It is back to school time again and it’s the perfect time to whip up this super cute crochet bag pattern. This is a toddler-sized back to school Tunisian crochet bag pattern with a fun chalkboard and pencil graphic and cute pockets! The size can easily be customized by adding more stitches beyond the colorwork and increasing the length by adding in more rows!
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Materials:
Yarn:
Col A – Big Twist Value Yarn in Emerald (200 yards)
Col B – Lily Sugar and Cream in Black (38 yards)
Col C – Lily Sugar and Cream in Pink (scrap yarn 12 in.)
Col D – Big Twist Baby Yarn in White (12 yards)
Col E – Big Twist Baby Yarn in Elephant (30 yards)
Col F – Big Twist Baby Yarn in Daffodil (20 yards)
Col G – Lily Sugar and Cream in Soft Ecru (10 yards)
Hooks
6.5 mm K Tunisian crochet hook with 24 in. cord (check out my favorite set of hooks!)
Notions:
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Measuring Tape
Abbreviations:
Ch- Chain
TSS – Tunisian Simple Stitch
RetP – Return Pass
Sl St – Slip Stitch
MkB – Make Bobble
St(s) – Stitch(es)
Gauge: 12 st over 16 rows for 4 x 4 in. square in TSS
Notes:
- This pattern uses a few Tunisian crochet techniques. Use the following video tutorials as needed:
- Pattern rows are Forward pass instructions.
- The following instruction are implied:
- The loop already on the hook at the beginning of the row counts as the first st.
- Always TSS in the last st of the row, being sure to work under both loops of the st.
- Return Pass: Follow the foundation row and each row with the Return Pass in the same color.
- Return Pass Instructions: Ch 1, *yarn over, pull through two loops; repeat from * until 1 loop remains on the hook
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Get the Tunisian Back 2 School Bag Pattern PDF FREE from Aug. 9th 8 AM EST to Aug. 10th 8 AM EST as part of the Back 2 School Email Hop hosted by Anvi’s Granny Crochet. Get the FREE Pattern HERE starting at Aug. 9th at 8 AM EST!
If you would rather not hop around, you can grab the complete Back 2 School Email Hop bundle HERE complete with 20 beautiful back 2 school crochet patterns. This bundle expires at midnight at the end of August.
Crochet Bag Pattern:
Foundation Row: Chain 60 with Col A
Rows 2 to 4: TSS across, normal RetP
Join Col B
Row 5 and 6: (Col B) x 21, (Col A) x 38
Row 7: (Col B) x 3, (Col C) x 3, (Col B) x 8, (Col D) x 3, (Col B) x 4, (Col A) x 38
Row 8: (Col B) x 3, (Col C) x 3, (Col B) x 7, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col A) x 38
Row 9: (Col B) x 3, (Col E) x 3, (Col B) x 11, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col A) x 38
Row 10: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 11, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col A) x 38
Row 11: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 7, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col A) x 38
Row 12: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 8, (Col D) x 3, (Col B) x 4, (Col A) x 38
Row 13: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 15, (Col A) x 38
Row 14: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 3, (Col D) x 3, (Col B) x 9, (Col A) x 38
Row 15 & 16: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 2, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 2, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 9, (Col A) x 38
Row 17: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 3, (Col D) x 3, (Col B) x 9, (Col A) x 38
Row 18 and 19: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 2, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 2, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 9, (Col A) x 38
Row 20: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 3, (Col D) x 3, (Col B) x 9, (Col A) x 38
Row 21: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 15, (Col A) x 38
Row 22 to 24: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 7, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col A) x 38
Row 25: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 7, (Col D) x 5, (Col B) x 3, (Col A) x 38
Row 26: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 7, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col D) x 1, (Col B) x 3, (Col A) x 38
Row 27: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 8, (Col D) x 3, (Col B) x 4, (Col A) x 38
Row 28 & 29: (Col B) x 3, (Col F) x 3, (Col B) x 15, (Col A) x 38
Row 30 and 31: (Col A) x 3, (Col G) x 3, (Col A) x 53
Row 32: (Col A) x 3, TSS3tog with Col G, (Col A) x 53
Row 33: (Col A) x 3, MkB with Col B, (Col A) x 53
Row 34 to 37: (Col A) x 57
Bind off leaving a 12 in. tail. and cut yarn.
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Make Pockets:
With Col E, Ch 10 and make a foundation row
Rows 2 to 6: TSS across with Col E
Row 7: TSS 2 with Col E, MkB with Col B, TSS 2 with Col E, MkB with Col B, TSS 3 with Col E
Rows 8 to 10; TSS across with Col E
Bind off
Sc around the square twice. Leaving a 20 in. tail, cut yarn
Embroider on a smile into the 3rd row (count to the 3rd row from the bottom and the 4th stitch from the right and weave Col B through the stitches to create a smile). Repeat for the second pocket. Sew pockets onto the bag. Weave in all ends
Fold the finished bag in half with wrong side facing you. Whipstitch along the side. Weave in ends.
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Make Straps
First Strap
Turn bag right side out. With the bag upside down and the backside facing you, count 4 rows up from the opening of the bag. Count 7 stitches from the right. Pick up a loop with Col E into the 8th stitch. Pull up a loop in the next two stitches. TSS across with Col E for 45 rows. Count 4 rows from the bottom of the bag and count to the 8th stitch from the right, sl st the end of the strap into the 8th, 9th, and 10th stitch from the right. Leaving an 8 in. tail, cut yarn.
Second strap:
Count 4 rows up from the opening of the bag and count to the 18th stitch from the right. Pick up a loop with Col E into this stitch, pull up a loop in the next two stitches. TSS across for 45 rows. Count 4 rows from the bottom of the bag and count to the 18th stitch from the right, sl st the end of the strap into the 18th, 19th, and 20th stitch from the right. Leaving an 8 in. tail cut yarn.
Weave in ends into the wrong side of the bag.
Drawstring Closure:
Chain 80 with Col E. Count to the 2 stitches in the center of the top of the bag. Starting at the stitch on the right, Weave this chain through every 6th stitch going around till you’ve reached the center of the bag again. Then loop through the last stitch and pull the chain through.
If you would like to try another Tunisian crochet colorwork pattern, give the fun and versatile Creamsicle Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern a try!
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Find more amazing free crochet patterns as part of Eclaire Makery’s Back to School Blog Hop over here.