Tapestry Crochet Purse Pattern / Handbag Tutorial

hearts and stripes purse pattern

Add a little bit of playfulness and a whole lot of fun to your wardrobe with this beautiful free tapestry crochet purse pattern!

Find the downloadable PDF version of this pattern [here].

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Are you needing a stylish new crochet handbag to carry your essentials?! Well then, this purse has got you covered…

Tapestry crochet purse pattern will comfortably fit a:

• phone
• small wallet
• lip gloss
• hand sanitizer
• pack of gum
• pen
• lotion

…or maybe even your latest crochet project! 😉

This tapestry crochet purse pattern will be the perfect compliment to your already trend-setting wardrobe, or be your classic style’s statement piece. Either way, you will love carrying this cutie with you!

A step by step photo and written tutorial for tapestry crochet is included in this purse pattern, as well as one for the center single crochet stitch. (CSC) A downloadable PDF chart for the heart design is also included.

hearts and stripes purse tapestry crochet pattern

what you will need:

• Color A – 1 skein Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (or approximately 100 yds) in Jade or another #4 medium weight yarn.
• Size US G/4.25mm and US H/5mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge. To save time make sure to check gauge. GAUGE: 15 SC X 20 rows = 4”x 4” with US G/4.25mm hook
• Color B – 1 skein Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (or approximately 25 yds) in Pink or another #4 medium weight yarn.
• Stitch marker
• Color C – 1 skein Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (or approximately 25 yds) in Goldenrod or another #4 medium weight yarn.
• Tapestry needle
• Color D – 1 skein Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (or approximately 40 yds) in Black or another #4 medium weight yarn.
• Scissors
• Tape

Optional materials for extra handbag embellishment

• 8mm eyelets and 8mm eyelet tool
• hammer
• 88mm pom pom maker
• 8mm beads

pattern notes:

• For this pattern you will be working in the round and on the right side (RS) of your work throughout the body of the purse.
• Make sure to keep a loose and consistent tension when working your center single crochet (CSC) stitches.
• Each square on the graph counts as one CSC.
• Assemble graph by printing out the 3 pages, cutting excess off of the sides and taping them together so that stitch numbers and rows line up.

abbreviations:

• CH – chain
• ST/STS – stitch/es
• SLST – slip stitch
• SC – single crochet
• CSC – center single crochet
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side
• SK – skip
• REP – repeat

special stitches:

Center single crochet (CSC) – insert hook in the center (the middle of the “V” or “legs”) of the stitch rather than the top (traditional SC) of the stitch, (see photo below) yarn over and pull through two loops on hook.

tapestry crochet tutorial

In this tapestry crochet tutorial you will learn how to read a graph and change colors within a row in order to create a design in your work.

introducing your contrast color (red)

You will be enclosing this color within your stitches until you are ready to work with it. Place hook in working stitch and before pulling up a loop, line your contrast color parallel with your stitches. (Right photo) Pull up a loop with your contrast color resting on top of your stitches. This will enclose your contrast color. Finish working your single crochet.

Continue crocheting and carrying your contrast color behind your stitches, until you are ready to work with it. (Above photo)

One stitch before your contrast color starts, begin working a single crochet (insert hook, pull up a loop…) before yarning over and completing your single crochet, (you will have two loops still on hook – above left photo) bring main color forward so it’s out of the way, and yarn over with contrast color. Complete your single crochet by pulling the contrast color through the two loops on your hook. (Above right photo) Make sure you continue to carry your main color behind your stitches as you work with your contrast color.

switching back to main color

Work as many stitches as the graph calls for in the contrast color. One stitch before your main color starts again, begin working your single crochet; (insert hook, pull up a loop…) Before yarning over and completing your single crochet, (you will have two loops still on hook- above right photo) bring contrast color forward so it’s out of the way, and yarn over with main color.

Complete your single crochet by pulling the main color through the two loops on your hook. (Above left photo) Make sure you continue to carry your contrast color behind your stitches while working with your main color. (You may need to give the color you are “carrying” a slight tug as you go to keep it from bunching)

helpful tip

When working on the RS of your project, insert hook underneath the enclosed contrast color when making your single crochet stitches. (Right photo above) This will ensure your contrast color does not show as much in between changes.

Here is a 12×12 single crochet graph for you to practice your color changes. The rows and stitches are numbered on the sides and top. Since it is a square with rows as opposed to rounds, you will be alternating between the right and wrong side of your work. For the right side, read the graph right to left; for the wrong side, left to right. Follow stitch numbers accordingly.

You have now learned tapestry crochet! YAY!! 🙂 This tutorial uses single crochet (SC), but for this purse pattern you will be working with center single crochet (CSC – see special stitches) when reading the graph. The instructions for color change are the same.

helpful tip

Using CSC in the round rather than traditional SC, will give you a clean and well aligned print on your work.

chart for heart design:

tapestry crochet purse pattern:

purse body

With Color A, CH 67.
Join to form round. (Be careful not to twist CH row)
SC in next CH and in each CH around, join with SLST in first SC. (66 SC)

Note: You will now be working in a continuous round. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round to keep your place. Remember to carry the colors you aren’t currently working with behind all stitches throughout, and that you may need to give your carried colors a slight tug periodically to keep them from bunching.

For Rounds 1- 27 follow pattern on graph. Each square on graph counts as one CSC. Begin crocheting loosely now.
Fasten off.
Weave in ends.

bottom of purse

Note: CH 1 does not count as SC throughout the bottom of purse. You will be joining with a SLST in the first SC at the end of each round.

With Color A

CH 3; join to form round.
CH 1; SC 6 times in ring; join with SLST in first SC.

Round 1: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC and in each SC around. (12 SC)

Round 2: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC, SC in next SC; *2 SC in next SC, SC in next SC; REP from * around. (18 SC)

Round 3: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC, SC in next 2 SC; *2 SC in next SC, SC in next 2 SC; REP from * around. (24 SC)

Round 4: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC, SC in next 3 SC; *2 SC in next SC, SC in next 3 SC; REP from * around. (30 SC)

Round 5: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC, SC in next 4 SC; *2 SC in next SC, SC in next 4 SC; REP from * around. (36 SC)

Round 6: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC, SC in next 5 SC; *2 SC in next SC, SC in next 5 SC; REP from * around. (42 SC)

Round 7: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC, SC in next 6 SC; *2 SC in next SC, SC in next 6 SC; REP from * around. (48 SC)

Round 8: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC, SC in next 7 SC; *2 SC in next SC, SC in next 7 SC; REP from * around. (54 SC)

Round 9: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC, SC in next 8 SC; *2 SC in next SC, SC in next 8 SC; REP from * around. (60 SC)

Round 10: CH 1; 2 SC in same SC, SC in next 9 SC; *2 SC in next SC, SC in next 9 SC; REP from * around. (66 SC)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

attaching bottom of purse to purse body

Note: the bottom of your purse will be smaller than your purse body. There will be one ST from the bottom of your purse for every CH from the body.

Place bottom of purse and purse body together with right sides facing you and wrong sides touching. Working with approximately 60” of Color A and tapestry needle, whip stitch one stitch from the bottom together with a CH from the body all the way around. Bring leftover yarn tails to the inside of your purse.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

top of purse

Note: Do not count CH 1 as a SC throughout top of purse. You will be joining with a SLST in the first SC at the end of each round.

Attach Color D to body of purse with SLST where you fastened off.

Round 1: CH 1, SC in each ST around; join with SLST in first SC here and throughout the top of purse. (66 SC)

Round 2: CH 1; SC in same SC and in each SC around.

Round 3: change to Color B, CH 1; SC in same SC and in each SC around.

Round 4: CH 1; SC in same SC and in each SC around.

Round 5: change to Color C, CH 1; SC in same SC and in each SC around.

Round 6: CH 1; SC in same SC and in next 3 SC; *CH 1, SK 1 SC, SC in next SC and in next 5 SC; REP from * 2 more times; CH 1, SK 1 SC, SC in next SC and in next 3 SC; CH 3, SK 3 SC, SC in next SC and in next 3 SC; **CH 1, SK 1 SC, SC in next SC and in next 5 SC; REP from ** 2 more times; CH 1, SK 1 SC, SC in next SC and in next 3 SC; CH 3, SK 3 SC, join with SLST in first SC.

Round 7: change to Color A, CH 1; SC in same SC, in each SC and CH around; (excluding your beginning round CH). (66 SC)

Round 8: CH 1; SC in same SC and in each SC around.

Round 9: change to Color D, CH 1; SC in same SC and in each SC around.

Round 10: CH 1; SC in same SC and in each SC around. (66 SC)
Fasten off. Weave in ends.

optional eyelets and embellishments for purse

In the next section, the eyelets and extra embellishments for this tapestry crochet purse pattern (pom poms and beads) are optional, but I do recommend following the “Holes for Loops” and “Loops for Straps” portion, as it will give your handbag a more finished look.

tapestry crochet purse pattern eyelet tutorial

In this tutorial you will learn how to set eyelets in your work to add extra embellishment.

materials

Above, you will see photos of the materials you will be using in this tutorial.  The “back of eyelet” (above right photo shows two angles of the same labeled piece indicated by arrows) will be put in place first.  The “anvil” (above left photo) is the surface you will place the “front of eyelet” when preparing to set it.  The “eyelet setter” (above left photo) will hold it in the correct place as you attach it.

getting started

Beginning on the WS of your purse, with the back of eyelet hole pointing towards the RS of your purse, place back of the eyelet into CH 1 space. (above left photo)  Make sure the entire back of the eyelet is completely through the CH 1 space. (above right photo)

 Working on the RS of your purse, place front of eyelet hole into back of eyelet hole. (left photo above)  You are now ready to set your eyelet. (right photo above)

Making sure both sides of eyelet remain in position, place front of eyelet on the anvil. (above left photo) Next, place eyelet setter on top of back of eyelet. (above right photo)

finishing

Make sure everything is lined up properly (the front of eyelet should fit perfectly in the groove of the anvil and the back of eyelet should fit perfectly in the groove of the eyelet setter).  Keeping the eyelet firmly in place, hammer eyelet setter (you will need to hold the eyelet setter with your hand as you hammer- not shown) until the back of the eyelet is no longer sharp and has rounded. (above right photo)

holes for loops

You will follow these instructions for both CH 3 openings. 

With approximately 80” of Color D, starting from the WS of your purse on the bottom right corner (indicated with a red arrow in above photo) of the stitches you will be working with, whip stitch clockwise around CH 3 opening. (Use the arrows in photo as a guide)

Keep in mind that your CH 3 opening on the side where you have joined the top of purse together will have an extra CH from the CH 1 at the beginning of those rounds.  You may need to whip stitch in one more stitch so that there isn’t a gap in between whip stitches on that side.   

You will whip stitch a total of four times around, or as many times as it takes for there to be no major gaps in your circle.  Keep an even tension and fill in the gaps as you go.  (See photos above for what the first and final rounds should look like)  Bring yarn to the WS of purse through hole, secure, and fasten off.  Weave in ends.

loops for straps

You will create the loops for your straps by first making bands that will be joined together to form a circle.

Creating band (make 2): CH 11.

Row 1: SC in second CH from hook and in each CH across; CH1 turn. (10 SC)

Row 2: SC in same SC and in each SC across; CH 1 turn.

Row 3: REP row 2, but do not CH1 at the end.

With right sides together, (above left photo) SLST band together to form loop around CH3 space.  Fasten off.  Weave in ends.  Turn right side out. (above right photo)

straps

Holding one strand of each of Colors A, B, C, and D together, tightly CH 150 (approximately 50”) with US H/5mm hook.  Fasten off and pull CH row tightly to secure. Making sure the flat side of your chain is facing down, (this means that the flat side will rest on your shoulder) tie your strap tightly in a knot around the loop you just made in the previous step.   REP for loop on other side.  Trim tail from CH row to desired length.

drawstring

Holding two strands (approximately 130” each) of Color D together CH 105 (or adjust CH count to make desired length) with US G/4.25 mm hook.  Fasten off and pull CH row tightly to secure.  Starting on the RS of your purse, in the 2^nd eyelet hole from the right of one of your loops, weave drawstring in and out through all holes (including holes for straps).  (Both ends of your drawstring should be facing the RS of your purse now in the center of your two strap holes) 

Cinch purse together by tying your drawstring in a bow.  Add pom poms or tassels to the ends of your drawstring, or just tie the ends in a knot for a simpler look.

beads

If adding beads, (see legend on graph for bead symbol) follow graph accordingly for placement.

Congrats on your new purse!

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tapestry crochet purse pattern / handbag tutorial

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shop the yarn for this tapestry crochet purse

• Jade yarn – Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
• Pink yarn Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton 
• Goldenrod yarn Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton 
• Black yarn Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton 

tapestry crochet purse pattern / handbag tutorial