Circle Crocheted Purses: A Perfect Warm Weather Accessory

I have had so much fun exploring some of the possibilities for creating these circle crocheted purses.  This is my second article in my crocheted purse series, and I am delighted to share my creative discoveries with my readers. I have made 5 piece so far, but I keep coming up with new ideas for the colors, closings, straps, hardware, and patterns..

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 My yarn is a worsted #4 weight cotton yarn. Most of my crocheted pieces use Lily Sugar and Cream that come in a large variety of colors.The H (5.0 mm) hook provides a positive amount of structure.  To execute my pieces, I have used, Double Crochet (DC), Half Double Crochet (HDC), Single Crochet (SC), and Slip Stitches stitches, 

After scrolling through numerous pictures of circle bags on Pinterest and through Google searches, I decided to design my own.  I had an interesting skein of white and black variegated cotton yarn from Lily Sugar and Cream that I thought would make a cool accent for my white summer ware.  While many crocheters make small crocheted ring to start their circle bags, I like to start with a Magic Circle as I can draw the yarn tight so that there is no visible opening.
Row 1:   I created a magic circle and made a SC to secure it.  Then I SC crocheted 6.
Row 2:  I increase in each stitch to end with 12 stitches. Place stitch marker in last stitch.
Row 3: (SC, inc) * around for 18 stitches. Move marker to last stitch.  For each row move the marker.  I will not continue to repeat this direction.
Row 4: (2SC, Inc)* around (24 stitches)
Row 5: (3SC, inc)* around (30 stitches.
Row 6: (4 SC, inc)* around (36 stitches)
Continue to increase circle size by increasing the number of sitches between the increases in each round until I had a diameter of about 8 1/2 or 21 centimers. Close off and weave in ends,
​Crochet a second circle.

To assemble the purse I decided to leave the stitches on the outside instead of turning it inside out.  This gave it a flat streamlined look. I placed the circles so that the right side of each faced out and SC around through the top stitch of both layers until lthere was a 6 inch opening left.
This purse would be a hand purse, but the strap would be long enough to place over my shoulder. If it would be too long for a hand purse, simple tie the strap in a knot. When I fininsihed the outside stitching, ​I fastened off, but I did not cut the yarn. Instead I chained about 50-60 stitches until I crocheted onto the D-ring side of my clip hardware that would close the purse. Then I SC back to the start and anchored the strap onto the purse. On the other side of the purse opening I sewed the other D-ring into the fabric.  To make the opening more secure, I attached a lovely flat black 1 1/2 inch )3 cm) two hole button to the front of the bag and crocheted loop that attached to the back.   All that was left was to create a black and variegated tassel to the starting handle (opposite the clip opening).

I crocheted a second hand purse with beige/toupe yarn. This time I used a double crochet stitch in the back loop only to create a distinctive raised edge. This purse did not make complete circle.  Instead there was a V -opening. Rather than crochet all around, the crocheting has to stop at the middle and steps are reversed.  At every other round decreases are made on both sides so that the V takes shape.  Crochet a second circle following the same directions.

​To assemble, I placed the wrong sides together and single crocheted from one side of the opening to the other.  Then I turned the purse right side out so that there was a more rounded edge.  This strap was shorter.  I made a slip knot and attached it to the left side of the purse before making a 32 stitch chain that I attached to the otherr side of the opening., I crocheted a single crochet (SC) into the purse mad a Half Double Crochet (HDC) into each stitch of the chain back to the first side and anchored it in with another SC. To complete the strap I HDC back and SC to the purse before fastening off.  I left a tail iand cut the yarn. I weaved in all ends To decorate the purse I made a series brown and beige, and caramel lbeads that I fastened to the first side of the purse.  To secure the opening, I sewed a tourtoise shell colored 1 inch button into the circle just below the V opening.  A chained loop loop that was the same color as the purse was sewed to the other side. I have purchased some cotton cloth to line the purse and to give it structure.

Now I was ready for the crossbody purses.  As I wear a great deal of denim, I decided to couple denim yarn with off-white to create a graphic design.  Also I had purchased an artisan crafted button at the Connecticut Sheep and Wool Festival, and I wanted to incorporate it in the design closure.  For this purse, I would be working with HDC. I crocheted a denim circle untilI go to about 6 inches. Then I changed colors to the off-white for one round before transitioning back to the denim for three rounds. The last three rounds were done in off white.  For the denim purse I would be stitching on the right side for assembly so that it would lie flat.  The decorative piece would be the 2 inch blue tone flowered button that I sewed 3 inches (8 cm) below the opening.

For the closure, I chained 5 inches (about 20).  In Row 1, I HDC in second chain from hook to the end.  Row2 2:  Ch 1 and turn work.  HDC to the end. Row 3:  C1 and turn work.  Crochet 3 HDC. chain 8 and skip 8 stitches.  HDC to end.  Row 4:  Ch 1 and turn work. HDC to
beginning of button hole make 8 HDC around chain to enclose the buttonhole.  HDC to the end.  Ch1 and turn work.Row 5: HDC to beginning.  Ch 1and turn work. Row 6:  HDC length of  
strip.  Sew button 2 11/2 inches from top of opening.  Secure buttonhole strap of other side of purse so that it lays flat and makes for secure button closure.  Weave in ends.

For the strap I sewed in D-Rings of both sides of the purse. I used cross-body bag that I wore frequently as a model and made a chain that was similar in length. I started securing the chain to one ring, chained across and fastened the yarn the opposing D ring.  Then I HDC across.  Then I secured the yarn to the first D ring before HDC back.  After finally securing the yarn again.  I fastened off leaving a tail.   Then I wove in all yarns.

My favorite purse came next.  This was to be a birthday resent for my son-in-law's mother.
Black was her favorite color and matched most of her clothes.   I had found some lovely pendants for sale at my local Joanne's.  She chose an simple rectangular grey stone for her purse. Therefore, I inserted a few rows of grey about an inch in from the final rows before returning to black. In making this purse, I found that if I altered the routine pattern for a circle I could make my cotton circles lie flatter. Therefore, when I got to about row 4 I repeated the number of stitches between the increases for another row, There would be more fabric.  I did this a few times as I enlarged  the purse.  

The closure for this purse was a bit different.  I crocheted a 3 inch strip that was ahout 4 inches of  4 rows of HDC Then I attached the pendant about 1/2 from the bottom edge of the right side of the strip.  I connected the strip to the back of the purse so the the strip lay across the opening.  Then I fixed a magnetic snap to the bottom of the strip and to the place where it hit the purse.  Alice was delighted with her gift and was pleased with the ease of the magnetic snap.

My final piece was rather Boho with a southwestern vibe. I chose rich brown for the main color with turquoise and sand for the contrasting colors of the circle. What made this design different was the use of wooden circles to attach the crossbody strap and the larger circle on the closure.  I used the smaller wooden in the same way I had attached the D-rings in other purses.  To make closure I crocheted a strip that was about 7 inches (18 cm) There were 2 rows each of brown turquoise and sand,  I threaded the strip through the larger ring, folded the strip in half, and fastened both thicknesses to the back side of the opening.  Then I sewed a magnetic snap to the purse and to the back of ringed strip.

I  have so many ideas bouncing around in my head, but I have to get to other kinds of projects.  I also am going to line some of the purses with fabric so that nothing pokes through.  The lining will also give more structure to some of the designs.  A friend with a sewing machine is going to help me with some simple stitching to speed up my process. It is much faster and neater than my hand sewing.

Thank you for joining me in my latest version of crocheted purses.  As always I appreciate your reflections and feedback. I welcome you to jin me on my stitching journey.