Free Crochet Shoulder Bag Pattern: 14 Easy Photo Steps
This free crochet shoulder bag pattern makes a structured, ribbed bag from one flat strip of 38 rows, folded once and seamed up the sides. You need only chains, slip stitches and single crochet, and every one of the 14 steps below has a photo of the hands doing it.
One warning before you buy yarn for any bag: trust the ball band, not the roundups. A widely copied listing puts Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton at 400 yards per ball, while the manufacturer’s label says 185 yd (170 m) per 100 g.
How is this free crochet shoulder bag pattern built?
This free crochet shoulder bag pattern is built sideways. Each row runs from the top edge of the front, down across the bottom and up to the top edge of the back, so the rows you stack become the width of the bag. Working every row in the back loop only turns them into the deep vertical ribs you see in the photos.
The first 7 and last 7 stitches of every row are slip stitches. They are shorter than single crochet, so the top band sits tighter and pulls the opening in, which gives the bag its soft half-moon shape. Increases at the centre of the early rows and decreases near the end round off the bottom corners.
What do you need for the free crochet shoulder bag pattern?
You need a smooth cotton yarn, a 5 mm hook, two metal rings, a yarn needle and a row counter.
| Spec | This bag |
|---|---|
| Yarn | Cotton or milk cotton, about 3.5 mm thick (the strand, not a hook size) |
| Hook | 5 mm (H-8) |
| Starting chain | 45 |
| Rows | 38, worked flat, back loop only from Row 2 |
| Stitch multiple | None: a fixed count of 44 working stitches |
| Strap | Crocheted cord, about 115 cm (45 in) |
| Hardware | 2 metal rings, optional metal label for the front |
| Yardage | Not stated in the original tutorial; see the yarn section to predict yours |
| Skill | Beginner |
Which stitches does the bag use?
The free crochet shoulder bag pattern uses only four stitches, plus two shaping moves. This pattern uses the naming convention where single crochet is the short stitch; in the other convention the same stitch is called double crochet, so both names are given.
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch (same name in both conventions)
- sc: single crochet (dc in the other convention)
- BLO: back loop only
- W: 3 sc in the same stitch, a double increase
- dec: sc3tog, three stitches worked together into one (dc3tog in the other convention)
The stitch multiple. There is no repeating multiple. The bag works over a fixed count: the 45 chain minus the one you skip leaves 44 working stitches, split 7 + 14 + 1 + 1 + 14 + 7. The counts only balance if W turns 1 stitch into 3 and dec turns 3 into 1; a plain two-stitch decrease would leave you 2 stitches over at Row 36.
The free crochet shoulder bag pattern chart at a glance
Here is the whole free crochet shoulder bag pattern in one table. Chain 1 and turn at the start of every row from Row 2; the chain 1 does not count as a stitch.
| Row | Instructions | Stitch count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 sl st, 14 sc, W, W, 14 sc, 7 sl st | 48 |
| 2 | BLO: 7 sl st, 34 sc, 7 sl st | 48 |
| 3 | BLO: 7 sl st, 16 sc, W, W, 16 sc, 7 sl st | 52 |
| 4 to 35 | BLO: 7 sl st, 38 sc, 7 sl st (32 rows the same) | 52 |
| 36 | BLO: 7 sl st, 16 sc, dec, dec, 16 sc, 7 sl st | 48 |
| 37 | BLO: 7 sl st, 34 sc, 7 sl st | 48 |
| 38 | BLO: 7 sl st, 14 sc, dec, dec, 14 sc, 7 sl st | 44 |
How to crochet a shoulder bag: 14 photo steps
Follow the photos in order. Each step of the free crochet shoulder bag pattern shows the exact moment it describes.
Step 1: Chain 45
Every free crochet shoulder bag pattern like this starts long and slim. Make a slip knot and chain 45 with the 5 mm hook. Keep it relaxed so the side seams line up later.
Step 2: Start Row 1 with slip stitches
Skip the first chain from the hook. Work 1 slip stitch in each of the next 7 chains, then 1 sc in each of the next 14 chains. These 7 slip stitches become the top band on one side of the bag.
Step 3: Work the two W increases
Work 3 sc into the next chain (W), then 3 sc into the chain after it (W). Finish the row with 14 sc and 7 slip stitches. Row 1 now holds 48 stitches. Place a marker in the centre of the two increases; this is your fold line.
Step 4: Chain 1 and turn
At the end of Row 1 the piece is a long, slim strip. Chain 1 and turn the work.
Step 5: Row 2 in the back loop only
Work 7 sl st, 34 sc, 7 sl st, all in the back loop only, for 48 stitches. This row sets the rib for the whole free crochet shoulder bag pattern. The unworked front loops form the ridges that stack into ribs.
Step 6: Row 3 increases
In the back loop only: 7 sl st, 16 sc, W, W, 16 sc, 7 sl st, for 52 stitches. The two W increases sit directly above the Row 1 increases, right at your marker.
Step 7: Repeat the rib for Rows 4 to 35
Every row from 4 to 35 is the same: 7 sl st, 38 sc, 7 sl st in the back loop only, for 52 stitches. That is 32 identical rows, so click a row counter at the end of each one.
Step 8: Row 36 decreases
Work 7 sl st and 16 sc, then dec, dec, then 16 sc and 7 sl st, for 48 stitches. For each dec, pull up a loop in each of the next 3 stitches (4 loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through all 4.
Step 9: Rows 37 and 38
Row 37: 7 sl st, 34 sc, 7 sl st, for 48 stitches. Row 38: 7 sl st, 14 sc, dec, dec, 14 sc, 7 sl st, for 44 stitches. Fasten off and leave a long tail for the seam.
Step 10: Check the flat panel
Lay the panel flat. Row 38 ends on 44 stitches, the same as the chain edge of Row 1, so both side edges should match. If not, recount Row 3 and Row 36.
Step 11: Fold in half
Fold the panel in half along the marked centre line, so the Row 1 edge meets itself and the Row 38 edge meets itself.
Step 12: Slip stitch the side seams
Slip stitch through both layers, matching the edges stitch for stitch from the fold up to the top band. Repeat on the other side, then turn the bag right side out.
Step 13: Crochet the strap cord
Work the strap as a firm cord of about 115 cm (45 in), starting from a top corner of the bag. The tutorial does not name the cord stitch, so use any firm cord you like; a chain with slip stitches worked back along it is the simplest.
Step 14: Attach the strap to the rings
Fix one metal ring at the top of each side seam. Loop each strap end through a ring, fold it back and sew it down firmly, weaving the tail through several stitches.
Where does a crochet shoulder bag go wrong?
1. The top edge ruffles or grows. Cause: slip stitches worked too loosely, or an extra stitch sneaking in at a turn. Keep them firm and count 7 at each end of every row.
2. The bottom curls or twists. This is the most common fault in any free crochet shoulder bag pattern worked sideways. Cause: the increases or decreases drifting off centre. The W pairs and the dec pairs must sit over the same two centre stitches, or the fold runs diagonally and the bag leans.
3. The strap stretches. Cause: cotton has no memory, and the bag hangs from two small points. Work the strap tighter than the body.
What hook size works best for a crochet bag?
Go smaller than the yarn’s standard range, as this free crochet shoulder bag pattern does. The Craft Yarn Council weight system recommends 5.5 to 6.5 mm for a medium (category 4) yarn, yet every free shoulder bag we checked works below its yarn’s standard range.
| Pattern | Yarn category | Standard range | Designer’s hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Crochet Shoulder Bag | 4 | 5.5 to 6.5 mm | 5 mm |
| Wheat Stitch Rectangle Bag | 4 | 5.5 to 6.5 mm | 4 mm |
| Beginner Hobo Bag | 4 | 5.5 to 6.5 mm | 5 mm |
| Moss Poppy Shoulder Bag | 3 | 4.5 to 5.5 mm | 4 mm and 3.5 mm |
| Easy Modern Hobo Tote | 6 | 9 to 15 mm | 8 mm |
This is deliberate: a bag wants fabric dense enough that keys do not poke through. Even the Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton label, a worsted weight, recommends a 4 mm hook.
How much yarn does this crochet shoulder bag take?
The free crochet shoulder bag pattern tutorial states no yardage, so we will not invent one. What we can give you is the stitch load: by our count the body is 1,952 stitches across 38 rows, 532 of them slip stitches (27%) and 1,420 single crochet stitches. We calculated this from the chart above; it is a count, not a claim that we made the bag.
Use it to predict your own yardage. Rows 4 to 35 are identical, so weigh your ball after Row 4, work Row 5 and weigh again. The difference is what one 52 stitch row eats. Multiply by 38, add a little for the seams, then add the strap.
More free crochet shoulder bag patterns to try next
Finished this free crochet shoulder bag pattern and want another? These five are free on each designer’s own page. For totes and market bags, see our free crochet bag patterns roundup.
- Simple Crochet Shoulder Bag: 24 x 13.5 cm body, 5 mm hook, chain 35. The designer gives 70 g of Red Heart Super Saver; at the label’s 364 yd (333 m) per 198 g that is about 129 yd (118 m), our conversion.
- Wheat Stitch Rectangle Bag: a crossbody in 2 sizes on a 4 mm hook, 475 yd of Herrschners Cottage Cotton for the small (3 balls of 207 yd hold 621 yd). See our wheat stitch guide.
- Moss Poppy Shoulder Bag: 16 x 11 in, built from triangles in the round, about 1,295 yards (1,190 m), fully lined.
- Easy Modern Hobo Tote: 21 x 16 in in super bulky yarn, 669 yd on an 8 mm hook, with two 34 in tie straps.
- Beginner Hobo Bag: one ball of worsted, 230 yards (210 m), a 5 mm hook and a chain of 100.
Free crochet shoulder bag pattern FAQ
Is this crochet shoulder bag pattern really free?
Yes. The full free crochet shoulder bag pattern on this page, chart and photos included, costs nothing, and the five extra patterns are free on their designers’ pages.
Is this bag good for beginners?
Yes. It uses only chains, slip stitches and single crochet in the back loop, worked flat. The only new moves are the W increase and the three stitch decrease, each used in just two rows.
What yarn is best for a crochet shoulder bag?
Cotton or a cotton blend. It holds its shape better than acrylic and shows ribbing clearly. Milk cotton suits this free crochet shoulder bag pattern well.
How long should the strap be?
This bag uses about 115 cm (45 in) for shoulder wear. Measure ring to ring over your shoulder and add length for crossbody wear.
Does a crochet shoulder bag need a lining?
Not always. This ribbed bag is dense enough for light items unlined. A fabric lining stops cotton stretching under weight; cut it from the flat panel before folding for a perfect fit.
Can I make the bag bigger?
Yes. The free crochet shoulder bag pattern scales easily. Repeat more of the plain rows between Row 4 and Row 35 to make it wider, or add chains in pairs to make it taller, adding the same number of single crochet on each side of the centre.
Where to go next
- Crochet accessories: bags, hats and small makes
- Free crochet patterns: every free pattern we have checked
- Stitches and squares: textures like the moss stitch that suit bags too
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council, Standard Yarn Weight System
- Lion Brand, 24/7 Cotton product label
- VivCrochets, Simple Crochet Shoulder Bag
- Briana K Designs, Wheat Stitch Rectangle Bag
- Creative Crochet Workshop, Moss Poppy Shoulder Bag
- Life + Yarn, Easy Modern Hobo Crochet Tote Bag
- Meladora’s Creations, Beginner Hobo Bag
Video credit: The steps in this guide are retold in our own words from the video tutorial Elegant Crochet Bag Tutorial by Crochet Bag on YouTube, and the step photos are frames from that video. Watch it for the full demonstration and support the creator.
