How to Make a Crochet Shoulder Bag Super Neat👜👜🧵

Crocheting a structured, clean-looking bag is all about choosing the right yarn and mastering a few key techniques. This tutorial will guide you through making a super neat crochet shoulder bag that looks polished and professional. We’ll use a dense, sturdy stitch and focus on consistent tension to ensure your bag holds its shape beautifully.

The Secret to a Neat Bag

The secret to a polished, professional-looking bag lies in these three things:

• Yarn Choice: Use a yarn with great stitch definition. Cotton yarn is an excellent choice as it’s not stretchy and holds its shape well. A T-shirt yarn or macrame cord will give your bag an even more structured, clean look.
• The Moss Stitch (or Linen Stitch): This simple stitch, made of single crochets and chains, creates a tight, woven-like fabric. It prevents your belongings from falling out and gives the bag a dense, high-end feel.
• Consistent Tension: This is the most crucial part. Keep your stitches at an even tension throughout the project. Practice a few rows until you find your rhythm, and you’ll be on your way to a perfectly neat finish.

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

This pattern is a great next step if you’re comfortable with:

• Chain (ch): The foundation of crochet.
• Single Crochet (sc): The main stitch for this pattern.
• Slip Stitch (sl st): For joining rounds and finishing.
• Working in Rounds: Crocheting in a continuous circle.
• Fastening Off and weaving in ends.

Finished Bag Dimensions (Approximate):

This pattern creates a small to medium-sized shoulder bag, perfect for everyday essentials.

• Base: 10 inches (25 cm) long x 4 inches (10 cm) wide.
• Height: 8 inches (20 cm).

Materials You’ll Need:

• Yarn: Approximately 200-250 yards (180-230 meters) of Worsted Weight (Medium #4) Cotton Yarn or T-shirt Yarn. A solid, dark color will enhance the elegant look.
• Crochet Hook: A smaller hook than the yarn label recommends will give you a tighter fabric. A Size G/4.0mm or H/5.0mm will work well with cotton yarn.
• Yarn Needle (Tapestry Needle): Essential for weaving in ends.
• Scissors: Any sharp pair for cutting your yarn.
• Stitch Marker: To mark the beginning of each round.
• Optional: A piece of plastic canvas or a sturdy bag liner for a more structured base.

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Part 1: Crocheting the Base of the Bag

We’ll start by making a flat, oval-shaped base to give your bag a solid foundation.

1. Foundation Chain:
   • Chain 26.
   • Work 1 sc into the second chain from the hook and into each chain across. (25 sc)
   • In the last chain, work 3 sc.
   • Continue to crochet on the opposite side of the chain. Work 1 sc into each of the next 24 stitches.
   • In the last chain, work 2 sc.
   • Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. You should have 54 stitches.
2. Continue the Oval Base:
   • Round 2: Chain 1. Work 2 sc into the first stitch. Work 1 sc into the next 24 stitches. Work 2 sc into each of the next 3 stitches. Work 1 sc into the next 24 stitches. Work 2 sc into each of the last 2 stitches. Join with a sl st.
   • Continue this pattern of increasing on the corners of the oval for 1-2 more rounds until your base is your desired size and lays flat. A great tip is to use a piece of plastic canvas cut to the shape of your base and place it inside for extra structure.

Part 2: Crocheting the Body of the Bag (Moss Stitch)

Now we’ll move from a flat oval to working the walls of the bag using the beautiful moss stitch.

1. Transition Round:
   • Chain 1. Work 1 sc into the back loop only (BLO) of each stitch around the entire oval. This creates a neat ridge that separates the base from the body of the bag and helps it stand up straight.
   • Join with a sl st to the first sc.
2. Start the Moss Stitch:
   • Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch).
   • Work 1 sc into the first stitch.
   • Chain 1, skip the next stitch.
   • Work 1 sc into the next stitch.
   • *ch 1, skip the next stitch, work 1 sc into the next stitch.*
   • Repeat from * to * around the round.
   • Join with a sl st to the first sc.
3. Moss Stitch Rounds:
   • From here on, you’ll work into the chain spaces from the previous round.
   • Chain 1.
   • Work 1 sc into the first ch 1 space.
   • *ch 1, work 1 sc into the next ch 1 space.*
   • Repeat from * to * around the round.
   • Join with a sl st to the first sc.
   • Repeat this round until the bag reaches your desired height (about 8 inches).

Part 3: Adding the Handles

For a super neat finish, we’ll create simple handles that are crocheted directly onto the bag.

1. Handle Placement:
   • Work a round of sc into each stitch and ch 1 space around the top of the bag. This creates a solid top edge.
   • Using stitch markers, mark where you want your handles to be. A good placement is about 5-8 stitches apart for the inside of the handle, with a 10-stitch gap on each side.
2. Create the Handles:
   • Chain 1.
   • Work sc to your first stitch marker.
   • Chain 40 (or to your desired length).
   • Skip the stitches between the first two markers and sc into the next marked stitch.
   • Work sc to your third stitch marker.
   • Chain 40.
   • Skip the stitches between the last two markers and sc into the final marked stitch.
   • Continue sc to the end of the round.
   • Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round.
3. Strengthen the Handles:
   • Work one or two more rounds of sc around the entire top of the bag, working a sc into each chain of the handles. This will give the handles a strong, finished look.
   • Fasten off and weave in all ends securely.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully crocheted a super neat and professional-looking shoulder bag. Enjoy your new accessory!

Video Tutorial