5 Free Crochet Shoulder Bag Patterns (Linked to Each Designer)

Each of these free crochet shoulder bag patterns is a real published pattern with written instructions, linked to the designer who wrote it. One takes about two hours, one is worked in macramé rope so it holds a rigid shape, and one is finished with hand embroidery.

Two things decide whether a crochet bag gets used: whether the fabric holds its shape under load, and whether the strap stretches. Both come down to yarn and attachment rather than stitch.

What you will need

Cotton, macramé rope, or acrylic held double — anything that resists stretching. A hook smaller than the yarn label suggests. Most of these are one or two skein projects.

Yarn	Result	Best for
Macramé rope	Rigid, holds its shape alone	Structured bags
Cotton	Firm, minimal stretch	Everyday use
Bulky acrylic	Soft and slouchy	Light loads; hold double for more

1. Greta Shoulder Bag

Three granny squares folded into triangles and joined — that is the whole construction, and it takes about two hours. TJ uses Lion Brand Hue and Me on 6.5 and 7 mm hooks to a 39 by 42 cm bag with a 43 cm strap. Beginner-friendly, and the quickest finished bag on this page by a wide margin. Free pattern: Greta Crochet Shoulder Bag.

2. Simple Crochet Shoulder Bag

Crocheted in one piece with the straps worked separately in rows, shaped with decreases and sewn on — so there is almost no finishing. Viv uses 70 grams of Red Heart Super Saver on a 5 mm hook for a small bag, 24 cm wide and 13.5 tall excluding the strap. Advanced beginner, and a genuine single-skein project. Free pattern: Simple Crochet Shoulder Bag.

3. Crochet Shoulder Bag by Joy of Motion

Two identical pieces worked separately, then joined by single crocheting through both layers — which gives a visible seamed edge as a design feature rather than something to hide. Janne Kleivset threads the handle through designated rows on both sides rather than sewing it flat, so it is replaceable. Three skeins on a 6.5 mm hook, 48 by 51 cm. Easy. Free pattern: Crochet Shoulder Bag.

4. Crochet Flower Purse

Two panels — one body, and a second that forms both the sides and the shoulder strap in a single piece — seamed together. Brianna Iaropoli then hand-embroiders lazy daisy flowers with modified French knot centres onto the single crochet fabric, which is the kind of finishing most crochet bags skip. Bulky yarn, or worsted held double, on a 5.5 mm hook. 13 by 10 inches. Free pattern: Free Crochet Flower Purse Pattern.

5. KCA Crochet Shoulder Bag

Worked in macramé rope rather than yarn — 2 mm rope on a 6 mm hook — which is why this bag holds a rigid shape where the others drape. Wan builds the texture from single crochet alternating with single crochet spike stitches across 22 rounds. About 170 yards for a bag 21.7 inches around and 10 tall. Rated easy, and #5 bulky yarn substitutes if rope is hard to find. Free pattern: KCA Crochet Shoulder Bag.

The 5 patterns compared

Pattern	Designer	Hook	Size	Yarn	Level
Greta Shoulder Bag	TJ, Passionate Crafter	6.5 / 7.0 mm	39 × 42 cm	Bulky	Beginner
Simple Shoulder Bag	Viv	5.0 mm	24 × 13.5 cm	Worsted	Adv. beginner
Crochet Shoulder Bag	Janne Kleivset	6.5 mm	48 × 51 cm	Worsted	Easy
Crochet Flower Purse	Brianna Iaropoli	5.5 mm	13″ × 10″	Bulky	Not stated
KCA Shoulder Bag	Wan, KnitcroAddict	6.0 mm	21.7″ around	Macramé rope	Easy

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop a shoulder strap stretching?

Work it in rows of solid stitches rather than as a chain, and attach it to the bag body rather than to the top edge alone. Threading the strap through designated rows, as the Joy of Motion bag does, spreads the load across several rows instead of concentrating it at two points.

What yarn makes a bag that keeps its shape?

Macramé rope or cotton. Rope is stiff enough to hold a rigid shape on its own — the KCA bag relies on it. Cotton is the next best. Acrylic works for a soft slouchy bag but will stretch under weight, and holding it double helps a great deal.

Which is the quickest shoulder bag?

The Greta, at around two hours: three granny squares folded into triangles and joined. Nothing else here comes close, and it is beginner-friendly. If you need a gift by this evening, that is the one.

Do crochet bags need a lining?

Only if the fabric is open. Solid single crochet in a firm yarn needs nothing. Anything with chain spaces or an open texture will let small items through, and a simple hand-sewn fabric lining fixes it in an hour.

For a bag finished this afternoon, the three-square Greta. For one that will still look like a bag in a year, choose rope or cotton and pick a pattern where the strap is worked into the body. Each link goes to the designer’s own page.