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Tobago Bag, an easy crochet summer bag pattern made from hexagons

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When warm weather calls, drop the essentials into your Tobago Bag and go! Access the full free pattern and helpful tutorial video for this crochet summer bag in this blog post.

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Beginner friendly crochet summer bag easy crochet pattern for crossbody purse made from hexagons with mercerized cotton | TLYCBlog.com

Get the Tobago Bag from TLYarnCrafts.com or Ravelry. The printable PDF version is an ad-free pattern for easy crocheting! Or, find the all-in-one kit available HERE.

Keep scrolling for the free version of the Tobago Bag, which is available to view at the bottom of this blog post.

How to Make a Crochet Summer Bag

When it’s time to pack for an impromptu road trip or that much-anticipated girls’ getaway, you need that one bag that can hold the most important things. The unique shape and construction of the Tobago Bag result in a go-to piece for wherever the summer takes you. The sturdy fabric of mercerized cotton plays well with details like a decorative tie and long crossbody strap.

A crochet summer bag like this one is perfect for practicing your newfound skills. The Tobago Bag pattern uses simple stitches – like single and double crochet – while challenging you to incorporate increased stitches and meticulous seaming techniques. Personalize your piece by playing with colors and adding novelty beads to the tie.

Beginner friendly crochet summer bag easy crochet pattern for crossbody purse made from hexagons with mercerized cotton | TLYCBlog.com

I went with Lion Brand’s 24/7 Cotton for the Tobago Bag, which was the perfect choice. 24/7 Cotton is a mercerized cotton, meaning it’s been treated to have an extra coating on the yarn itself. It has a lustrous look and a stronger texture. This works especially well for a bag that will stretch and flex with use. The original sample of the Tobago Bag uses 4 colors, but you can achieve an interesting effect using just one or two colors.

Get the Tobago Bag in an all-in-one kit from Lion Brand, which includes the PDF pattern and all the yarn you need. Add in your extra notions to get stitching the easy way. GET YOUR KIT HERE!

Pattern Testers

I had the pleasure of working with an amazing group to test the Tobago Bag. Each one is slightly different and shows off the versatility of this fun crochet summer bag pattern. Draw inspiration from their amazing makes, and consider following them on Instagram.

COLUMN 1

COLUMN 2

COLUMN 3

Beginner friendly crochet summer bag easy crochet pattern for crossbody purse made from hexagons with mercerized cotton | TLYCBlog.com

Get the Tobago Bag:

  • Get the ad-free printable pattern HERE
  • Find an all-in-one kit HERE
  • Shop the yarn for this pattern HERE
  • Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue HERE
  • Pin this pattern to your Pinterest board HERE

Tobago Bag Details

MATERIALS

  • Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, 4 skeins total. Sample is made with one skein each in Jade (A), Creamsicle (B), Pink Lemonade (C), and Ecru (D)
  • 3.5mm and 4mm crochet hook (like these ones!)
  • Scissors
  • Tapestry needle
  • 2 – 15mm wood beads (optional)

FINISHED SIZE

12” at widest point (along middle, not along bottom) x 14” long, measured flat after light blocking; strap has 13” drop

GAUGE

17 dc x 9 rows using 3.5mm hook = 4”, unblocked

ABBREVIATIONS

Ch = chain

Ch-Sp = chain space

Dc = double crochet

Dc3tog = double crochet 3 together

Dec = decrease (see Special Stitches)

Lp(s) = loop(s)

Lts = Last Tunisian Stitch (see Special Stitches)

Rep = repeat

RS = right side

Sk = skip

Sl St = slip stitch

Sp = space

St(s) = stitches

Tch = turning chain

Tks = Tunisian knit stitch (see Special Stitches)

Yo = yarn over

SPECIAL STITCHES

  • Decrease (dec): yo, insert hook under front lps only of each of the next 2 sts, (yo, pull through 2 lps) 3 times.
  • Double Crochet 3 Together (dc3tog): Yo, pull up a loop in each of the indicated sts, yo, pull through 3 lps, (yo, pull through 2 lps) 2 times.
  • Last Tunisian Stitch (lts): Insert hook under BOTH vertical bars of the last st and pull up a lp.
  • Tunisian Knit Stitch (tks): Insert hook between the front and back bar of the next st and push hook to back of work, yo, pull up a lp.

PATTERN NOTES

  • Ch-3 counts as first dc.
  • Ch-5 counts as dc + ch 2.
  • Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of stitches in that round.
  • HELPFUL VIDEOS: Standing double crochet – HOW TO. Mattress stitch seam – HOW TO. Tunisian Knit Stitch – HOW TO.

Need a little help making your crochet summer bag? Use this video as a guide while you’re stitching!

Tobago Bag Pattern

HEXAGON (MAKE 2)

With A and 3.5mm hook, ch 5, sl st in first ch to make a ring.

ROUND 1 (RS): Ch 5, [(3dc, ch 2) 5 times, dc 2] in ring, sl st in 3rd ch of tch. DO NOT TURN. (18 dc)

ROUND 2: Sl st into ch-sp, ch 5, dc in same ch-2 sp, [dc in each dc to next ch-2 sp*, (dc 1, ch 2, dc 1) in ch-2 sp] around, ending last rep at *, sl st in 3rd ch of tch. (30 dc)

ROUNDS 3-4: Rep Round 2. Fasten off after Round 4. (54 dc) ROUND 5: With RS facing, join B with a standing dc in any ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc in same ch-2 sp, [dc in each dc to next ch-2 sp*, (dc 1, ch 2, dc 1) in ch-2 sp] around, ending last rep at *, sl st in first dc of round. (66 dc)

ROUND 5: With RS facing, join B with a standing dc in any ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc in same ch-2 sp, [dc in each dc to next ch-2 sp*, (dc 1, ch 2, dc 1) in ch-2 sp] around, ending last rep at *, sl st in first dc of round. (66 dc)

ROUNDS 6-7: Rep Round 2. Fasten off after Round 7. (90 dc)

ROUND 8: With RS facing, join C with a standing dc in any ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc in same ch-2 sp, [dc in each dc to next ch-2 sp*, (dc 1, ch 2, dc 1) in ch-2 sp] around, ending last rep at *, sl st in first dc of round. (102 dc)

ROUNDS 9-10: Rep Round 2. Fasten off after Round 10. (126 dc)

ROUND 11: With RS facing, join D with a standing dc in any ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc in same ch-2 sp, [dc in each dc to next ch-2 sp*, (dc 1, ch 2, dc 1) in ch-2 sp] around, ending last rep at *, sl st in first dc of round. (138 dc)

ROUNDS 12-13: Rep Round 2. Fasten off after Round 13. (162 dc)

Beginner friendly crochet summer bag easy crochet pattern for crossbody purse made from hexagons with mercerized cotton | TLYCBlog.com

SQUARE

With A and 3.5mm hook, ch 4, sl st in first ch to make a ring.

ROUND 1 (RS): Ch 3, [dc 3, (ch 2, dc 4) 3 times] in ring, ch 2, sl st in 3rd ch of tch. Fasten off. (16 dc)

ROUND 2: With RS facing, join B with a standing dc in any ch-2 sp, (dc 1, ch 2, dc 2) in same ch-2 sp, [dc in each dc to next ch-2 sp*, (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in next ch-2 sp] around, ending last rep at *, sl st first dc of round. (32 dc)

ROUND 3: Sl st in next st, sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc 1, ch 2, 2dc) in same ch-2 sp, [dc in each dc to next ch-2 sp*, (dc 2, ch 2, dc 2) in next ch-2 sp] around, ending last rep at *, sl st in 3rd ch of tch. Fasten off. (48 dc)

ROUNDS 4-5: Rep Rounds 2-3 with C. Fasten off at the end of Round 5. (80 dc)

ROUND 6: Rep Round 2 with D. (96 dc)

ROUND 7: Sl st in next st, sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc 1, ch 2, 2dc) in same ch-2 sp, [dc 11, dec, dc to next ch-2 sp*, (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in ch-2 sp] around, ending last rep at *, sl st in 3rd ch of tch. Fasten off. (108 dc)

ASSEMBLY

Weave in all ends.

With RS facing up and using D, mattress stitch seam motifs together using the back loops only:

Step 1: Seam two sides of the Square to two sides of a Hexagon. Repeat for the other Hexagon.

Step 2: Fold Square and Hexagons in half from point to point. Seam sides of Hexagons together.

TOP BORDER

With D, join with standing dc in 2nd dc of Hexagon near the join.

ROUND 1: Dc in each of the next 2 sts, *(ch 2, sk 3 sts, dc in each of the next 3 sts)* 3 times, ch 2, sk 3 sts, dc in each of the next 2 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp, dc in each of the next 2 sts, , rep * to * 4 times, dc3tog over next dc, join space, and following dc, dc in each of the next 3 sts, rep * to * 3 times, ch 2, sk 3 sts, dc in each of the next 2 sts, (dc 1, ch 2, dc 1) in ch-2 sp, dc in each of the next 2 sts, rep * to * 4 times, ch 1, dc in join space, ch 1, sl st in first dc to join.

ROUND 2: Ch 3, sk st at base of ch, dc in each of the next 2 sts, (3dc in ch-sp, dc in each of the next 3 sts) 4 times, (dc 1, ch 2, dc 1) in ch-2 sp, (dc in each of the next 3 sts, 3dc in ch-sp) 4 times, dc in each of the next 2 sts, dc3tog over next 3 sts, dc in each of the next 2 sts, (3dc in ch-2p, dc in each of the next 3 sts) 4 times, (dc 1, ch 2, dc 1) in ch-2 sp, (dc in each of the next 3 sts, 3dc in ch-sp) 4 times, dc in each of the next 3 sts, dc3tog over ch-1 sp, next st, and following ch-1 sp, sl st in 3rd ch of tch to join. Fasten off.

Steam block bag to finished dimensions.

Beginner friendly crochet summer bag easy crochet pattern for crossbody purse made from hexagons with mercerized cotton | TLYCBlog.com

TIE

With D and 4mm hook, leave a 4” tail and make a chain that is 45 inches long unstretched. Fasten off, leaving a 4” tail.

Continue with D. Leaving a 4” tail, sl st in each ch across. Fasten off leaving a 4” tail.

Thread the tie through the ch-sps of Top Border – Round 1. Weave in the ends.

OPTIONAL – Using the remaining ends, add 1 – 15mm bead to each end of the tie. Fasten off ends.

STRAP

The strap is made using the Tunisian Knit Stitch (HOW TO). This technique creates a smooth, flat fabric that is comfortable for a strap. You do not need a special hook for this technique, as we will have only a few stitches working at a time. I made my strap using a Clover crochet hook.

ROW 1: With D and 4mm hook, leave a 6” tail and ch 5. Pull up a loop in the back bump of the 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch (5 lps on hook), ch 1, (yo, pull through 2 lps) until 1 lp remains on hook.

ROW 2: Sk the st under the lp that is on the hook, tks each of the next 3 sts, Lts last st, ch 1, (yo, pull through 2 lps) until 1 lp remains on hook.

Rep Row 2 until strap measures 27” long. Sl st each st across row to bind off leaving a 6” tail. Fasten off. Steam block strap to 28” long. Thread ends of strap through ch-2 sps of Top Border – Round 2. Fold approximately 1” of strap end onto itself and seam together using the 6” tails to secure the strap to the bag.  

Beginner friendly crochet summer bag easy crochet pattern for crossbody purse made from hexagons with mercerized cotton | TLYCBlog.com

FINISHING

Weave in all remaining ends.

Lightly steam block bag and strap if needed.


Prefer an ad-free, printable pattern? Get the Tobgao Bag pattern HERE.

Share your crochet summer bag with me on Instagram using #TobagoBag. Then pop over to the TLYC Makers Facebook group and share there, too – we can’t wait to see it!

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Comments

  1. AvatarAmy C. says

    Toni, I just finished my Tobago bag and I am in love. My favorite thing I’ve ever made and I’ve been crocheting a long time. I love the geometric look and I also love that I learned some new techniques like the mattress join and the Tunisian knit stitch. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent with us. I’m looking forward to trying more of your patterns.

  2. AvatarToni Tipton says

    Hi Toni,
    This is also Toni. I just love your bag. I just finished my third one. I’m addicted tthis pattern. Thank you so much.

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