FREE PATTERN WITH VIDEO TUTORIAL
I love being surprised during the design process. This project was started as something different and finally turned into a lovely and useful accessory with great structure.
The Favorito Cross Body Bag is a medium size purse with an inner compartment, which makes it extra practical when you need to carry all your basics in style. It is also easy to complete and fun to assemble for a super enjoyable DIY project.
Named Favorito because it is mainly made with single crochets which is my favorite crochet stitch. So simple but so full of structure and also easy for a beginner to follow with little practice.
Add a cute amigurumi charm by the end for that special added touch. PLEASE NOTE that the charm tutorial is separate from the Favorito Cross Body Bag instructions so, when finishing your bag, refer to the Cotton Crochet Charm post or video to find the specific steps to complete it.
And remember you can always practice beforehand if you still feel unsure about your crochet skills, with my Crochet from scratch video below, which covers crochet basics right from the beginning. This way, you can move on with more confidence through more complicated crochet pieces.
The bag is still easy skill, because it only uses simple stitches and construction. It also includes several join-as-you-go steps for a more agile structure.
SPECIAL STITCHES AND TECHNIQUES
Single crochet join (Standing single crochet)
Used to add a new yarn in the beginning of a new round, to get a cleaner start. Make a slip ring over the hook, insert the hook in the st, yarn over, pull through the st, yarn over and pull through two loops on the hook.
Invisible join
It is used to get a cleaner end of round. Finish last st of the rnd, cut the yarn leaving a 4”/10 cm tail and pull the yarn through the loop. With tapestry needle, insert in the first st of the rnd. Then, insert the needle on top of the last st of the rnd, by going through the center and pulling through the WS. Pull to close and fasten off.
This video tutorial for the Favorito Cross Body Bag covers all steps of the making. Video is in Spanish, but you have the option to see the Closed Caption in the language of your choice, by selecting the settings icon on the video then, select Closed Caption, Automatic Translation and select your language. And you also have all written directions (below this same post), to follow every detail step by step.
If you want the formatted, ad free, 16 page PDF document (with written instructions for the bag and charm, also including more than 60 images in photo tutorials) of the Favorito Cross Body Bag, this is available in my pattern stores (Ravelry, Etsy, Lovecrochet) for USD $3.60.
You will see two different results for the bag, one in pink and the other in pale green. Same instructions, same crochet hook, only a slight difference in yarn weight and texture and the size scales a bit. You will find all details about size and gauge for each option in the instructions below as well.
SUGGESTED MATERIALS
- Two 250 gr / 8.8 oz (250 m / 274 yds) skeins of DK light weight yarn (80% repurposed cotton, 20% repurposed polyester) in PINK or three 70 gr / 2.47 oz (105 m / 115 yds) skeins of light weight worsted yarn (85% recycled cotton, 15% polyester) in PALE GREEN
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- One 9.4”/24 cm or 8.7”/ 22 cm long zipper (or necessary length for inner bag)
- 2 sets of magnetic clasps
- Stitch marker
- Regular sewing thread in PINK or PALE GREEN
- Regular sewing thread in contrasting color
- Pins
- Yarn needle
- Sewing needle
- Long nose plier (to attach the clasps)
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
FINISHED SIZE
PINK BAG
Width x height x side
10.2” x 5.7” x 4” / 26 cm x 14.5 cm x 10 cm
Handle length
35.4” / 90 cm
PALE GREEN BAG
Width x height x side
8.7” x 5.1” x 3.3” / 22 cm x 13 cm x 8.5 cm
Handle length
29.1” / 74 cm
GAUGE
PINK BAG
Single crochet, back and forth
14 sts and 15 rows= 4”/10 cm
PALE GREEN BAG
Single crochet, back and forth
17 sts and 19 rows= 4”/10 cm
SKILL LEVEL
Easy: This design includes basic crochet stitches, simple shaping and finishing techniques.
STITCH GUIDE
- R: row
- Rnd: round
- ch: chain
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- rep: repeat
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
NOTES
- When crocheting back and forth, with sc, ch 1 to begin every R, this ch does not count as a st.
- When crocheting in the round, in a spiral, with sc, place a marker in first st of the Rnd and move up with every Rnd as work progresses.
- When crocheting in the round, in a spiral, with sl st, place a marker in first st of the Rnd.
- Length of zipper depends on final width of inner bag. If crochet work results in a different size, length of zipper should be adjusted.
- Before making final seams to add the bands for the clasps and zipper, pin and baste if necessary, to keep in place while sewing.
- Images within this written pattern illustrate the process for the pink bag. Both bags were made by following the same instructions, finished size and gauge only vary because of the difference in thickness between yarns.
BAG
FRONT/BACK OF THE BAG (MAKE 2)
Crocheted back and forth, starting from one side. Ch 23.
R1(WS): Starting in 2nd ch from the hook, sc 22, turn= 22 sts
R2-38: Ch 1, sc 22, turn= 22 sts
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
PIECES FOR INNER BAG (MAKE 2)
Crocheted back and forth, starting from one side. Ch 17.
R1(WS): Starting in 2nd ch from the hook, sc 16, turn= 16 sts
R2-38: Ch 1, sc 16, turn= 16 sts
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
BANDS FOR THE CLASPS (MAKE 2)
Crocheted back and forth, starting from top edge. Ch 28, leaving a long tail at the beginning to sew afterwards.
R1(RS): Starting in 2nd ch from the hook, sc 27, turn= 27 sts
R2-3: Ch 1, sc 27, turn= 27 sts
Fasten off and weave in the end tail only.
HANDLE
Crocheted in the round, in a spiral, starting from one end. Ch 141, leaving a long tail at the beginning to sew afterwards.
Rnd 1: 2 sc in 2nd ch from the hook, sc 138, 4 sc in next ch, continue on the opposite side of the ch, sc 138, 2 sc in last ch= 284 sts
Rnd 2: Sc 1, 3 sc in next st, sc 138, 3 sc in next st, sc 2, 3 sc in next st, sc 138, 3 sc in next st, sc 1= 292 sts
Rnd 3: Sl st 292= 292 sts
Sl st in next st.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
FINISHING
SIDES AND BOTTOM FOR FRONT/BACK OF THE BAG
Worked back and forth, by crocheting over the sides and one edge of rows on front/back of the bag.
Make a slip ring on the hook. On the RS of the front of the bag, start from the first st of one side.
R1(RS): Sc join, sc 21, continue over the edge of rows and sc 37, sc 22 over the opposite side, turn= 81 sts
R2-7: Ch 1, sc 81, turn= 81 sts
Don’t fasten off, to continue with the join of one piece for the inner bag with the front.
JOINING INNER BAG PIECE TO FRONT/BACK OF THE BAG
Turn, to start a new R for sides and bottom. Ch 1, sc 6, take one piece of the inner bag from the RS and start from the 1st st of one side, by inserting hook through both pieces to join, sc 16, then continue over the edge of rows and sc 37, sc 16 over the opposite side, and sc 6 over side of front only= 81 sts
Fasten off and weave in all ends, to complete first half of the bag.
Rep for the back of the bag and the other piece for the inner bag, to complete 2nd half of the bag. Don’t fasten off, to continue with the join for the two halves of the bag.
JOINING HALVES OF THE BAG
Turn, to start a new R for sides and bottom of 2nd half. Take first half from one side. Starting from first st of 2nd half and first st of first half, by inserting hook through both pieces to join, sl st 81= 81 sts.
Don’t fasten off, to continue with the bag edging.
BAG EDGING
Crocheted in the round, in a spiral, starting from the center of one side of the bag. Continue over the top edge of the bag.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc 53 over one half of the edge, sc 53 over the other half of the edge= 106 sts
Rnd 2: Sc 106, close with invisible join in the 1st sc of the Rnd= 106 sts
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
JOINING BANDS FOR THE CLASPS TO THE BAG
Place each side of the clasps on each band, 4 sts from each end. Sew the bands with the clasps to Rnd 1 of the bag edge, on the inside, centered and 13 sts from each side seam of the bag. Weave in all ends.
JOINING THE ZIPPER TO THE INNER BAG
Fold front and back of the bag outwards if necessary, to sew the zipper more comfortably. Take one side of the zipper and pin to one edge of the inner bag, on the inside. Baste with thread in contrasting color, to keep in place. Open the zipper and rep for the opposite edge. With thread in PINK or PALE GREEN make final seam to join the zipper around the edge of the inner bag. Fasten off. Remove baste stitches. With tapestry needle and yarn, close open ends of inner bag if the zipper did not fully cover the length.
JOINING THE HANDLE TO THE BAG
Sew the RS of each end of the handle to each side of the bag, on the inside, from the inner bag upwards. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Finally decide, to add the Cotton Crochet Charm or leave the Favorito Cross Body Bag as is, any look will be a perfect match for you to carry all that you need for the day.
Another useful crochet project for you or your loved ones. Share your creations with me, use #favoritobag to see your version or just tag me as @chabepatterns on my Instagram.
All written instructions and images in this pattern are protected by Copyright. This pattern is for personal use and not to be copied or reproduced, partially or totally, for any purpose. It may not be redistributed or shared anywhere, either online or offline. Finished items made from this pattern may be sold, in small quantity. But they cannot be promoted using the images contained in this pattern. Proper credit for the original design must be given to Chabepatterns and link back to this post and/or designer’s pattern shop.