bag sit upright.

Mesh body (MC)

Worked in joined rounds. Stretchy mesh = ventilation for your chicken.

Mesh Rnd 1: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip the same st as the join and skip the next st, *dc in next st, ch 1, skip next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (48 dc + 48 ch-1 sps; 96 sts used ÷ 2 = 48 repeats ✓)

Mesh Rnds 2–14: Sl st into the first ch-1 sp, ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), *dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1; rep from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (48 dc each rnd)

Fourteen mesh rounds sit about 7" (18 cm) tall. Bag now measures about 8" (20.5 cm) from the ridge.

Sturdy top band (MC)

Band Rnd 1: Ch 1, *sc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (48 + 48 = 96 sc ✓)

Band Rnds 2–4: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to first sc. (96 sc each rnd)

Four sc rounds add about 1" (2.5 cm). Total bag height about 9" (23 cm) ✓. Fasten off MC. Weave in end.

Place 4 markers on Band Rnd 4 for the handles: two markers 20 sts apart for the first handle, two markers 20 sts apart for the second handle, centered on opposite sides of the bag. (20 sts ÷ 4 sc per inch = 5" span ✓; remaining 28 sts on each “side” between handles.)

Handles (make 2, MC)

Worked flat in rows for a dense, sturdy strap.

Row 1: Ch 89, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (88 sc)
(88 sc ÷ 4 sc per inch = 22" ✓)

Rows 2–8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (88 sc)
(8 rows ÷ 4 rows per inch = 2" wide ✓)

Fasten off, leaving a 24" (61 cm) tail for sewing.

Attach handles: Pin each strap to the inside of the top band, lining the strap ends up with the marked 5" (12.5 cm) spans. Each end overlaps the band by 2½" (6.5 cm). Free handle length = 22" − 5" = 17" (43 cm); drop ≈ 8" (20.5 cm) ✓.
Using the long tail (or matching yarn), sew each overlapped end firmly through all top-band rounds and the strap — do not sew into mesh. Go around the rectangle of each attachment twice. Weave in ends.

Optional chicken details (beginner)

Sew these onto the solid top band or the upper mesh with many small stitches. Do not use buttons or plastic eyes.

Comb (CC1, make 1):
Ch 14.
*Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, (tr, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, tr) in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sl st in next ch; rep from * once more, then sc in last ch. Fasten off, leaving a tail.
Three peaked points. Sew the straight chain edge to the top rim, centered on one side (between handle attachments) so it reads as a comb.

Wattle (CC1, make 1):
Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next, dc in next, 5 dc in last ch; working down the other side of the chain, dc in next, hdc in next, sc in last. Fasten off. Sew just under the comb, hanging slightly.

Beak (CC2, make 1):
Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next, dc in next, tr in last. Fasten off. Fold into a small triangle and sew below the wattle, point facing out.

Eyes (black scrap): With yarn needle, embroider two small satin-stitch ovals or French knots, one on each side of the beak. Tie off securely on the inside.

Wings (MC, make 2, optional):
Ch 4, sl st to form ring.
Rnd 1: 8 sc in ring. (8)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st. (16)
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (24)
Rnd 4: Sc in each st around. (24)
Sl st in next st, fasten off. Flatten each circle into a teardrop and sew one to each side of the bag, just below the top band, with the rounder end toward the handles.

Finishing

Weave in every end on the inside. Block lightly: mist with water, shape the base flat and the mesh even, and dry. Handles may be steamed flat.

Care: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle, in a mesh bag. Lay flat to dry. Inspect seams and mesh before each chicken ride.

Your chicken purse is ready — sturdy enough for a market stop, airy enough for a hen.