A crochet half moon bag pattern with fluted wings

This crochet half moon bag pattern makes a fluted shoulder bag with two round sides, one ribbed band that fans out into soft wings, and a rounded flap. It is worked in chunky cord and finished with a gold chain strap, so it works for everyday outings and for evenings out. The finished piece looks structured and a little dressy, yet the stitches behind it are very plain.

Those wings are not sewn or shaped by hand. They appear on their own as you work, and that is the clever part of the design.

How the fluted shape forms

The bag is made of three crocheted pieces: two identical circles for the sides, one long band that is worked straight onto both circles at once, and a small rounded flap. Only the flap is sewn on, and everything else is joined as you go.

The band starts as a chain of 15 that bridges the two circles. Every row ends with a slip stitch into the next stitch of one circle, so the band travels around the edge and closes the bag as it grows. The ends of each row are slip stitches and the middle is single crochet, so the middle grows taller than the edges. Over 54 rows that extra height has nowhere to go but outwards, and it folds into the fluted wings.

The counts behind this crochet half moon bag pattern

You do not have to take any of that on trust, because the numbers close neatly:

• Each side circle has six rounds: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 stitches.
• The band has 54 rows, which attach to the circles alternately, 27 on each side.
• That uses 28 stitches of each circle and leaves 8 free at the top.
• The opening is those 8 and 8, plus the 15 stitches along each end of the band: 46 in all.
• The flap has six rows: 21, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36 stitches.

A marker in the last attached stitch of each circle saves a lot of counting on the band. After row 54 the PDF asks you to stop and check the shape, so you can confirm that the ribs are already fanning out before you go on.

What you get in the PDF

This crochet half moon bag pattern has 14 pages, 19 numbered steps and 23 photos, from the two circles to the finished bag. It opens with the materials and a stitch guide in US terms, then explains how the bag is built before you touch your hook. The steps are longer than in a small amigurumi pattern, and each one has room to explain what is happening and why.

At the back you will find a quick reference page and a troubleshooting page. If the band has no ribs, your stitches went into both loops, and from row 2 every stitch of the band goes into the back loop only. If a circle curls up like a bowl, increases were missed or your tension is too tight, so count each round and loosen your grip on the cord.

Materials for this crochet half moon bag pattern

Use a 3 mm cord in cotton or polyester, in black or any solid colour. Plan on roughly 100 m, which is about one 200 g spool. If you are comparing cords and yarns, the Craft Yarn Council yarn weight chart is a useful starting point. You will also need:

• A 4.5 mm crochet hook
• One magnetic snap for the flap
• A metal chain strap of about 110 to 120 cm, with a lobster clasp at each end
• A stitch marker, scissors and a large blunt needle for the cord
• A sewing needle and strong thread for the snap

The fabric should be firm enough for the bag to stand up on its own. If it feels floppy, go down half a hook size. A solid colour also shows the ribs best, since the ribbing is the main decoration here.

Who this crochet half moon bag pattern suits

It is rated Easy+. Every stitch is a basic one, namely magic ring, chain, slip stitch, single crochet, increase and back loop work. The extra care goes into the band, where you need to keep track of your rows and of which circle you are attaching to. If you are new to bags, you may like to start with our free crochet shoulder bag pattern, then come back for this one.

The bag also comes in the bag and bracelet pattern pack, along with a phone bag and a rose bracelet.

What happens after you buy

This crochet half moon bag pattern is a digital PDF. You receive the pattern file and make the bag yourself, and the cord and hardware are not included. After checkout, sign in to Whop with the code sent to your email and open your file. You can print it or read it on a phone or tablet while you work.

On the blog: Free Crochet Shoulder Bag Pattern: 14 Easy Photo Steps