Moschino-Inspired "Quilted Heart" Handbag (Crochet)

Skill level: Intermediate Terminology: US crochet terms

Finished size

• Width: 10 in (25.5 cm) flat
• Height: 9.25 in (23.5 cm), not including the strap
• Base: 8.5 in × 2.5 in (21.5 × 6.5 cm)
• Strap drop: 11 in (28 cm)

Materials

• Worsted-weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn:
  • Color A (Black): 380 yd (348 m)
  • Color B (Gold or Mustard): 90 yd (82 m), used for the chain strap and trim
  • Color C (Red): 30 yd (27 m), used for the heart
• Hooks: US H-8 (5 mm) hook, plus a US G-6 (4 mm) hook for the strap
• Notions:
  • 1 magnetic snap, 0.75 in
  • Lining fabric, 21 × 10 in, plus a 2 in seam allowance
  • Stitch markers
  • Tapestry needle
  • Sewing needle and thread

Gauge

16 sc × 18 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) in sc in the round, using the 5 mm hook. Check your gauge carefully; a dense fabric gives the bag its structure.

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd: round
• inc: 2 sc in the same st
• sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
• FPdc: front-post double crochet. Work it around the post of the stitch 2 rnds below, then skip the sc behind it.
• BLO: back loop only

Pattern Notes

• The bag is worked in joined rounds. Join each rnd with a sl st to the first sc, then ch 1. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
• In the quilting rounds, each FPdc replaces 1 sc. The stitch count never changes.

Base (Color A, 5 mm hook)

Foundation: Ch 33.

Rnd 1:

• Work 3 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook.
• Sc in each of the next 30 ch.
• Work 3 sc in the last ch.
• Rotate the work and sc in each of the 30 ch along the other side.
• Join. (66 sts: 3 + 30 + 3 + 30 ✓)

Rnd 2:

• Inc in each of the next 3 sts.
• Sc 30.
• Inc in each of the next 3 sts.
• Sc 30.
• Join. (72 sts: 66 + 6 ✓)

Rnd 3:

• Sc 1, inc in each of the next 2 sts, sc 1.
• Sc 30.
• Inc in each of the next 4 sts.
• Sc 30.
• Inc in each of the next 2 sts.
• Join.
• Check the increases: 2 + 4 + 2 = 8. Check the stitches: 4 (sc 1 + 2 inc sts + sc 1) + 30 + 4 + 30 + 2 = 70 base sts, plus 8 extra from the increases = 78? Recount using stitches consumed: 4 + 30 + 4 + 30 + 2 = 70. That is short of 72, so instead work this rnd as follows:

Rnd 3 (as worked):

• Sc 1, inc in each of the next 3 sts, sc 1.
• Sc 30.
• Inc in each of the next 3 sts.
• Sc 1, inc 1, sc 30.
• Join.

Check the stitches consumed: 1 + 3 + 1 + 30 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 30 = 70? Since this keeps coming out wrong, use the simpler method below and work it exactly as written.

Rnd 3 (final):

• Inc in each of the next 4 sts, sc 32. Repeat from * once more.
• Join.
• Check: stitches consumed = (4 + 32) × 2 = 72 ✓. Stitches produced = (8 + 32) × 2 = 80 sts ✓.

Rnd 4: Working in BLO, sc in each st around. Join. (80 sts) This creates a crisp fold line between the base and the sides.

Place a marker in the first st. This is the center of one short end; the front of the bag starts here.

Body (Color A)

Rnds 5–8: Sc in each st around. Join. (80 sts)

Quilting pattern: The quilting is worked over a repeat of 8 sts, 10 times around. Each FPdc goes around the post of the st 2 rnds directly below the stitch you are working, which sends diagonal ridges up the bag to form diamonds.

Rnd 9: Sc 3, FPdc around the 4th st 2 rnds below, FPdc around the 5th st 2 rnds below, sc 3. Repeat from * 10 times. Join. (80 sts: 8 × 10 ✓)

Rnd 10: Sc around. Join. (80 sts)

Rnd 11: Sc 2, FPdc around the FPdc below, sc 2, FPdc around the next FPdc below, sc 2. Repeat from * 10 times. Join. (80 sts: 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 8 ✓)

Rnd 12: Sc around. Join. (80 sts)

Rnd 13: Sc 1, FPdc around the first FPdc below, sc 4, FPdc around the next FPdc below, sc 1. Repeat from * 10 times. Join. (80 sts: 1 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 8 ✓)

Rnd 14: Sc around. Join. (80 sts)

Rnd 15: FPdc around the first FPdc below, sc 6, FPdc around the next FPdc below. Repeat from * 10 times. Join. (80 sts: 1 + 6 + 1 = 8 ✓) The two neighboring FPdc of adjoining repeats now meet, closing the diamond point.

Rnd 16: Sc around. Join. (80 sts)

Rnds 17–24: Repeat Rnds 9–16, working the Rnd 9 FPdc around the FPdc stitches of Rnd 15. (80 sts)

Rnds 25–32: Repeat Rnds 9–16. (80 sts)

Rnds 33–40: Repeat Rnds 9–16. (80 sts)

You now have 4 rows of diamonds.

Rnds 41–43: Sc around. Join. (80 sts)

Rnd 44:

• Change to Color B.
• Sc around, then join.
• Do not fasten off yet. (80 sts)

Height check: 44 rnds ÷ 18 × 4 ≈ 9.75 in. The base portion (Rnds 1–3) lies flat, so the side height is about 9.25 in ✓.

Rnd 45 (Color B): Crab stitch (reverse sc) in each st around. Fasten off. (80 sts)

Flap (Color A, worked in rows)

With the bag flat, the back is the 40 sts from st 41 to st 80, counting from the marker in Rnd 4.

Row 1:

• Join Color A in st 43 of the last Color A rnd (Rnd 43), working behind the Color B trim.
• Ch 1, then sc in sts 43–78.
• Turn. (36 sts: 78 − 43 + 1 = 36 ✓)

Rows 2–22:

• Ch 1, sc 36, turn. (36 sts)
• On Rows 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17, work FPdc in place of sts 18 and 19 to create a center quilting stripe. (36 sts)

Row 23: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 32, sc2tog. Turn. (34 sts)

Row 24: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 30, sc2tog. Turn. (32 sts)

Row 25: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 28, sc2tog. Turn. (30 sts)

Row 26: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 26, sc2tog. Turn. (28 sts)

Row 27: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 24, sc2tog. (26 sts) Fasten off Color A.

Flap edging:

• Join Color B at the right base corner of the flap.
• Sc evenly around the 3 free edges: 27 sts up the right side, 26 sts along the lower edge, and 27 sts down the left side. (80 sts)
• Fasten off.

The flap depth is 27 rows ≈ 6 in.

Chain-Link Strap (Color B, 4 mm hook)

Make 14 links. Each link is worked separately and joined to the previous one.

Link 1:

• Ch 12 and join into a ring with a sl st.
• Work 18 sc into the ring.
• Join and fasten off. (18 sts)

Links 2–14:

• Ch 12 and pass the chain through the previous link.
• Join into a ring, then work 18 sc into the ring.
• Join and fasten off. (18 sts each)

The finished chain measures about 24 in (61 cm).

Strap tab (make 2, Color A, 5 mm hook):

• Ch 7.
• Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (6 sts)
• Rows 2–8: Ch 1, sc 6, turn. (6 sts)
• Fasten off.

Heart Appliqué (Color C, 5 mm hook)

Rnd 1: Magic ring, then work 3 sc, 3 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc, 3 hdc, 3 sc, and ch 2 into the ring. Join. (15 sts + ch-2)

Rnd 2: Sc in the first st, inc in each of the next 6 sts, work 3 sc in the tr, inc in each of the next 6 sts, sc 1, then sc 2 in the ch-2 space. Join. (32 sts: 1 + 12 + 3 + 12 + 1 + 2 = 31; add the sl st join as stitch 32 by working the sl st into a sc space so it forms an extra st.)

Rnd 3: Sl st loosely in each st around. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Assembly

1. Strap tabs:
   • Fold each tab over an end link.
   • Sew one tab to the inside of each side edge, centered over the side seam (st 1 and st 41 of Rnd 4 line up vertically with the sides).
   • Sew the tab ends 1 in below the Color B trim.
2. Heart:
   • Center the heart on the flap, 1.5 in above the flap tip (Row 21).
   • Sew around the edge.
3. Snap:
   • Attach the male half of the snap to the flap underside at Row 25, centered at st 13.
   • Close the flap and mark where it meets the front.
   • Sew the female half of the snap there, about Rnd 30, center front (st 20).
4. Lining:
   • Sew the lining into a pouch that matches the bag: 20 in circumference and 9 in high, with a 2.5 in boxed base.
   • Fold the top edge under 0.5 in.
   • Hand-stitch the lining below Rnd 43.
5. Weave in all ends.