Simple Double Crochet Handbag

A sturdy, beginner-friendly handbag worked in solid double crochet. The bag starts with a rectangular base, then is worked in joined rounds from the bottom up. A single-crochet band and two integrated handles keep the top firm enough for everyday carry. Cotton yarn is recommended so the bag holds its shape.

Skill level: Beginner

Finished measurements

• Width: 12" (30.5 cm)
• Base depth: 4" (10 cm)
• Height (not including handles): 13" (33 cm)
• Handle length: about 13" (33 cm)
• Handle drop: about 6" (15 cm)

Size is easy to change: add or subtract foundation chains in multiples of 1 for width, add or subtract base rows for depth, and add or subtract body rounds for height.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) cotton, about 500 yd / 457 m. Cotton (or a cotton blend) is strongly recommended; acrylic will stretch when the bag is loaded.
  • Example: 5 balls Lily Sugar’n Cream (120 yd / 109 m each) or 3 skeins Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (186 yd / 170 m each)
• Hook: US H/8 (5.0 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge
• Yarn needle
• 4 stitch markers
• Tape measure
• Optional: fabric for lining; a 4" × 12" (10 × 30.5 cm) piece of plastic canvas or heavy cardboard to stiffen the base

Gauge

14 dc × 8 rows = 4" × 4" (10 × 10 cm) in double crochet

Swatch: Ch 20. Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across (17 dc). Ch 3, turn. Work 9 more rows of dc (10 rows total). Measure 14 dc and 8 rows in the center of the swatch.

A slightly firmer fabric is better than a loose one for a bag. If you have too few stitches in 4" (10 cm), go down a hook size. If you have too many, go up a hook size.

Abbreviations (US)

• beg — beginning
• ch — chain
• dc — double crochet
• rep — repeat
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• RS — right side
• sc — single crochet
• sl st — slip stitch
• st(s) — stitch(es)

Pattern notes

• US crochet terminology is used throughout (dc = US double crochet).
• Ch 3 at the start of a row or round counts as 1 dc. Work into the top of this ch-3 at the end of every base row.
• Join each round with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3 unless the instructions say otherwise.
• Do not turn at the end of body rounds; keep the RS facing you.
• Keep the beginning ch-3 snug so a gap does not form at the join.
• Stitch counts are given in parentheses at the end of rows and rounds. Use them.

Base

Worked flat in rows.

Ch 45.

Row 1 (RS): Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across. (42 dc ✓)
(The skipped 3 ch count as the first dc: 45 − 3 = 42.)

Rows 2–8: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn, dc in next dc and in each dc across, working the last dc in the top of the turning ch-3. (42 dc ✓)

The base should measure about 12" (30.5 cm) wide by 4" (10 cm) deep. (42 dc ÷ 14 dc × 4" = 12" ✓; 8 rows = 4" ✓)

Place a stitch marker in each of the 4 corner stitches: the first and last dc of Row 8, and the first and last dc of Row 1 (the two end chains of the foundation). Do not fasten off.

Body

Worked in joined rounds around the outer edge of the base.

Rnd 1: Do not turn. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 2 more dc in the same corner st as the ch-3 (3 dc in this corner ✓).
Working along the short side, work 2 dc in each of the 8 row-ends. (16 dc ✓)
Work 3 dc in the next marked corner st, dc in each of the next 40 sts along the foundation, 3 dc in the next marked corner st. (3 + 40 + 3 = 46 dc along this long side ✓)
Working along the remaining short side, work 2 dc in each of the 8 row-ends. (16 dc ✓)
Work 3 dc in the next marked corner st (first st of Row 8), dc in each of the next 40 dc of Row 8. Do not work into the last st of Row 8; it already holds the beginning 3 dc.
Join with sl st to top of beg ch-3.
(3 + 16 + 3 + 40 + 3 + 16 + 3 + 40 = 124 dc ✓)

Remove the corner markers.

Rnds 2–24: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each dc around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (124 dc ✓)

24 rounds of dc at 8 rounds = 4" give 12" (30.5 cm) of body height. (24 ÷ 8 × 4" = 12" ✓)

The bag will look like a tube. That is correct — the rectangular base keeps the 12" × 4" (30.5 × 10 cm) footprint when the bag is standing.

Top edge and handles

Worked in single crochet for a firm, low-stretch edge.

Rnd 25: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in each dc around, join with sl st to first sc. (124 sc ✓)

Flatten the bag so the short sides are at the left and right folds (the 4" / 10 cm ends of the base). Place a marker in each fold stitch. Each face now has 62 sts. (124 ÷ 2 = 62 ✓)

On each face, the handle sits over the center 22 sts, with 20 sts of bag fabric on either side. (20 + 22 + 20 = 62 ✓)

Rnd 26 (handle round): Ch 1, *sc in next 20 sts, ch 50 (handle), skip next 22 sts, sc in next 20 sts; rep from * once more, join with sl st to first sc.
(80 sc + two 50-ch handles ✓; 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 80, skipped sts 22 + 22 = 44, 80 + 44 = 124 ✓)

Rnd 27: Ch 1, sc in each sc and in each ch around, join with sl st to first sc. At each of the 4 spots where a handle meets the bag, work 2 sc in the junction stitch so the corner is covered and no hole remains. (180 sc ✓)
(80 bag sc + 50 sc along first handle + 50 sc along second handle = 180 ✓)

Rnd 28: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join with sl st to first sc. (180 sc ✓)

Fasten off.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends with the yarn needle, taking extra care at the handle junctions.
2. Optional but recommended: wet-block the bag. Soak in cool water, press out water in a towel (do not wring), shape to 12" wide × 4" deep × 13" tall (30.5 × 10 × 33 cm), and dry flat. Pull the handles straight while drying.
3. Optional: sew in a fabric lining and/or slip a 4" × 12" (10 × 30.5 cm) stabilizer into the base for a bag that stands open.

Customizing

• Taller bag: Work more DC rounds before Rnd 25. Each 2 rounds add about 1" (2.5 cm).
• Wider bag: Start with more foundation chains (each extra 3–4 chains adds about 1" / 2.5 cm). Recalculate the around-the-base count the same way: 3 dc in each corner, 2 dc in each row-end, 1 dc in every remaining st.
• Longer handles (shoulder carry): Replace ch 50 with ch 70–80. The rest of the handle rounds stay the same; only the sc count on the handles will change (1 sc per chain).
• Striped bag: Change color at any join. Fasten off the old color, join the new color in the same stitch, and ch 3 to begin the next round.