Felted Posy Flower Bag

Crochet a cute shoulder bag with posy flower embellishment with this free bag crochet pattern. Felting the bag helps smooth away imperfections and creates a nice sturdy material, perfect for carrying essentials. Try this free pattern felting crochet.

Materials:

• Yarn: ECO-WAYS™ “Bamboo Wool®”: 8 skeins 3340 Rust A, 1 skein each 3525 Peacock B, 3650 Dill C and 3920 Cayenne D.
• Crochet Hook: 5.5mm [US I-9].
• Yarn needle
• stitch marker

Size: Before Felting: 18½” wide x 15¾” high.
After Felting: 11” wide x 11½” high.

Gauge: 16 sts = 4”; 3 rows = 2¾” in cluster stitch before felting.

Instructions:

Cluster Stitch (multiple of 3 sts +1)
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn.
Row 2: Ch 1 (counts as first sc), (hdc, dc) in next sc,* skip 2 sc, (sc, hdc, dc) in next sc; repeat from * across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, (hdc, dc) in next st, *skip 2 sts, (sc, hdc, dc) in next sc; repeat from * to last 2 sts, skip 2, sc in top of turning ch.
Repeat Row 3 for Cluster stitch.

BACK
With A, ch 62.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn.
Beginning with Row 2, work in Cluster st until 38 rows have been worked.
Row 39: Sc in each st across – 61 sc.
Do not turn, place marker for beginning of round.
Round 1: Turn to work along side edge, work 52 sc along side edge, 3 sc in corner, 58 sc along opposite edge of beginning ch, 3 sc in corner, 52 sc along side edge, 3 sc in corner, work 58 sc along last edge, 3 sc in corner, slip st to first sc to join.
Round 2: Working in front loops only, sc in each sc around, working 3 sc in each corner sc, slip st to first sc to join.
Round 3: Working in both loops, slip st in each sc around, turn.
Last Row: Ch 1, sc in same st as slip st, working in back loops of Round 2 only, working 3 sc in each corner sc, sc in each st around 3 sides, leaving last side unworked for top edge. Fasten off.

FRONT
Work same as Back through Last Row. Do not fasten off, turn.
Next Row: Ch 1, sc in sc, working 3 sc in each corner sc, along 3 sides, turn.
Repeat last row 4 more times. Fasten off.

FINISHING
With right sides together, sew through both loops of last row to join Front and Back.

Handle (make 2)
With A, ch 7.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn– 6 sc.
Rows 2 – 76: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.
Do not fasten off.
Turn to work along side edge, sc evenly around all sides of Handle, working 3 sc in each corner, slip st to first sc to join. Fasten off.

Flower (make 4)
With D, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Place marker for beginning of round.
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each sc around – 12 sc.
Round 3: (Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc) around – 18 sc.
Round 4: (Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around – 24 sc.
Fasten off.
Round 5: Join B with a sc in front loop of first sc, working in front loops only, sc in each st around, slip st in first sc to join.
Round 6: Ch 1, 3 sc in same sc as slip st, *slip st in next sc, ch 1, 3 sc in next sc; repeat from * around, slip st in last sc – to join – 12 petals.
Round 7: Ch 1, sc in first unworked back loop of Round 5,*ch 2, (dc, tr) in next back loop, (tr, dc) in next back loop, ch 2, sc in next back loop; repeat from * around – 8 petals.
Fasten off.

Sew one end of each Handle along top edge of Front and Back of Bag.

Leaf (make 8)
With C, ch 8.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next ch, hdc next 2 chs, dc next 2 chs, 6 dc in last ch, turn to work along opposite side of beginning ch, dc next 2 ch, hdc next 2 ch, sc last 2 ch, turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc next 2 sts, hdc next 2 sts, dc next 2 sts, (2 dc next st) 6 times, dc next 2 sts, hdc next 2 sts, sc last 2 sts, slip st in first sc of Row 2.
Fasten off.
Arrange and sew Flowers and Leaves in place on Front of Bag. Weave in ends.

Felting
Machine-wash or hand-felt until stitch definition is minimal, using after felting measurements as a guide. Stretch and shape. Allow to air dry.

For more great craft ideas at Red Heart.