Star Spangled Crochet Flag Bag
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I love a crochet project that’s all the things: adorable, occasion specific, and highly adaptable. This downright darling crochet flag bag hits it right out of the park!
There’s something about the 4th of July that makes me all kinds of happy. A hot summer day in the country I love. Time away from the every day world with a good cookout and a very cold, icy drink. Fireworks. Fireflies. All of it.
I’ve always been drawn to red, white and blue, flag style crochet projects. I love the contrast and the crisp colors. I also love when something “speaks” flag without being an actual flag.
I’m pretty excited about this beautiful crochet flag bag because it’s so versatile. It’s worked in simple single crochet so you can make it all blue and white stripe for a nautical vibe. Work it in 2 colors of your choosing. Work it in a solid color.
If you love the crochet flag vibe, but aren’t wild about the buttons (or spending the money on them), not to worry, because the star from my Christmas Tree coaster is perfectly sized! In fact, I’m including the star pattern as a bonus in the ad-free version of this crochet flag bag pattern so you’re all set, whichever style you choose! (Note that if you opt for crochet stars, you will need to either have an open top bag or sew in a magnetic closure instead of the button and loop closure in the pattern.)
I purchased my cotton yarn at a local yarn shop and used Queensland Coastal Cotton for the red and Cascade Yarns Nifty Cotton for the blue and white. However, these #4 weight yarns are exactly the same weight and feel as Crochet Dishie or Lily Sugar ‘n Cream so you can easily substitute yarn if you can’t find exactly what I used.
Let’s talk a minute about the beautiful strap! It’s made using a variation of a puff stitch. On the “pull through” you pull the yarn through all but the last loop, leaving 2 loops on the hook (normally you would pull through all loops). Then you do a yarn over and pull through those last 2 loops. This keeps the puff stitch in place.
The other secret is the turn and where you work the next stitch. This combination gives the strap on the flag bag a braided look I just love. Worked in cotton, it is a bit stretchy, so make sure you account for that when determining the best length for your body. I just gave it a little tug and measured it that way against the strap on a bag I use frequently at home to get the perfect length for me.
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I’m so in love with this Flag Crochet Bag, so let’s dive into the pattern!
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Star Spangled Bag Crochet Pattern
Materials
- Queensland Coastal Cotton, size 4 worsted weight, 100% cotton, 185 yds/170m per 3.52 oz skein *See Note
- Garnet (red): 63 yards
- Cascade Yarns Nifty Cotton, size 4 worsted weight, 100% cotton, 185 yds/169.5m per 3.5 oz skein
- White, Color 5: 50 yards
- Sapphire (blue), Color 14: 115 yards
- US G6/4mm crochet hook
- (2) ½ inch D Rings, nickel finish
- (2) ¾ inch oval gate swivel snap hook, nickel finish
- Stitch marker to keep track of rows
- (14) Sewology 812024, 1-1/8” Star Shaped Buttons. Alternatively, stars can be crocheted (see Christmas Tree Coasters Pattern).
- Tapestry Needle, sewing needle and white thread
Special Notes
- Alternate Yarn Options: I purchased the above yarn at a local yarn store. However, WeCrochet Dishie or Lily Sugar ‘n Cream are good substitutes.
- Better Stripes in Crochet: This striped bag is worked in continuous rounds. To minimize the jogged look when changing colors, I recommend using a jogless join technique.
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, US to UK Crochet Conversion Chart. Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.
Gauge:
My gauge is 9 sc to 2 inches.
Resources and crochet tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, US to UK Crochet Conversion Chart. Find links to stitches and basic crochet skills on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches such as the slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet stitch and chain stitch used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.
Crochet Abbreviations:
- ch = chain
- PS = Puff Stitch (see below)
- sc = single crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- st = stitch(es)
Special Stitches
Puff Stitch (PS): (Yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch and pull up a long loop) 5 times. There are now 11 loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through 10 loops on hook, yarn over and pull through last 2 loops.
Finished Bag Size
Approximately 8.5″ tall by 8.5″ wide, excluding the strap.
Crochet Flag Bag
This striped bag is worked in continuous rounds. To minimize the jogged look when changing colors, I recommend using a jogless join technique as described above in the notes.
With red yarn, chain 38
R1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch until last chain. Work 3sc in last chain, then rotate work and work in the opposite side of the chain. Sc in each ch across until the very last ch. Work 2 stiches in last chain. This totals 76 stitches (including 3 stitches worked at either end). Do NOT join, rows are worked in continuous rounds.
R2-3: Sc around, changing to white yarn at the end of R3. (76 st)
R4-6: With white yarn, sc around, changing to red yarn at the end of R6. (76 st)
R7-9: With red yarn, sc around, changing to white yarn at the end of R9. (76 st)
R10-27: Repeat rows 4-9 for the striped pattern, changing to blue yarn at the end of R27. At the end of R27 there are 5 red stripes and 4 white stripes. (76 st)
R28-41: With blue yarn, sc around. (76 st)
It’s time to crochet the D rings into place. Stop and mark the 3 stitches on each side of bag. Note that this won’t be the very first stitch of the row because stitches shift slightly when working in the round. Just lay the bag flat and determine the 3 stitches at the top of each side of the bag.
R42: Continuing with blue, sc in each st around to the first marked stitch on the side. Hold the flat side of the D ring against the stitches and work a sc OVER the D ring and through both loops of the bag at the same time over the next 3 stitches. Then sc around in ea st until you get to the 2nd side and repeat the process, working a sc over the 2nd D ring and through both loops for 3 stitches. Sc in the remaining st in the row. (76 st).
Before working the final round, sew a star button to the top center of the front of the bag. Use a stitch marker to mark the center BACK stitch.
R43: Sl st to center back stitch. (Sl st, ch 10, sl st) into the center back stitch. Check to see that the chain loop fits over button and adjust the number of chains, if necessary. Then sl st around. Fasten off, using an invisible join to finish. (76 st).
Sew remaining buttons in place on bag.
Puff Stitch Braid Bag Strap
The bag strap is worked using large puff stitches with a unique placement to create a braided look.
Leaving a long tail for sewing later, and using blue yarn, ch 4 and sl st in 3rd ch from hook to form a loop.
R1: Working in loop, ch 2, PS. Then ch 2 and rotate work to the left.
R2: Working in the ch-2 sp, PS, ch 2, rotate work to left.
Repeat R2 to desired length (I worked mine to 45”). After last puff stitch, do not ch-2. Fasten off leaving a long strand for joining.
Use the yarn strand to sew the strap to the Swivel Hook. Insert end into metal loop on swivel hook. Fold over the bag strap and sew down. Knot off and bury the knot end in the strap so it is not visible. Cut off excess yarn. Repeat for the opposite side of the strap.
Clip swivel hooks to D rings and enjoy your new bag!
MORE CROCHET BAG PATTERNS
If you love the Fall in Bloom Bag, you might also like to check out these other free bag patterns. You can find all our Free Crochet Bag Patterns here.
Sweet Dahlia Bag // Wander Bloom Bag // Sunflower Bag
Purchase an ad-free printable version of the Star Spangled Crochet Flag Bag!
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