This bag is a five-point star, striped in white, yellow and pink, on a long strap. It's worked with two strands of yarn held together, which makes the fabric thick enough for a bag. The two stars are joined by a narrow strip of single crochet, the gusset, that's attached to both stars as you work it, so there's no sewing. When the gusset reaches the top of the bag, it carries straight on as the strap.
It's a longer project from Elise's lilthings channel, with the video running over an hour.
Video tutorial by Elise on her YouTube channel, lilthings: watch "crochet star bag for beginner ☁️ crochet bag step by step" on YouTube.
Written from the video. Check each round's count at a star point before going on.
Materials
- 5-ply milk cotton in white, yellow and pink, held double throughout
- 4.0 mm hook
- Stitch markers, scissors and a darning needle
The stars (make 2)
Round 1: with two strands of white, 15 sc in a magic ring.
Round 2: start with a twist double crochet (pull the loop up, twist it, and finish it as a dc), then 15 dc around.
Round 3 (star points): [3 dc in the next stitch, chain 2, 3 dc in the next stitch, skip 1] × 5. That's 5 points, each using 3 stitches.
Rounds 4 to 9: change colour every round or two, joining the new colour in the 2nd stitch of the previous round. Each round:
- [3 dc, chain 2, 3 dc] into the chain-2 space at each point,
- skip 2 stitches in each valley between points,
- and dc along the sides, 2 more per side each round.
Round | Colour | Each side |
|---|---|---|
4 | yellow | 2 dc, skip 2, 2 dc |
5 | pink | 4 dc, skip 2, 4 dc |
6 | white | 6 dc, skip 2, 6 dc |
7 | yellow | 8 dc, skip 2, 8 dc |
8 | yellow | 10 dc, skip 2, 10 dc |
9 | pink | 12 dc, skip 2, 12 dc |
The increases at the points and the skips in the valleys keep the star's shape sharp.
Gusset
Hold the stars together, wrong sides facing. Join two strands of pink at a top point, chain 6, and slip stitch to the matching point on the other star. Then work rows of 6 sc, back and forth. At the end of each row, join it to the edge of the front and back stars with 2 slip stitches.
Work the gusset round 4 of the 5 star valleys. Leave the top valley open: that's the bag's opening.
Strap
When the gusset reaches the opposite top point, keep working rows of 6 sc, now not attached to anything, for 100 to 110 rows. Try the length across your body, then slip stitch the end of the strap to the start of the gusset.
Tips
- Two strands as one. Catch both strands on every yarn over. If one slips off, hold them more evenly.
- Count the points. Each of the five points should look the same. If one is wider, a side has gained a stitch.
- Strap stretch. Single crochet straps stretch with weight. Make it slightly shorter than you want.
Frequently asked questions
Why hold the yarn double?
One strand of 5-ply is too thin and floppy for a bag. Two together make a dense fabric that holds its shape and carries weight.
Can I add a lining or a zip?
Yes. Sew a fabric lining in the star shape, or add a zip across the top opening.
What's the twist double crochet?
A way to start a round without a turning chain: you pull the loop up to the height of a double crochet and twist it, so it looks like a real stitch. It hides the join.
Questions & notes
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