Small Crochet Crossbody Bag

Making your own crocheted bag is a rewarding and enjoyable project. Let’s prepare your yarn and crochet hook, we’re going to learn how to make a small crochet crossbody bag – Chic Slant Sling!

This beautiful small crossbody bag is crocheted with cable stitches, which add texture and visual interest to the overall design. With the detailed tutorial and free crochet crossbody bag pattern, you’ll be able to make a stylish bag in no time.

Is The Crochet Pattern Beginner Friendly?

We graded the skill level needed for this Chic Slant Sling crossbody bag pattern as “Avid Beginner to Intermediate”. However, we encourage beginners to try it on because our crochet tutorial includes detailed explanations and step-by-step instructions.

Anyone who knows basic crochet stitches, can read written patterns, and has completed a few small projects will have no trouble finishing this small crossbody bag.

The crochet stitches used in this crochet pattern include:

• slip knot (sl knot),
• chain stitch (ch),
• single crochet (sc),
• double crochet (dc),
• slip stitch (sl st), and
• split single crochet (ssc) or waistcoat stitch or crochet knit stitch.

If you need a refresher or more in-depth beginner’s knowledge, you can read more on our beginner’s guide in crochet.

Crochet Supplies

You’ll need a few materials and tools to get started. Here is a list of what you will need:

1. Yarn of your choice in sport weight.
   We used Raffia yarn, which is made from natural plant fibers. It is light and study, and it adds a unique and rustic charm to the bag.
2. Crochet Size 3 mm hook
3. Scissors to cut the yarn
4. Tapestry needle for weaving loose ends and sewing the button and closure loop.
5. Stitch Markers (optional) for marking your stitches.
6. Measuring Tape to measure the size of your swatch and the completed crossbody bag.

Make A Test Swatch

In this crochet pattern, we use a cable stitch pattern to create the slanted stitch design. And, because of the differences in crochet tension and yarn, the final size of your bag may differ from the one specified in the pattern. We recommend making a test swatch piece after gathering all of the supplies before beginning the actual crocheting.

By creating a test swatch:

• You get to practice the stitches and perfect them before crocheting the larger piece.
• You get to measure the swatch and compare it to the pattern measurement. You will then know whether your bag will be larger, the same size, or smaller.

Test Swatch Size

Since the crochet bag is small, you only need a small test swatch. Make a 1.75″ x 1.75″ cable stitch pattern with 9 stitches and 5 rows.

Begin with a chain of 9 stitches and work your way through the pattern for 5 rounds. After you’ve finished, block the test swatch and measure the outcome. There are 3 possibilities:

• If your 9 sts x 5 rows pattern is larger than 1.75″ x 1.75″, your finished bag will be larger.
• If your 9 sts x 5 rows pattern is approximately 1.75″ x 1.75″, your bag will be approximately the same size as this pattern.
• If your 9 sts x 5 rows pattern is smaller than 1.75″ x 1.75″, your finished bag will be smaller.

You can always change the stitch count at the beginning of the project to achieve the desired bag size. A different width can be obtained by increasing or decreasing the chain stitch count in multiples of three. Crocheting a few more rounds will result in a taller bag, and vice versa.

This free crochet pattern makes a small crossbody bag, Chic Slant Sling, measuring 5.5″ x 6.5″ with a long sling strap. The size is ideal for carrying your essentials including keys, wallet, and a pack of tissues or glasses for a short trip such as lunch, coffee, picking up the kids, or grocery shopping.

• The body of the bag is crocheted in rounds, starting at the bottom and working up to the top. Each round ended with a slip stitch join. There is no need to turn after each round, so you only need to work from the right side. Following the crochet pattern to finish the bag.
• The bag is closed with a crocheted button and a foundation chain loop. They are then sewn to the top edge of the bag to complete this simple closure system.
• Crochet a long cross-body sling strap across the bag’s corners to complete this adorable small crossbody bag.

The Base

This pattern begins with a foundation chain of multiple 3 stitches. In this pattern, it calls for a multiple of 10, so let’s crochet 30 ch sts.

After making a foundation chain, crochet around it with single crochet stitches. The picture shows how to crochet around a foundation chain. When you reach the end of the foundation chain, rotate your crochet piece and insert your hook into the space just below the single crochet stitch. Continue to crochet sc stitches on the remaining loops of the foundation chain.

Once you’ve finished the full round of single crochet, slip stitch to the first stitch of the round.

Continue the rest of the rounds with the cable stitch as described below.

First Round Of Cable Stitch

Begin the first round and the first stitch of the cable stitch pattern by ch 3 stitches. This ch 3 is counted as one dc stitch.

Next, dc into the second stitch of the round.

Then, as shown in the picture, make a long-cross sc st into the last stitch of the previous round.

Skip the next stitch, which is the third stitch of the round.

Continue making the next set of cable stitch pattern, dc in the next 2 stitches, which are the 4th and 5th stitches of the round.

After that, make a long-cross sc stitch into the skipped stitch.

Then skip one more stitch, the sixth of the round.

This completes the second set of cable stitch patterns.

Repeat the cable stitch pattern around until you reach the end of the round. Join and finish the round with a slip stitch.

Subsequent Rounds Of Cable Stitch

Crochet the next round in the same manner as the previous one, but instead of long-cross sc st, make a long-cross split single crochet (ssc).

Begin the next cable stitch round with a ch 3 that counts as a dc stitch, then dc into the next stitch.

Then make a long-cross ssc to the sc stitch of the first round. This means inserting the hook between the “legs” of the stitch rather than the top loops.

Skip the next stitch, which is the long-cross stitch from the first round.

Continue crocheting the next set of cable stitch patterns by making dc stitches in the next two stitches, then a long-cross ssc stitch, and skip the next stitch.

How To Make A Seamless Round

As with most crochet patterns, there will be a visible seam line with the slip stitch join. If you make a slip stitch join at each end of the round the traditional way, you will see a trace of the join.

The steps below will show you how to create a seamless join. It is optional, but it gives the workmanship a more professional look.

Crochet as usual until you reach the end of the round. Do not finish the ssc stitch by yarning over and drawing through loops. Instead, insert your hook into the first stitch of the round (as if you were doing a normal sl st), yarn over and pull up a loop, then draw through the two loops on the hook to complete the last ssc stitch of the round. You’ve just completed a special SSC that joins the round.

After completion, there is no trace of the slip stitch seam, and it is perfectly seamless.

Finishing Edge

Finish the crossbody bag with a final round of slip stitch at the top edge to add a finishing touch and strengthen the edge. Fasten and hide all yarn ends.

Block the bag by pressing it with a medium-heat iron, preferably with a steam setting. Adjust the shape while it is still warm, then set it aside to cool while you continue to crochet the button closure.

Button & Closure Loop

To crochet a mushroom button for the crossbody bag, simply make a foundation ring with 4 chain stitches and join it with a slip stitch. Following a ch stitch to raise the stitch height for a single crochet, crochet 8 sc stitches into the ring.

Continue to single crochet over the existing stitches to make the button bigger. After about another 2 rounds of overlapping with a total of 30 stitches, you should be able to get a 1″ diameter button. You can increase or decrease the number of stitches to achieve the desired size.

Crochet a foundation chain strip of about 20 ch sts to make a loop for the button closure. Block it with iron as you did with the bag to straighten the foundation chain. You can adjust the number of stitches to fit the size of the button you’ve made.

Sew the button to the top middle of the bag, then sew the loop on the opposite side, aligning it with the button. Hide all yarn ends to neaten the work.

Crossbody Sling Strap

Finally, crochet a long sling strap on the bag’s parallel sides to finish it off. Starting at one of the bag’s side top corners, make a slip knot on the hook and insert the hook into the corner stitch, yarn over, and pull a loop to make a chain stitch. Continue to make 180 ch sts, or until the foundation chain is 38″ to 42″ long, depending on your preference. Before measuring, you can either block it with an iron or pull it to straighten the foundation chain.

Pull the loop through the stitch to secure the end of the foundation chain to the opposite corner of the bag. Continue crocheting slip stitches along the foundation chain until you get back to where you started. Fasten and hide all yarn ends. Apply a final block to the sling strap with a steam iron.

Completed Crochet Cross body Bag

The small crossbody bag is now finished. You can line the bag with a bag lining or leave it as is.

Try the same pattern in different colors; you’ll notice that it’s much faster and easier for the subsequent pieces. I can’t stop making them and end up making more than three with my favourite raffia yarn.
No raffia yarn? I’m sure they’ll look just as good with different yarns. Please show us if you have tried them on with different yarns and different sizes.

WHAT’S NEXT:

• Start crocheting and share your completed handmade on Facebook and/or Instagram. Remember to tag us, @craftpassion, so that we are able to see them.
• Pin it to Pinterest for a future To-Crochet List
• Share with your crochet groups for a crochet-along event.
• If you are new to crochet, we have a comprehensive guide for beginners.
• Browse more free crochet patterns to make, particularly for crochet bags & purses, and more designs on crochet crossbody bags.