The Brivet Bag

For those days when you want to wander and aimlessly satisfy curiosities, whether that be in a store our out in nature, you need a bag to carry your important items and small treasures. Allow me to introduce the Brivet bag, a crochet crossbody bag pattern perfect for little adventures and outings.

This image shows the crochet crossbody bag pattern sitting on a chair with a denim shirt, as if you had just come home and set the bag down.

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Crochet Crossbody Bag Pattern Design Inspiration

When I decided to design a crochet crossbody bag pattern, I knew I wanted it to have a classic yet “boho” look and feel to it.

For me, it needed to fit in whether I was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and my converse or if I was wearing a cute dress to go out to dinner. I’m practical that way!

I also, of course, knew I wanted to make the bag as strong as possible. While it is a smaller bag so it won’t be carrying a bunch of groceries or anything, we still need to feel secure carrying our wallets, keys and whatever other random things we need in it. This required a thick and dense stitch.

I played around with a few different ideas before I finally decided to go with the stitch I’ve been waiting to use for a crochet bag – alternating single crochet and spiked single crochet.

Not only do these stitches create a strong crochet crossbody bag with as little holes as possible, but they also create an absolutely fantastic texture that is to die for. Because this bag is worked in spiral rounds, the texture stays completely on the outside of the bag and the inside stays nice and flat.

Image shows the crochet crossbody bag pattern sample. The bag is laid flat on a fluffy, white surface. The closing loop is undone and a small green wallet sticks out of the top of the bag. Sunglasses sit to the side.

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It’s pure coincidence that this crochet crossbody bag pattern happens to look a little bit like honeycomb, which goes with my bee wallet perfectly! (Isn’t my bee wallet cute? I bought it on Amazon!)

All About the Yarn

The yarn I ultimately ended up choosing for this pattern is We Crochet’s Cotlin. Cotton yarn is the best choice for most bags and after browsing through the different cotton yarns that We Crochet has to offer, I decided on Cotlin because it is a blend of 70% cotton and 30% linen.

Linen helps make a fabric that doesn’t stretch as much so this fit the needs of this bag perfectly.

Cotlin is a DK (3 – Light) weight yarn which is one of my preferred weights to work with. However, after working on this crochet crossbody bag pattern, I quickly realized the bag just didn’t have the thickness that I wanted.

That’s not a problem, though! Instead of trying to find a heavier cotton yarn that ticked all the boxes that Cotlin did, I decided to hold two strands of yarn together. Easy peasy!

I must say that holding two strands of yarn together for this project absolutely made it. It makes the texture extra visible, creates a super strong bag and it works up in no time! Win/win/win.

Of course, I’d love to extend a big “thank you!” to We Crochet for providing yarn support for this design. It is so appreciated!

Crochet Crossbody Bag Pattern

SKILL LEVEL

Advanced Beginner
This pattern requires knowledge of the basic, standard stitches such as chain, slip stitch, single crochet and half double crochet. There is one advanced stitch, the Spiked Single Crochet, but it’s not a difficult stitch and is explained in detail below in the “Special Stitches” section.

You will need to know how to work in spiral rounds, have some autonomy in the final round to finish in the corner and hold two strands of yarn together. You will also need to be comfortable creating chain spaces (for the handles and closing loop) and working into them.

CONSTRUCTION

This bag is worked from the bottom up without seaming. We begin the bag by crocheting a long oval shape, which is made by working into both sides of the chain (or by working into the bottom of a Foundation stitch). Then, we work spiral rounds in a stitch repeat to create the length of the bag. The loops for the handle and the closing loop are created directly on the bag.

MATERIALS

DK – Light (3) weight cotton yarn of your choice. You will need to hold two strands together while crocheting the entirety of this crochet crossbody bag.

You will need:
Approximately 3.35 ounces/95 grams/233 yards.

Yarn Used
We Crochet Cotlin in colorway Linen

TOOLS

5 mm (H-8) hook
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Stitch Markers

Additional Materials Required

1.5 inch Toggle Button
(or any large button for the loop closure)
I chose a toggle button because it was the easiest to wrap the loop around and gave the bag a nice bit of personality. You certainly don’t have to use a toggle button but you will want to make sure the button you choose is large enough and has enough height for the closing loop to go over.

I purchased these buttons for this crochet crossbody bag.

Strap with Lobster clasps
I purchased an adjustable 47 inch strap.

Alternatively, you can crochet your own strap, if you like! I personally liked the look of the faux leather strap with this bag.

GAUGE

14 sc x 15 rows, using 2 strands held together = Approx 4 inches x 4 inches.

Special note: If your gauge is slightly off, it won’t ruin the bag. Your bag might be a little bigger or smaller, but as long as you can comfortably continue crocheting holding two strands together, you’ll be fine. If your gauge is off by a lot, you may want to change hook size.

FINISHED SIZE

Finished bag is approximately 6.5 inches wide and 7 inches long, not including the strap.

I purchased an adjustable strap that can go up to 47 inches, so this bag can be used as a cross body bag.

ABBREVIATIONS

In US terms;

  • Ch – Chain 
  • Sc – Single Crochet
  • Sp-sc – Spiked Single Crochet*
  • Sl st – Slip Stitch
  • Hdc – Half Double Crochet
  • Spc(s) – Space(s)
  • St(s) – Stitch(es)
  • […] – Repeats are listed inside brackets 
  • (…) – Stitch counts are listed at the end of the row in parentheses and italics.
  • * – See Special Stitch Explanations

NOTES

  • Please review all notes before starting this pattern.
  • This bag is worked from the bottom up with no seaming required.
  • This bag is crocheted holding two strands of yarn together
  • This bag is worked in spiral rounds for all rounds of this project except one. This means you will not close each round at the end. You will instead continue crocheting in the round.
  • You will want to use a stitch marker on the first stitch of each round to mark your place.
  • Only the first round and last round are closed with a slip stitch. This is noted in the pattern.
  • The entirety of this bag can be worked without cutting your yarn, except for sewing on the button and if you prefer to create your own strap.
  • You can use a heavier weight of cotton yarn, if you prefer.
    • You will need to go up hook sizes.
    • Your bag dimensions will change.
    • Your yarn usage will differ.

SPECIAL STITCH – Spiked Single Crochet

The Spiked Single Crochet (sp-sc) is worked exactly the same as a single crochet except for where it’s placed. Instead of working into the top of the stitch as normal, you will instead work into the row below the current row.

To work a Spiked Single Crochet, you will: insert your hook into the top of the stitch the row BELOW the current row (this is where the post of the single crochet was worked in the previous row) and pull up a loop. Pull this loop up slightly to meet the height of your current row. Then, yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook just like a normal single crochet.

To find the correct placement for a Spiked Single Crochet, look for where the single crochet of the previous row is worked. The post of the single crochet goes into the same stitch the post of the single crochet from the previous row goes into.

This image is a close up of where to place the spiked single crochet, as instructed.

Look for where the single crochet of the row below is worked. The tip of my tapestry needle is pointing to this space.

This image shows the spiked single crochet placed.

Insert your hook into the space and work a single crochet as you normally would, except for pulling the loop up just a little bit. Spiked Single Crochet complete!

Special Stitch – Foundation Half Double Crochet

This pattern begins with the option of using Foundation Half Double Crochet or chains. You can use either that you prefer.

If you’ve never worked with the Foundation Half Double Crochet before and would like to learn, I have a photo and video tutorial on my blog

Image shows the crochet crossbody bag pattern sample laid flat on a fluffy white surface. The loop is closed around a toggle button to show the closure. A pair of sunglasses sit in the upper right hand corner of the bag.

Want a PDF of this pattern that is easy to print, includes photo tutorials and full sentence instructions to accompany the photo tutorial? Look no further! You can grab one on Etsy!

Crochet Crossbody Bag Pattern

Hold two strands of yarn together throughout this pattern.

Round 1 –
Foundation Half Double Crochet 20 OR Ch 21, hdc 2nd ch from hook and each across (20 hdc this side)

Turn to work along bottom of Foundation Half Double Crochet or chains. Place 3 hdc in bottom of first stitch (or chain),1 hdc in each of the next 18 sts, 3 hdc in the last. Sl st to first st to close. (44 total)

Round 2 –
Ch 1 and place 1 sc in each st around. Do not close. (44)

Here we transition to working spiral rounds. It is recommended to place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round so you don’t lose your place!

Because the first stitch of each round will be marked, you will know when you’ve reached the end of your round.


Round 3 –  [1 sc next st, 1 sp-sc next st]. Repeat inside brackets to end of round as indicated by stitch marker. You should end your round with a sp-sc. (44)

Round 4 –
[1 sp-sc in next st, 1 sc in next st]. Repeat inside brackets to end of round. You should end your round with a sc. (44)

Rounds 5 through 30 –
Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 in sequence. For example, Round 5 will be a repeat of Round 3 and Round 6 will be a repeat of Round 4.

Because this bag is not worked in closed and turned rounds, you will likely not end Round 30 in a corner. Continue working the stitch pattern until you’ve reached a corner of the bag. Make sure to end on a sc. Place a stitch marker in this sc. 

This image shows how you may have to work a few extra stitches to reach the corner of the bag before continuing on to the next set of instructions.
In the image above, you can see how I did not end in a corner. I continued working stitches until I reached a corner and made sure that the last stitch I placed was a single crochet.

This will now mark the first st of your Round for Round 31.

Round 31 – Ch 5 and sl st to the front loop and left leg of sc just made. [1 sp-sc next st, 1 sc next st]. Repeat inside brackets for next 22 sts. You should end on a sc. Ch 5, sl st to front loop and left leg of sc just made. [1 sp-sc next st, 1 sc next st]. Repeat inside brackets for next 11 sts. You should end on a sp-sc. Ch 25 and sl st to front loop and left leg of sp-sc just made. [1 sc next st, 1 sp-sc next st]. Repeat inside brackets across remaining 10 stitches to end of round as marked by a stitch marker.  (44 stitches, 2 ch 5 spcs/loops, 1 ch 25 spc/loop)

Round 32 – Sl st into next st (marked sc that started Round 31). In ch 5 spc, place 7 sc. [1 sc next st, 1 sp-sc next st] Repeat inside brackets across next 22 stitches to next ch 5 spc. In ch 5 spc, place 7 sc. [1 sc next st, 1 sp-sc next st] Repeat inside brackets across next 11 sts to ch 25 spc. Place 1 sl st in each ch of ch 25. [1 sp-sc next st, 1 sc next st] Repeat inside brackets across remaining 10 sts to end of round. Sl st to close. (82 sts, including slip stitches on ch 25)

Tie off and cut yarn. Weave ends.

Lay your bag flat so that the 2 ch 5 loops are facing up and the ch 25 loop is on the back side. Sew the toggle button (or your chosen button) onto the front side of the bag in the center of the bag, approximately 5-6 rows down from the top. Before sewing, make sure your chain 25 loop is long enough to go over your button. You want this loop to fit snugly, but not so tight that it’s a struggle to get on and off.

Attach your strap’s lobster clasps to the chain 5 loops.

You’re all done!

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That’s it for this one! I hope you love this crochet crossbody bag pattern!

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Shannon | Designer & Editor

Shannon helps crocheters find their next project and build their skills with in depth tutorials and crochet patterns on her blog, theloopholefox.com.

With more than a decade of crochet experience, Shannon knows that understanding why we do something matters just as much as how we do it. She teaches new techniques and crochet stitches in depth so you can crochet with confidence.

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