Mandala crochet shopping bag pattern

 This mandala crochet shopping bag pattern is very useful and makes a great gift.I know there are already many many crochet shopping bag patterns around, but since I use bags every day, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have another free pattern for one out there!

I also recommend to make a lining for the bag. You can see how I sewed another lining for a different crochet bag here on YouTube if you would like to learn how to make a bag lining, the same principles apply and you can see the lined bags in some of the photos below.

As always, if you have any questions, please email me or DM me on Instagram, I am happy to help. You will find Rounds 13 and 14 will be tricky, but if you have to frog a few times, don’t worry, it will work out! Look at the YouTube tutorial here if you have any difficulty with these rounds.

Hope you love this useful free pattern as much as I do! If you enjoy this free pattern don’t forget to check out the Furls Blog Hop 2021 page where they have a free pattern every week of the year!

The full YouTube tutorial for this Mandala shopping bag is here

Inexpensive ad free and printable PDF with round by round photo instructions can be found on here on ETSY,  Ravelry, Lovecrafts or Payhip

SKILL LEVEL 

Upper beginner – Intermediate

WHAT YOU NEED

• 2  x balls of Furls Whims Merino 50% merino wool/50% nylon 196 yards/ 180 metres per ball (but always worth giving it a go with any DK in your stash , cotton would be nice for summer) Total of 392 yards or 360 metres
• 3.50mm crochet hook I used Furls Streamline
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle

ABBREVIATIONS ( US TERMS ) 

• ch chain
• dc double crochet
• hdc half double crochet
• lp loop
• sc single crochet
• sk skip
• slst slip stitch
• sp space
• st stitch

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 

Width 12 inches/ 32 cm

Length: without handles 13.5 inches/34 cm

with handles 20 inches/ 51 cm

GAUGE 

2 inches x 2 inches = 12 sts x 8 rows (hdc)

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Ch 6, ss to form a ring.

Round 1: : Sc 12 into ring, ss into back lp of first sc to join.

Round 2: Working into the back lp of each st, sc 2 into same place as ss from previous round, sc 2 into each sc, ss into back lp of first sc to join. ( 24 sts)

Round 3 : Working into back lp of each st, sc 1 into same place as ss, sc 1 into each sc, ss into both ops of first sc ( 24 sts)

Round 4 : Ch 6, *tr 1 into next sc, ch 2* repeat from * to * ending with a ss into 4th ch of first ch 6. (ch 6 + 23 tr/ 24 ch spaces)

Round 5: Sc 1 into same place as ss, *sc 2 into next sp, sc 1 into next tr* repeat from * to * ending with sc 2 into final sp and slst into back lp of first sc (72 sts)

Round 6 : Working into back lp of each st, sc 1 into each sc from previous row, ss to join (72 sts) don’t panic if the circle is not sitting flat, it will work out later

Round 7 : Sc into joining ss * ch 4, sk 2 sc, sc 1 into next sc ( the correct stitch w ill be above each “spoke” on the treble wheel” * repeat from * to * ending with ch 2, dc into first sc ( so you end up in the middle of a lp) Place a stitch marker at the beginning of this round to keep track of where you are in the following rounds. (24 loops, 23 ch 4 loops, 1 ch 2, dc loop)

Rounds 8 and 9 : Sc 1 back into lp just formed, * ch 5, sc 1 into next lp* repeat from * to * ending with ch 2, dc 1 into first sc.

Rounds 10 – 12 : Sc 1 back into lp just formed, * ch 6, sc 1 into next lp* repeat from * to * ending with ch 2, tr 1 into first sc.

Inexpensive ad free and printable PDF with round by round photo instructions can be found on here on ETSY,  Ravelry, Lovecrafts or Payhip

The full YouTube tutorial for this Mandala shopping bag is here

Round 13 a) : Sc 1 back into lp just formed, * ch 6, sc 1 into next lp, turn , ss 1 into lp just formed, ch 3, dc 9 into same lp, sc 1 into next sc.

Round 13 b) Ch 4, turn, miss 2 dc, dc 1 into next dc, ( ch 1, miss 1 dc, dc 1 into next dc) 3 times, ch 1, miss 1 dc, dc into 3rd of initial ch 3, ch 6, sc into same lp.

Round 13 c) *Ch 6, sc 1 into next lp* 3 times then repeat from where it says turn in  13 a) continuing to repeat through to 13 c) When this round is  complete you will have  8 x these “fans” as seen in the photo below To complete the round, omit the sc 1 at end of last repeat and ss into first sc of the round..

Round 14 : Slst up side of dc and slst into each fo the next 3 ch to reach the top of dc block from the previous row. Sc into the last slst, *ch 6, sk 2 x dc and ch 1, sc 1 into next ch 1 sp, ch 6, sk 2 dc and ch 1 and sc into final sp. Ch 6, sk 1 lp from previous row, (sc 1 into next sp, ch 6, sc 1 into next sp) * repeat until second last sp, ch 2, tr 1 into 1st loop of round.

Rounds 15 – 17 : Work as for Rounds 10 -12 Sc 1 back into lp just formed, * ch 6, sc 1 into next lp* repeat from * to * ending with ch 2, tr 1 into first sc.

Round 18 : 6 sc into each sp, sk previous row sc’s till end of round, ss to join.    ( 240 sts)

Rounds 19 – 20 : Hdc in each st around until final st, ss to join round into 1st st.  

Row 21: To work top section for handle: Place a stitch marker at the stitch where you finished the previous row and count back 9 x ch 6 loop spaces, then place another stitch marker at that point.

You are going to decrease the stitches in this section to make the top straight for the handles while the rest of the circle below forms the bag.

To decrease: *Work half of a dc into the first two stitches so you have three sts left on the hook, then pull through all 3 lps to decrease one st, dc 1* repeat across to next stitch marker from * to * (38 sts)

Rows 22 and 23: Ch 3, dc 1 into each st, turn

Handle

Handle: Ch 80, turn, ch 1, hdc into each ch, turn and repeat for 3 more rows, fasten off.

Repeat the above pattern again so you have two identical bag pieces.

Finishing

To join the front and back:

Put right sides together so the wrong side is facing you and sl st crochet  the two bag pieces together starting 10 sts from the handle on the left hand side of the bag and working all the way around to join the pieces until 10 sts before the handle on the other side.

Alternatively if you prefer you could also sew the pieces together. Place the bottom edge of handle on top of the corresponding side of the straight top section with right sides facing on and sew handle ends on as in photo below.

Weave in ends and steam block. Instead of a lining I suggest you make two circles of fabric the same size as the circular bag which overlap onto the hdc section. Next neaten edges, then turn the bag inside out and sew fabric circles onto the bag either with a machine or hand sewing. This will prevent things falling out. Additionally, to strengthen the handle I recommend sewing a strip of fabric on the back of the handles.

I really hope you enjoyed making this mandala crochet shopping bag pattern!

Find all my crochet patterns in my etsy and Ravelry shops HERE!

Any suggestions or feedback are most welcome through either my Instagram account or via crochetlovemelbourne@gmail.com

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Pattern is copyrighted to @crochetlovemelbourne and must not be reproduced in any form without my permission. You may sell items made from this pattern but please give me pattern credit, thank you.