Crochet Crocodile Stitch Drawstring Purse

Crocodile stitch crochet was in the trend since early last year. Ever since I discovered the beauty of the shell/scale look pattern, I have been wanted to try it out. Glad that I finally design and crochet the crocodile stitch into a small drawstring purse, great for a weekend out and tea time with friends.

Crocodile stitch has an easily distinguishable 3D reptile scale look which is formed by 2 row-repeat patterns. Due to it’s thick and warm design, crocodile stitch is great to be crochet into scarf, shawl, booties, purse, and decoration, click here for more inspiration.

It may seem a little complicated but intermediate crocheter or dedicated beginner should have it master at no time, it is sure a must-do for all crocheters.

As for this crocodile stitch drawstring purse, I crochet 2 versions; a pink cross-body sling-strap and a grey short-strap beaded crocodile stitch drawstring purse.

The pink one is for my ex-schoolmate which we have lost contact with since 25 years ago, glad that we found each other back via Facebook 2 years ago. The pink yarn looks familiar? Yes, I used the leftover yarn to crochet the Layered Ruffles Flower Hair-ties where the pattern was published recently.

The grey one was for by my daughter, she never has enough purses to “show-off”.

Crocodile stitch is sure a great stitch to try out, to get the hang on crochet it, please try out the tutorial and pattern of this crocodile stitch drawstring purse as a start. Hope you like it!

Crocodile Stitch Drawstring Purse

Crochet Pattern

Dimension: (varies according to crochet tension and yarn weight)
Purse: 7 1/2″ (W) x 6″ (H) (exclude strap / handle)
Strap / Handle: approx. 15″ (short), 40″ (long for cross-body sling)

Gauge / Tension: not very important as long as you are using similar yarn weight and hook stated below. You will need to measure the completed purse to sew the purse lining.

Material & Tool:
1. Yarn, medium weight, approx. 100 gram.
2. Crochet hook, G, 4mm
3. Beads (wooden): 84
3. Fabric for lining, approx. 9″ x 7 1/2″ (allowed more to suit your actual purse size)
4. Cord Lock (double cord-hole) for drawstring stopper. Buy the plastic version here.
5. Shoelace cord, or cotton cord of similar diameter, or crochet yours (scroll down to look for a pink purse picture); 20″. [Update: you may buy this PU leather cord which comes with cord lock and end cap]
6. Cord end caps, 2 pcs (optional), you can substitute them with beads
7. Strap clips, it is optional, you may sew the strap directly on the purse without using the clips
8. Tapestry needle

Abbreviations:
sl knot = slip knot
st = stitch
slst = slip stitch (to fasten)
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
fo = fasten off
Rnd = round

CROCHET PATTERN

Purse Body

The pattern goes up in the round, the beginning of each round will be shifted backward a little and will be somewhere at the middle of the back of the purse upon finishing.
Note: For crochet chat of basic crocodile stitch, refer here.

Insert all beads into the yarn.

Base chain – sl knot, ch 38,

Rnd 1 – dc on the 4th chain from the hook, dc in each ch for the next 34 sts (a ch before the last), 3dc in the last ch. Turn sideways and continue along with another side of the foundation ch, dc the remaining ch loop for the next 34 sts. slst to the 3rd ch of the beginning round. [Check: Treat the first 3 ch as a dc st, you will have a total of 72 dc sts.]

Rnd 2 – ch3, dc in first st, *ch1, skip 2 sts, dc in next st, ch1, skip 2 sts, 2dc in next st. Repeat * 11 times, ch1, skip 2 st, dc in next st, ch1, skip 2 sts, slst to the 3rd ch of the beginning round. [Check: you should have 12 sets of a repeated pattern.]

Rnd 3 – ch2, slst backward to the last dc of the previous round, *5dc on the post of next dc worked from top to base, ch1 with a bead, 5 dc on the post of next dc worked from base to top, slst in the next dc stitch. Repeat * 12 times. [Check: you should have 12 crocodile stitch in a round.]

Rnd 4 – ch3, dc in first st, *ch1, dc in the center of the crocodile stitch, ch1, 2dc in the st between 2 crocodile stitches. Repeat * 11 times, ch1, dc in the center of the crocodile stitch, ch1, slst to the 3rd ch of the beginning round.

Rnd 5 to 15 – Repeat rnd 3 and rnd 4 alternatively and end with rnd 3. [Check: you should have 7 layers of crocodile stitch.]

Rnd 16 – *ch3, 2dc in the first dc post of the crocodile st, dc in the center, 2dc in the last dc post of the crocodile st. Repeat * to all 12 crocodile sts (replace ch3 to dc for the 2nd to 12th crocodile st), slst to the 3rd ch of the beginning round. [Check: Treat the first 3 ch as a dc st, you will have a total of 72 dc sts.]

Rnd 17 – ch3, dc in next st around, slst to the 3rd ch of the beginning round.

Rnd 18 – ch3, dc in next st, ch, skip 1 st, *dc in next 2 sts, ch, skip 1 st. Repeat * 23 times, slst to the 3rd ch of the beginning round. [Check: you should have 24 holes for the drawstring to loop through in and out.]

Fo and hide yarn end.

Strap (Short / Long)

Short strap: sl knot, ch3, do tunisian stitch until you reach about 20″ in length, bind off tunisian stitch, fo.
or
Cross Body Sling Strap: sl knot, ch3, do tunisian stitch until you reach about 48″ in length, bind off tunisian stitch, fo.

Remark: measure your preferred length to crochet.

Fold the end and sew it to the handle chain with the yarn end. If you are not using handle clips, sew it directly to Rnd 15 on the purse (last round of crocodile stitch)

Drawstring Cord Crochet Pattern [Optional]
sl knot, ch until you have 20″ in length, turn and slst all the way to the beginning ch. Fo and hide yarn end.

Please refer the following tutorial for the detail (with photos) on the whole project.

Prepare all the tools and materials as stated above.
Insert beads into the yarn.
if you find that it is difficult to insert the beads, use a small amount of quick-dry adhesive (but not super glue) or mod podge to shape the yarn tip, let it dry before insert through the beads.

Follow the above-written crochet pattern to crochet the base round (rnd 1) of the purse.
1. Crochet the fundamental chain follow by the dc stitch.
2. Turn sideways and continue along another side of the foundation ch with dc stitch.
3. slst to the beginning round
Treat the first 3 ch as a dc st, you will have a total of 72 dc sts.

Crocodile stitch is formed by a 2-row / 2-round repeat pattern.
Refer to rnd 2 at the crochet pattern to crochet the base round of the crocodile stitch.

To make the first crocodile stitch at the beginning of a new round, you will need to perform a 2 backward ch sts, aka, ch 2 and slst back to the last dc of the previous round.
Refer Rnd 3 in the crochet pattern: ch2, slst backward to the last dc of the previous round,

This is the second part of the crocodile stitch, crochet the crocodile “scale”. Refer Rnd 3 in the crochet pattern: *dc5 in the post of next dc of the previous round, ch1 with a bead, dc5 in the post of next dc of previous round, slst in the next dc stitch.
1. Crochet into the post of the first dc of the dc pair
2. After making 5 dc into the post.
3. Chain with a bead
4. Crochet another 5 dc in the next dc and slst to the next dc to complete 1 crocodile stitch.

Repeat the above for 12 times to complete a round.
[Check: you should have 12 crocodile stitch in a round.]

Next, you are going to do the base for another round of crocodile stitch and repeat it until you have 7 layers of the crocodile stitch.
1. Refer to Rnd 4 in the crochet pattern to do the base for the crocodile stitch. It is the same as rnd 2 but this time you are crocheting it on top of the crocodile stitch.
2. Repeat rnd 3 and rnd 4 alternatively and end with rnd 3 pattern to complete the 7 layers of crocodile stitch.
3. Working up 2 rounds of plain dc stitch by doing rnd 16 and rnd 17, and finished off the purse body by crocheting 24 holes for the drawstring (rnd 18).
4. Place the purse body flat on a surface, measure the external width W and length L (only until the last round of crocodile stitch).

Crochet the handle or cross-body sling strap with Tunisian stitch. Since it is a narrow strap, you can use an ordinary crochet hook to crochet.
Watch this video on how to crochet a simple Tunisian stitch.
Get the rest of the accessories ready for the purse assembly.

Insert the drawstring cord through the holes, in and out as you go, the ends have outside and at the centerline of the purse.
Insert the cord through the cord lock.
Install the cord ends according to the type of end you are using.

If you prefer to crochet your own cord, you can do it with the simple chain a row then slip stitch the chain (refer pattern above).

If you have handle clips or any strap rings, fold the strap over and sew it with a tapestry needle. Set aside.

Due to the structure of the crocodile stitch, the purse is going to have big gaps all over, you need to line the purse. You may add pockets if you wish. {tutorial on zipper pocket and slip pocket}
1. measure the purse as shown in the previous photo. Cut out a piece of fabric according to the size shown in the picture. You do not need to add seam allowance because the lining was to be a little smaller than a crochet purse. Neaten the raw edges with an overlock stitch or zigzag stitch.
2. Fold 1/4″ on the edge of the short side, sew a straight line (red).
3. Fold the long side into halve, sew the sides with 1/4″ seam allowance respectively.
4. Insert the lining

1. Align the top edge of the lining along with the last round of crocodile stitch.
2. To make sure that the lining is evenly sewn to the crochet purse, pin the sides of the lining to the side of the purse, pin centerline of the purse to the centerline of the purse.

Slip stitch the lining on the crochet stitch. Adjust your sewing tension so that the lining is nicely attached to the crochet purse and not too tight.

Install the strap / handle to the sides of the purse just above the crocodile stitch. I used clip handle, so I just need to press the clip to attach on the purse.

This is the side view of the completed purse.