Chic Crochet Daily Bag Pattern That Carries Your Essentials

Materials

You will need the following to create the mat:

• Yarn: Two balls of chunky, thick yarn (approx. 500g total), such as Macrame cord, Fabric Yarn, or T-shirt Yarn (around 4mm thickness).

• Hook: A 7mm crochet hook. The tutor suggests a hook size between 6mm and 8mm, depending on your tension and yarn thickness.

• Notions: A stitch marker, scissors, and a darning needle (or a smaller hook for weaving in ends).

• Optional: D-rings or swivel clips for adding a strap.

Uses

The finished project serves as a versatile accessory:

• Daily Tote Bag: Use it for everyday carrying as a handheld or forearm-toted bag.

• Shoulder/Crossbody Bag: Add a separate, longer strap using the Double Chain technique described in the video to convert it.

Special Features

This pattern incorporates techniques that make the bag stand out:

• Camel Stitch Texture: By working the short single crochet stitches into the horizontal bar (third loop) behind the stitch, you create a distinct, raised, chain-like horizontal stripe that gives the bag an attractive, three-dimensional look.

• Structured Oval Base: The bottom of the bag is an oval, which helps the bag maintain its shape and prevents it from looking flat or sagging when you carry items with some bulk.

• Reinforced Top Edge: You finish the opening of the bag and the handles with a round of slip stitches, which adds thickness and structure, ensuring the top does not flop and the handles remain strong.

• Double Chain Strap: The strap is made using a Double Chain method, creating a dense cord that resists stretching and maintains its shape as a long handle.

Level of Difficulty

This project is rated as Intermediate because it requires familiarity with:

• Starting a project with a special technique (Double Chain).

• Executing the specialized Camel Stitch.

• Managing a consistent increase pattern on an oval base to avoid forming corners.

Tutor's Suggestions

Follow these recommendations from the instructor for the best results:

• Prepare the Starting Tail: Leave a long tail, approximately 60 cm, at the start of the project to create the initial Double Chain foundation.

• Stagger Increases on the Base: To ensure the oval base remains flat and does not develop angles or corners, avoid placing increases (2 SC in one stitch) directly over the increases of the previous round. Shift the increase points slightly each time.

• Change Yarn Seamlessly: When adding a new ball of thick yarn, do not tie a knot. Instead, overlap the old and new tails and crochet over them for about 10 cm to create a smooth, hidden join.

• Keep Strap Tension High: When creating the shoulder strap using the Double Chain, pull the working yarn tightly for each stitch to create tension. This prevents the finished strap from stretching and becoming like a "rubber band."