Here is a free crochet pattern for a tapestry crochet moon bag. The design of this bag is quite simple, giving this piece a modern look. As this bag has a flat bottom, it can stand on a table and keep its shape very well. You can use the moon bag for storing some small items or as a small gift packaging. It can be a perfect handmade present itself!
The pattern includes a list of materials, abbreviations, notes, written pattern, color chart and detailed step-by-step photo instructions. This quick crochet project uses the tapestry crochet technique. Even if you haven’t tried this technique before, the photo tutorial will guide you along the way, and you will easily complete the project. If you would like to learn more about this technique, you can take a look at my tutorial here.
You can find my other free crochet patterns for bags and pouches here and more free crochet projects here.
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Tapestry crochet moon bag
Materials
- Yarn: I use Järbo 8/4 100% Cotton “Mercerized & Gassed” 50 g (offwhite and light grey). However, any thin cotton yarn will work.
- Hook: I use a 2.0 mm hook. If you are using a different yarn, choose the hook size that is recommended on your yarn label.
Abbreviations (US terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- msc: modified single crochet
- msc inc: modified single crochet increase
- prev: previous
- st: stitch
- rep * *: repeat from * to *
Notes
The diameter of my bag is 6.5 cm, the height is 11.5 cm. You will be working in rounds. This pattern uses the tapestry crochet technique (you can find the tutorial here). The photo instructions below show how to make a bag and a string. This pattern uses a modified single crochet: make a single crochet back loop only, just instead of yarning over for the last step, yarn under (see the tutorial here). To make a modified single crochet increase you need to make two modified single crochets in the same stitch. Except the bottom part (rounds 1-7) and the two rounds where you make holes for a string (rounds 32-33), every round is made in the same way: chain one, make 55 modified single crochets, join with a slip stitch. Follow the color scheme showing how you should change colors.
Pattern
The bag
Start by making a magic (adjustable) ring with your gray yarn. You will not need your white yarn until round 9.
Round 1: 8 sc in the magic ring, join with a sl st. (8 st in total)
Round 2: ch 1, 1 msc in the first st, msc inc in every following st, join with a sl st. (16 st)
Round 3: ch 1, 1 msc in the first st, 1 msc in the next st; *msc inc, 1 msc in the next st*, rep ** 7 times, join with a sl st. (24 st)
Round 4: ch 1; *msc inc, 2 msc*, rep ** 7 times, msc inc, 1 msc, join with a sl st. (32 st)
Round 5: ch 1, msc; *msc inc, 3 msc*, rep ** 7 times, msc inc, msc, join with a sl st. (40 st)
Round 6: ch 1; *msc inc, 4 msc*, rep ** 7 times, msc inc, 3 msc, join with a sl st. (48 st)
Round 7: ch 1, 3 msc; *msc inc, 5 msc*, rep ** 7 times, msc inc, msc, join with a sl st. (56 st)
The bottom of the bag is finished. You will introduce your white yarn in round 9.
Round 8-31: ch 1, msc in every st of the prev round. Join with a sl st. (56 st)
Making the holes for the string:
Round 32: ch 1, *ch 2, skip 2 st of the prev round, 2 msc*, rep ** 13 times, ch 2, skip 2 st of the prev round, 1 msc, join with a sl st. (56 st)
Round 33: ch 1, *2 msc in the ch2 space of the prev round (make sure to grab the loose yarn hanging in the ch2 space in the prev round too), 2 msc*, rep ** 13 times, 2 msc in the ch2 space of the prev round, 1 msc, join with a sl st. (56 st)
Round 34-37: ch 1, msc in every st of the prev round. Join with a sl st. (56 st)
Fasten off.
Making the string
Start by chaining. The length of the chain should be around 26-28 cm long. Make a row of slip stitches in the third loop of the chain as it is shown in photo instructions below. When you reach the end of the row, fasten off. You are ready to weave in the string into your bag.
Color scheme
How to read the scheme
Each square represents a stitch and its color. In each round you have 56 stitches (56 columns in the scheme). Rows represent rounds. First 7 rounds are the bottom of the bag and the color scheme starts from round 8. For each round you have to read the row in the scheme from right to left. The chain that you make in the beginning of each round counts a stitch.
In the scheme, empty squares indicate where you should make holes for the string. When you chain 2 for a hole, you cannot hide the yarn you are not working with: it will be ‘hanging’ in the hole. Don’t worry, when you will make round 33, you will grab both yarns you need to hide: the one in round 32 and the one in round 33. See photo instructions.
Photo instructions
Making the bag
1. Start by making a magic ring.
2. Round 1. Make 8 sc in the magic ring.
3. Round 1. Tighten the ring by pulling the end of the yarn and make a slip stitch.
4. Round 2. Make the first msc in the first stitch of the previous round.
5. Round 2. Make an msc increase in the next stitch.
6. Round 2. Finish the round with a slip stitch.
7. Round 7. This is how it looks when 7 rounds are finished. The bottom of the bag is done. For round 8, chain 1 and continue making msc in every stitch of the prev round.
8. Round 9. Now you will add the white yarn as it is shown in the picture.
9. Round 9. Chain one. Now your white yarn is secured.
10. Round 9. Insert your hook in the back loop of the first stitch of the prev round.
11. Round 9. Yarn over the gray yarn and pull through the loop.
12. Round 9. Yarn under the gray yarn.
13. Round 9. Pull the yarn through both loops. Continue making msc in every stitch of the previous round.
14. Round 14. The 26th stitch in this round should be made in white. To change yarn color, start the 25th stitch with gray yarn.
15. Round 14. Finish the 25th stitch in white yarn. Your white yarn is ready to use.
16. Round 14. Make 3 full msc in white yarn. Start the 4th stitch in white but finish it in gray, because the next stitch should be in gray.
17. Round 32. Now you will start making the holes for the string. Chain 3.
18. Round 32. Skip 2 msc of the previous round and make 2 msc. You can see your white yarn hanging in the hole. It will be hidden when you finish round 33.
19. Round 33. Chain 1.
20. Round 33. Insert your hook in the ch2 space of the previous round grabbing both white yarns like it is shown in the picture.
21. Round 33. Yarn over your gray yarn and pull through the hole. Now you have two loops on your hook.
22. Round 33. Pull the yarn through both loops on your hook.
23. Round 33. Msc in the ch2 space of the previous round, then make 2 msc in the next two stitches of the previous round.
24. Continue following the pattern until the end. Done!
Making the string
1. Start with a chain.
2. Now you will be working in the third loop of your chain which is behind ‘v’.
3. Insert your hook in the third loop of the chain and yarn over.
4. Pull the yarn through. Now you have two loops on your hook.
5. Pull the first loop through the other one. Now you have one loop on your hook. You have just made your first slip stitch.
6. In the photo you can see that after several stitches it starts looking like two chains stuck together. Continue making slip stitches in the third loop of the chain until the end of the row. Fasten off. Done!
Enjoy your bag!
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You can save this pattern to Pinterest here.
What row should the moon color be started? After the base is done or the row that the moon starts?
Hi Mindi, the moon color yarn should be introduced in round 9. When I finish the base (7 rounds), I make one more round of msc in each stitch of the previous round, and then, in round 9, add the moon color yarn (this is step 8 in the photo instructions). I hope that this helps!
Hi,
I’m just curious, what’s the point of carrying the contrast color through the whole project, even once the moon is complete?
Thanks!
Hi Kylie, thank you for writing. Well, the only reason to carry the yarn that you are not working with is to keep the same thickness of the bag. You could as well cut the yarn that you are not using (after the moon ends), but then that part will be slightly thinner than the rest of the bag.
Makes sense! Thanks you! 🙂