Crochet Your Own Round Raffia Bag
Liven up your spring or summer wardrobe with this handsome crochet bag made with raffia and a strand of black linen.
Designed by Emma Wright and courtesy of Weekend Makes – Crocheted Bags: 25 Quick and Easy Projects to Make, curated by Emma Osmond, this bag is as fun to make as it is stylish to wear. You can personalise it by swapping the black linen for your favourite coloured yarn, or even a colour to complement a special outfit.
Skill level:
This project requires experience with crochet. To get familiar with crochet terminology, you can pick up a copy of the book from the Yodomo Bookshop.
YOU’LL NEED:
YARN
- No. 3 lightweight raffia yarn
- A – 1 x 100g Desert Palm
- No. 3 lightweight yarn
- B – 2 x 50g Kumo 411
HOOK
- 6mm (US J/10)
HABERDASHERY
- Large-eyed darning needle
- Stitch marker
- Dressmakers' pins
Round Raffia Bag Size
12in (30 cm) wide x 17in (43cm) high
TENSION
12sts and 15 rows to 4in (10cm), measured over double crochet using the 6mm hook.
Step-by-step method for making your round raffia bag
BAG PANEL (MAKE 2)
Using the 6mm hook and holding one strand each of yarn A and yarn B together, make 3ch;
ss into 1st ch to form a ring.
Round 1: 6dc into centre of ring, place marker to indicate beg/end of each round. 6sts.
Round 2: 2dc into each st. 12sts.
Round 3: (1dc into next st, 2dc into next st)
6 times. 18sts.
Round 4: (1dc into next 2sts, 2dc into next st)
6 times. 24sts.
Round 5: (1dc into next 3sts, 2dc in next st)
6 times. 30sts.
Round 6: (1dc into next 4sts, 2dc into next st)
6 times. 36sts.
Round 7: (1dc into next 5sts, 2dc into next st)
6 times. 42sts.
Round 8: (1dc into next 6sts, 2dc into next st)
6 times. 48sts.
Round 9: (1dc into next 7sts, 2dc in next st)
6 times. 54sts.
Round 10: (1dc into next 8sts, 2dc into next st) 6 times. 60sts.
Round 11: (1dc into next 9sts, 2dc in next st)
6 times. 66sts.
Round 12: (1dc into next 10sts, 2dc into next st) 6 times. 72sts.
Round 13: (1dc into next 11sts, 2dc into next st) 6 times. 78sts.
Round 14: (1dc into next 12sts, 2dc into next st) 6 times. 84sts.
Round 15: (1dc into next 13sts, 2dc into next st) 6 times. 90sts.
Round 16: (1dc into next 14sts, 2dc into next st) 6 times. 96sts.
Round 17: (1dc into next 15sts, 2dc into next st) 6 times. 102sts.
Round 18: (1dc into next 16sts, 2dc into the next st) 6 times. 108sts.
Handle base
Using the 6mm hook and one strand each of yarn A and B together; continue as follows:
Row 1: 1dc into next 14sts, turn.
Row 2 (WS): 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc into next 10sts, dc2tog, turn. 12sts.
Row 3: 1ch, 1dc in every st, turn.
Row 4: 1ch, 2dc into next st, 1dc into every st to the last st, 2dc into the last st, turn. 14sts.
First side of handle
Using the 6mm hook and one strand each of yarn A and B together; continue as follows:
Row 1: 1ch, 1dc into next 3sts, dc2tog, turn. 4sts.
Rows 2–8: 1ch, 1dc into next 3sts, turn. End with the RS facing.
Row 9: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc into next st, 2dc into next st, turn.
Row 10: 1ch, 2dc into next st, 1dc into next st, dc2tog, turn.
Rows 11 and 12: Repeat Rows 9 and 10.
Row 13: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc into next 2sts, turn. 3sts.
Row 14: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc into next st, turn. 2sts.
Row 15: 1ch, dc2tog.
Fasten off.
Second side of handle
Using the 6mm hook and one strand each of yarn A and B together; re-join yarn to last 5dc of 14sts at handle base as follows:
Row 1: Dc2tog, 1dc into next 3sts, turn. 4sts.
Rows 2–8: 1ch, 1dc into next 3sts, turn. End with the RS facing out.
Row 9: 1ch, 2dc into next st, 1dc into next st, dc2tog, turn.
Row 10: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc into next st, 2dc into next st, turn.
Rows 11 and 12: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.
Row 13: 1ch, 1dc into next 2sts, dc2tog, turn. 3sts.
Row 14: 1ch, 1dc into next st, dc2tog, turn. 2sts.
Row 15: 1ch, dc2tog.
Fasten off. Sew handle together.
SIDE PANEL
Using the 6mm hook, make 7ch.
Row 1: 1ch, 1dc into every ch to the end, turn.
Row 2: 1ch, 1dc into every st to the end, turn.
Repeat Row 2 only until the side measures approximately 23½in (60cm).
Fasten off.
MAKING UP
With one bag panel and the side panel WS together, pin the side panel into place around the first bag front.
Using the 6mm hook, and one strand each of yarn A and yarn B held together, dc st, join the side panel to the bag.
Join the second bag panel to the side panel in the same way.
Long strap
Using the 6mm hook and one strand each of yarn A and yarn B held together, make 106ch.
Row 1: 1dc into 2nd ch from the hook, 1dc into every ch to the end. 105sts.
Fasten off.
Join each side of the long strap to the bag approximately ½in (1cm) from the bottom of the bag handle on the main part of back bag panel.
Sew in any loose ends.
WHAT'S NEXT?
We hope you enjoyed making this fun and fashionable crochet round raffia bag, and we'd love to see the results! Share your creation on Instagram and tag @yodomo.co or hashtag #yodomomakes and we'll share it with our creative community.
Looking for even more gorgeous crochet bags to create? Pick up a copy of Emma's book Weekend Makes – Crocheted Bags: 25 Quick and Easy Projects to Make from the Yodomo Bookshop today.
