Carter Granny Bag, A Free Crochet Bag Pattern
Upgrade your fall wardrobe with trendy crochet style after making the Carter Granny Bag, a FREE crochet pattern design for Crochet Academy.
The chill of fall is in the air, and my first chore to prepare for cooler weather is to change to a larger handbag. Time to pack away the teeny crossbody bags and brunch purses. I need something that will carry alllll of my autumn essentials, and the Carter Granny Bag fits the bill. Get ready for fall when you make your own cute granny square bag using this FREE crochet pattern!
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PIN IT NOW, MAKE IT LATER!
Make the Carter Granny Bag!
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Carter Granny Bag
- PRINTABLE PDF: Get a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF version of the Carter Granny Bag from Ravelry or TLYarnCrafts.com
- PROJECT KIT: Customize your Carter Granny Bag project kit from Lion Brand HERE
Easy Crochet Bag Pattern
The Crochet Academy is all about learning how to crochet and feeling proud of your progress. What better way to practice your new crochet skills than by making a cute crochet bag to show off all you’ve learned? The Carter Granny Bag lets you practice so many skills in one project, including the magic ring, working in the round, and color changes.
In past Crochet Academy lessons, we’ve focused on small items as our first project, including the Sunrise Coaster and the Half Moon Washcloth. This time, we’re going BIG! The Carter Granny Bag might be a bigger commitment, but it’s also a practical project that will get a lot of use. I imagine it being used as a project bag or even hauling your laptop for a cute coffee shop workday.
A Great Cotton Blend for your Crochet Bag
Cotton holds the crown as the best yarn fiber for sturdy accessories due to its durability and softness. But, one of the significant drawbacks of cotton is its lack of stitch memory – it often stretches without bouncing back. The remedy? A yarn blend! And Lion Brand has come up with the perfect combination in Made With Love, The Cottony One.
The Carter Granny Bag is the first project I’ve tried using Lion Brand’s Made With Love, The Cottony One. Developed in collaboration with Olympian Tom Daley, The Cottony One blends super soft cotton and strong acrylic. Together, these fibers create a spongy, rope-like yarn that’s perfect for bags, rugs, pillows, and anything else that needs to hold up after repeated uses. The palette of 17 colors includes creamy and faded hues, as well as several neutrals that would look great in any season.
See the full Cottony One color palette HERE!
Make the Carter Granny Bag!
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Carter Granny Bag
- PRINTABLE PDF: Get a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF version of the Carter Granny Bag from Ravelry or TLYarnCrafts.com
- PROJECT KIT: Customize your Carter Granny Bag project kit from Lion Brand HERE
Carter Granny Bag Details
DESCRIPTION
Grab the Carter Granny Bag for your next epic adventure! This version of a modular granny square crochet bag uses an alternative square design to prevent your valuables from slipping through the stitches. A simple color change adds bold visual detail, while the long strap makes this a comfortable shoulder bag. Sport this casual tote for slow mornings at the farmers’marketr or productive afternoons at the coffee shop.
MATERIALS
- Lion Brand Made With Love The Cottony One, 2 skeins of Color A (Pewter Pan – gray) and 2 skeins of Color B (Flaming Amber – orange). Substitute the worsted weight yarn of your choice. You will need about 295 yards of Color A and 225 yards of Color B. Check your gauge!
- 4.5mm crochet hook (like this one!)
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Steam blocking supplies (learn more)
FINISHED SIZE
16″ across at widest point, 12.5″ long measured across center; handle is 1.75″ wide and 23″ long
GAUGE
Square measures 7″ across center after 5 rounds, measured corner to corner
ABBREVIATIONS
Beg-ch = beginning chain
BLO = back loop only
CC = change color
Dc = double crochet
RS = right side
Sc = single crochet
Sk = skip
Sp = space
St = stitch
V-st = v-stitch (see Special Stitch below)
NOTES
- SPECIAL STITCH – V-Stitch (v-st): 2dc in sp between next 2 double crochet stitches
- Join with a slip stitch were instructed
- Starting ch-3 counts as first dc; starting ch-4 counts as first dc + ch 1.
Carter Granny Bag Pattern
Let’s make this lovely crochet bag together! Follow my tutorial below!
Granny Squares (make 3)
NOTES:
- Granny squares are made in joined rounds without turning.
- Some cupping may occur while making your square. This is normal. Continue in pattern – your fabric will flatten out.
ROUND 1: With A, ch 4, [2dc, ch 2, (3dc, ch 2) 3 times] in 4th ch from hook, join in 3rd ch of beg-ch. (12 dc)
ROUND 2: Ch 3, dc in ch-sp at base of starting ch, [sk 3dc, (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in next ch-sp] 3 times, sk 3dc, 2dc in last ch-sp, ch 2, join in top of beg-ch. (16 dc)
ROUND 3: Ch 3, dc in ch-sp at base of starting ch, v-st in each 2dc group to next corner, [(2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, v-st in each 2dc group to next corner] around to last ch-sp, 2dc in last ch-sp, ch 2, join in top of beg-ch. (4 v-sts on each edge)
ROUNDS 4-5: Repeat Round 3. (8 v-sts on each edge)
ROUND 6: Ch 3, dc in ch-sp at base of starting ch, sk next 2dc, v-st in each 2dc group to 2dc before corner, sk next 2dc, [(2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in corner, sk next 2dc, v-st in each 2dc group to 2dc before corner, sk 2dc] around to last ch-sp, 2dc in last ch-sp, ch 2, join in top of beg-ch. (8 v-sts on each edge)
ROUNDS 7-10: Repeat Round 3. CC to B at the end of Round 10, fasten off A. (16 v-sts on each edge)
ROUND 11: With B, repeat Round 6. (16 v-sts on each edge)
ROUND 12: Repeat Round 3. (18 v-sts on each edge)
For 2 squares, fasten off, leaving a 25” tail for seaming. For the 3rd square, fasten off, leaving enough tail to weave in the end.
Fold all squares in half into triangles with RS facing out and arrange as seen in diagram below. Mattress stitch seam (tutorial) squares together through the back loops only, using the instructions in the diagram. Weave in all ends when seaming is complete.
Triangles (make 2)
ROW 1: With A, ch 4, (3dc, ch 2, 4dc) in 4th ch from hook, turn. (8 dc)
ROW 2: Ch 3, sk dc at base of ch and next dc, 2dc in next dc, sk next dc, (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in next ch-sp, sk next dc, 2dc in next dc, sk next dc, dc in top of tch, turn. (4 v-sts + 2 dc)
ROW 3: Ch 3, 2dc in sp before next dc, v-st in each 2dc group to next corner, (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, v-st in each 2dc group to tch, 2dc in sp before tch, dc in top of tch, turn. CC to B, fasten off A. (8 v-sts + 2 dc)
ROWS 4-5: With B, repeat Row 3. Fasten off after Row 5, leaving a 12” tail on both triangles. (16 v-sts + 2 dc)
Arrange triangle with RS facing out as shown in diagram. Mattress stitch seam through the back loops only, attaching the triangle to the bag using the instructions in the diagram. Repeat for the other triangle. Weave in all ends.
Border
ROUND 1: With B, join with a standing sc (tutorial) in either corner ch-sp, sc in same sp as join, sc around bag opening as follows:
- Sc in each dc
- 2sc in the side of each dc
- (2sc, ch 2, 2sc) in corner ch-sp
Complete instructions until you reach the first ch-sp, 2sc in first ch-sp, ch 2, join in first sc of round. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Strap
ROW 1: With B, ch 7, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc BLO across row, turn. (6 sc)
ROW 2: Ch 1, sc across row, catching the back loop + the free loop of the stitch one row below (thermal stitch tutorial), turn.
Repeat Row 2 until the strap measures 23” when slightly stretched. Fasten off.
Using a length of Color B, seam straps to the inside of the tips of the bag, making sure strap ends only overlap with Color B at tip of squares.
Finishing
- Weave in all remaining ends.
- Pin crochet bag to final measurements and lightly steam block.
Prefer a printable version of this pattern? Find it here!
With just 5 simple motifs and a sturdy yet flexible handle, your handmade crochet bag is complete! I think you deserve a special treat for finishing your Carter Granny Bag. Why not leash up the dog and take your new purse for a stroll to the coffee shop? Grab a shaken oat milk espresso for me, please and thank yew!!
Once you’re fully caffeinated, be sure to show off your bag in the TLYC Makers Facebook Group and tag @TLYarnCrafts on Instagram. We can’t wait to see how you made this crochet bag your own.
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