How To Crochet A Granny Square Bag

Sudden Crochet Inspiration

I had no idea that I was going to make a Granny Square bag last week, no idea at all! I was dashing off somewhere and felt I could do with taking a little crochet project with me. Hurriedly, random balls of yarn were grabbed and off out I went. Those random balls of yarn were about to become granny squares, which were about to become a yarny, patchwork bag! Yay!

I didn’t have enough yarn to crochet a blanket, which made me wonder what else I could turn the colourful granny squares into. I considered making a cushion, but what got me really excited was the idea of a crochet bag! It’s a tricky thing to take a picture of, the bright colours shout so loudly that they blow the pics out!

I used leftover yarn stash of Paintbox acrylic aran yarn and, just because I fancied it, used a Join As You Go method.

Make a Crochet Granny Bag

To crochet your own granny square bag, you’ll need a few things. Here they are:

• Colourful yarn in various colours (I used aran weight, but any yarn is fine).
• 4.5mm hook (if using a different weight, make sure to use the right sized hook for the weight of yarn you use).
• Bag handles (I recommend searching for “long bag handles” on eBay or Etsy, that’s what I did!)
• Lining fabric (something measuring a couple of inches bigger than your finished crochet piece)
• Darning needle for when you’re sewing with yarn
• Pins, sewing needle and thread for when making up the lining.

The main body of the bag is a bog standard gang of grannies; super quick and easy to do! Rounds of three, joined together in 8 rows of 5 squares (you’ll either need more rows or more rounds for each square if you’re using DK yarn; check out my tutorial for a double knit version here).

My piece measured 15.5 x 27 inches (40 x 68cm).

How to Place Colours in Crochet

Every now and again, it is worth checking to see that the spread of colour is even. I eyeball the colour layout for the granny squares, taking into consideration how colours look when they sit next to each other. I also make sure to know what I’ve got left in stash so that I don’t accidentally run out of a shade halfway through. If you take a look at the picture above, you can see that the colours are evenly distributed.

Adding Handles to a Crochet Bag

Once the main body of the crochet bag is complete,  the handle sections need to be shaped. It’s not as tricky as it looks, and luckily, accuracy is not paramount. I don’t mind a project that needs a bit of bodging, and crochet is usually very forgiving when it comes to bodging! Not that you need to bodge it, I’m just saying!!

Note that UK terms are used (a UK treble is a US double crochet)

1. At one end of the main body (right side facing), work a strip of granny clusters starting with a ch3 and 1tr in the first st and ending with 2tr on the last stitch of the row. Straddle the square joins with (1tr, tr2tgr, 1tr).  You can kind of see what I’ve done on the picture above, but I also show you how to add this edge across granny squares (about 2:40 into the vid)
2. Turn the work. Ch2,  1htr in each stitch along to the end. Turn.
3. Ch1, slip stitch along approximately 10 stitches (you want the narrow section to be the same width as the handle slot). Ch2, 1htr in each stitch along, missing the last (approx) 10sts. Turn.
4. Ch2, 1htr in each stitch of the last row. To widen the work again, ch13, Turn.
5. 1htr in 3rd ch from hk. 1htr in each st along to the end. Continue by adding 10 more stitches using a chainless foundation half double stitch. This is actually lovely to do, I promise. I have a video that shows you how, it’s here:  The Foundationless Start. Skip the first bit of the video (that explains the same technique for a UK dc). Turn.
6. Ch2, htr all the way along. Turn.
7. Repeat row 6. Fasten off.
8. Repeat 1-7 on the other end of the bag.

Next, with the right side facing, evenly stitch UK doubles (US single crochet) all the way down the edge of both lengths. Don’t fasten off yet…

Fold the granny square bag in half and, using the yarn still on the hook, slip stitch the sides together. Repeat on the other side.

Tuck the handle bits through the handle holes/slots, then fold down to the inside and pin, ready for sewing closed.

The stitches don’t have to be super neat. If you use matching yarn, you won’t see if you’re making a dog’s dinner of it! Try not to come through to the right side, though, or if you do, make the stitches small, so they’re not staring at you. Don’t forget the top bits at the ends.

Add Lining to Your Crochet Bag

Next, you need to add the lining. It’s not 100% necessary, but I think it looks better, and you won’t have your stuff escaping through granny holes!

Fold a length of fabric in half, right sides together. Place the granny square bag on top and mark/draw where you need to sew. Also, mark where you want the fold of your top hem to go. Sew down both sides to make the bag cavity. Next, iron the seams nice and flat. At the same time, fold down the top hem and press. I went back to the sewing machine and top-stitched the hem.

Tuck the lining into your bag, pin it in place, and hand sew the top of the lining to the top of the crochet! And there you have it, a crochet bag of your own!

Oh goodness, I think I need a course in how to photograph bright colours!!

I would absolutely love to hear from you if you make one of my designs. If you do, please give me a shout. I’d love it if you said Hi! Don’t forget that I’m on Ravelry, so your makes can be added there. Oh, and I almost forgot Instagram!

And don’t forget to check out my other Free Crochet Patterns, right here on my blog. Not to mention some super useful Crochet Tips & Tricks, here!

Thank you. X