Bohemian Fringed Crochet Bag - Free Purse Pattern with Leather Straps (2024)

Made from richly textured circles, this fringed crochet bag pattern comes together in three fun pieces. Finish it off with crocheted details or add a leather strap to make it just your style. Get the free crochet pattern below or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF with stitch chart here.

This fringed crochet bag pattern is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarns. This post contains affiliate links.

Just because you’re a free spirit doesn’t mean don’t need to carry along some essentials. This fringed boho purse is the perfect size to stash a wallet, lipstick and water bottle on your bohemian adventures. Read on for the pattern inspiration and yarn details or scroll down for the complete free pattern.

Fringed Crochet Bag Pattern Inspo

Many of you know we've been sharing a series of guest designer patterns here on the blog as I spend some time with our very new baby.

This week, we're taking a break from guest patterns to bring you a project I designed during the last few months of pregnancy. I've been loving wearing this purse and I'm excited to share it with you!

You can't take a stroll through the aisles of Target or a peek into Pinterest without seeing Urban Nomad Boho Bag everywhere. And most of them are made with some version of industrial crochet.

I wanted to take that same organic, bohemian vibe and design a project that is even cooler--because it's made by hand!

I'm a big fan of mixing different materials with crocheting (like flip flops, twine and leather!), so naturally, I decided to add a leather strap to this boho crochet purse. While I like to Urban Nomad Boho Bag, this time, I didn't have a belt that was quite making this purse sing. So, I did what any person in the 21st century does, I looked on Amazon for a solution.

The strap and fasters I found seemed promising, but it was only after they arrived and I put the entire crochet bag together that I decided this strap/faster combo is about the best thing ever for crocheted purses and bags. Not only is the leather sturdy and a beautiful shade of brown, it's complimented perfectly by the brass accessories and the natural colored yarn.

Perhaps the best feature though is that you can order a set of several fasteners for all your crochet and knit bag projects and then just unclip the strap and transfer it to whatever bag you're wearing that day.

My Favorite Yarn for Crochet Purses

When it comes to crochet bags and shoes, Lion Brand's 24/7 Cotton is by far my favorite yarn to use. It's strong and hardwearing for projects that do better with a lack of stretch. But it's also mercerized, so it's very has a lovely, subtle sheen that makes your crocheted items feel polished and professional.

For this fringed crochet bag, you'll use two strands of 24/7 Cotton held together, which gives the purse just the right amount of strength and texture. You can see all 24 colors of 24/7 Cotton here.

Crochet Help For Visual Learners

While this crochet boho purse is not complicated to make, sometimes explaining how to do it is. That's the trouble I find with crochet pattern lingo sometimes--it's wordy! So if you're more of a visual learner like me and want to cut to the chase, I highly suggest investing a few dollars in the printable PDF of this pattern, which is formatted for easy printing and includes a detailed stitch chart of the purse front/back section. You can purchase the PDF here.

More Free Crochet Bag + Purse Patterns

From modern granny square bags to mesh market totes to circle purses, we've got lots more free crochet bag patterns for you to enjoy. With sturdy straps and stylish details, you might just become a crochet bag-a-holic.

See morefree →

Moonrise Fringed Crochet Bag
Free Pattern

Purchase ad-free, printable PDF with stitch charthere.

Save this to Ravelry here.

Pin it for later here.

Explanation:
Just because you’re a free spirit doesn’t mean don’t need to carry along some essentials. This fringed boho purse is the perfect size to stash a wallet, lipstick and water bottle on your bohemian adventures.

Made from richly textured circles, this pattern comes together in three main pieces: a front, a back and a closure flap. Finish it off with crocheted details or add a special button and leather strap to make it just your style. (Instructions for both options are included below.)

Supplies:
• Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (Weight: 4/medium - 186 yds, 3.5 oz)
Ecru (#761-098) – 6 skeins [ (approx. 550 g)]
• Tapestry needle
• 4 locking stitch markers
• Size J (5.75 mm) crochet hook
• Button for fastening top (optional)
• Leather strap ( optional - this strap is pictured in sample https://amzn.to/2Gjubxm )
• Strap fasteners ( optional - these fasteners are pictured in sample https://amzn.to/2IDjicm )

Measurements:
Purse: 12” tall x 12” wide x 1.75” deep

Strap: approx. 67”, which allows for an approx. 13” drop from top of shoulder to top of purse

Gauge:
Rounds 1-4 should measure approx. 5.75” across

For strap: 13 sts should measure approx 5” across the row

Abbreviations and Glossary (US Terms):
ch(s) – chain(s)
ch-1 sp – space created by 1 ch
ch-2 sp – space created by 2 ch
dc – double crochet
dc2tog – double crochet 2 together
dc3tog – double crochet 3 together
fsc – foundation single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
PM – place marker
rep – repeat
RS – right side
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sl st – slip stitch
sp – space
st(s) – stitch(es)
tr – treble crochet
WS – wrong side
yo – yarn over

2DcCl – 2 double crochet cluster - yo, insert hook in the designated stitch, yo and pull up a loop , yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Yo and pull through all 3 loops.

3DcCl – 3 double crochet cluster - yo, insert hook in the designated stitch, yo and pull up a loop , yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook). Yo and pull through all 4 loops.

4DcCl – 4 double crochet cluster - yo, insert hook in the designated stitch, yo and pull up a loop , yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook). Yo, insert hook in same stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (5 loops on hook). Yo and pull through all 5 loops.

Puff – [yo, insert hook in the designated stitch, yo and pull up a loop ] three times in the same stitch, yo and pull through all 7 loops on hook, ch 1 to close puff.

Overall Pattern Notes:
• IMPORTANT: Pattern is worked with two strands of yarn held together throughout.

Main Front + Back

Notes:
• Main circles are worked in the round. Each round is finished with a sl st to the first st of the round.

• Ch 3 at beginning of round always counts as 1 dc. Work these chs quite tightly so as to minimize the potential gap they can create in a round.

• See stitch chart in printable PDF for visual explanation of main circle pattern.

Make 2.

Foundation: Create a magic ring (or ch 5, sl st to join).

Round 1: Ch 3, 15 dc in ring, sl st to third ch from beginning of round to join. (16 sts)

Round 2: Ch 3, 2DcCl in top of ch-3, ch 1, [3DcCl in next dc, ch 1] 15 times, sl st to top of first cluster to join. (32 sts)

Round 3: Sl st into first ch-1sp, ch 3, 3DcCl in first ch-1 sp, ch 2, [4DcCl in next ch-1 sp, ch 2] 15 times, sl st to top of first cluster to join. (48 sts)

Round 4: Ch 3, [4 dc in next ch-2 sp] 15 times, 3 dc in last ch-2sp, sl st to top of beginning ch-3 to join. (64 sts)

Round 5: Sl st into first dc, [ch 4, sk 1 dc, sl st in third dc of same 4DcGroup, ch 4, sk 1 dc, sl st in first dc of next 4DcGroup] 15 times, ch 4, sk 1 dc, sl st into third dc of last 4DcGroup, ch 4, sk ch-3, sl st into sl st from beginning of round to join. (32 Ch4Loops)

Round 6: Ch 1, [3 sc in Ch4Loop, 2 sc in next Ch4Loop] 16 times, sl st to first sc of round to join. (80 sc)

Round 7: Ch 3, sk first sc, dc in each of next 8 sc, 2 dc in next sc, [dc in each of next 9 sc, 2 dc in next sc] 7 times. (88 dc)

Round 8: Ch 2, [yo, insert hook in top of ch-3 from previous round, yo and pull up a loop] twice, yo and pull through all 5 loops on hook (first Puff made), ch 2, sk 1 st, [Puff, ch 1, sk 1 st] 43 times, sl st to top of first Puff to join. (44 Puffs, 44 ch-1 sps)

Round 9: Ch 1, sc in top of first Puff, ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, [sc in top of next puff, ch 2, sk ch-2 sp] 43 times, sl st to first sc to join. (44 sc, 44 ch-2 sps)

Now we’ll begin squaring off the top corners. Place markers in the 4th, 10th, 36th and 42nd scs. These markers serve as a checkpoint that each corner has been placed in the correct stitches. For visual help with this section, reference stitch chart in printable PDF.

Round 10:
Beginning top edge:
Ch 1, sc in first sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, [sc in next sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp] twice, (marker)...

Creating first corner:
…*Hdc in next sc, 2 hdc in next ch-2sp, dc in next sc, 2 dc in next ch-2sp, [tr in next sc, 3 tr in next ch-2sp] twice, dc in next sc, 2 dc in next ch-2sp, hdc in next sc, 2 hdc in next ch-2sp**, (marker)...

Continuing around side, bottom, side of bag:
...[Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next ch-2sp] 26 times, (marker)...

Creating second corner:
...Rep from * to **, (marker)...

Finishing top edge:
…[Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp] 3 times, sl st to first sc of round to join. Fasten off. (136 sts)

Counting from first sc of previous round, place markers in the 20th st and the 117th st (which is the 20th stitch counting in the opposite direction). There are 38 sts in between the markers.

Attach yarn in 118th st (one st in from marked st). Row 11 is worked along top of bag between markers with RS facing. Do not remove these markers until directed to do so.

Row 11 (RS): Ch 4 (counts as first tr), tr in each of next 3 sts, dc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in each of next 3 sts, sc in each of next 18 sts, hdc in each of next 3 sts, dc in each of next 3 sts, tr in each of last 4 sts before marker; turn. (38 sts)

Main Front + Back Finishing Border

Notes:
• Rounds 1-3 are once again worked in the round. Round 1 is worked with WS facing.

Round 1 (WS):
Along top edge:
Ch 1, [sc in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts] 12 times, sc in next st…

Continuing around sides and bottom of bag:
...ch 2, (PM in ch-sp), sc in side of ch-4, ch 2, sc in marked st, *ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * to next marked st, ch 2, sk marked st, sc in side of tr, ch 2, sc in side of tr once more, ch 2, (PM in ch-sp), sl st to first sc of round to join; turn. (49 sc, 49 ch-2 sps)

New markers placed in Round 1 now indicate top corners of purse. Markers from Round 10 may be removed.

Round 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first ch-2sp, (PM in sc), sc twice more in same sp, sc in next sc, *2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next sc**; rep from * to marked sp, 3 sc in marked ch-2 sp, (PM in third sc), rep from * to ** to end of round, sl st to first sc of round to join; do not turn. (149 sts)

Round 3 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in marked st, (re-place marker in first sc), sc in each sc until second marker, 2 sc in marked st, (re-place marker in second sc), sc in each sc to end of round, sl st to first sc of round to join. (151 sc)

Fasten off leaving a 30” tail for seaming.

Front Purse Flap

Notes:
• Purse flap is crocheted separately and seamed to purse at the end.

• Ch 3 at beginning of row counts as first dc.

Make 1.

Foundation: Ch 41.

Row 1 (RS): Sk 2 ch, dc in each ch to end of row; turn. (39)

Rows 2-3: Ch 3, sk first dc, dc in each dc to end of row; turn. (39)

Row 4 (RS): Ch 3, sk first dc, [dc2tog over next 2 dc] twice, dc in each dc until 5 sts remain, [dc2tog over next 2 dc] twice, dc in last dc; turn. (35)

Rows 5-11: Rep Row 4.

Row 12 (WS): Ch 3, sk first dc, dc2tog over next 2 dc, dc in next dc, dc2tog over next 2 dc, dc in last dc; turn. (5)

Row 13 (RS): Ch 3, sk first dc, dc3tog over next 3 dc, dc in last dc; do not turn. (3)

Fasten off.

Right-handed crocheters: With RS of flap facing, attach yarn on the right-hand side of foundation ch.

Left-handed crocheters: With RS of flap facing, attach yarn on the left-hand side of foundation ch.

Border is crocheted around slanted edges of flap

. To accommodate a different size button, adjust the number of chs in the middle of the border.

Border (RS): Ch 1, sc evenly along first slanted edge to corner (Row 13 of flap), ch 6, sc evenly along second slanted edge to end of Row 1 of flap. Fasten off leaving a 20” tail for seaming.

Straps

Notes:
• There are two options for finishing the bottom of the purse and creating a way to carry it.

1. Crochet a shorter strap that serves only as the purse bottom. Then add a leather shoulder strap.
2. Crochet a longer strap that serves as both the purse bottom as well as the shoulder strap. (See photo above.)

Shorter Purse Bottom - Option A:

The following instructions will create enough length for the leather strap to have a place to attach.

Recommended Foundation + Row 1: Fsc 100.

Alternative Foundation: Ch 101.
Alternative Row 1: Sk first ch, sc in each ch to end of row; turn. (100)

Rows 2-5 : Ch 1, sc in each sc; turn. (100)

Fasten off leaving a 12” tail for seaming.

Longer Purse Bottom + Strap - Option B:

The following instructions will create a strap that is approx. 67” long after blocking. For a longer or shorter strap, adjust number of chains in foundation.

Recommended Foundation + Row 1: Fsc 175.

Alternative Foundation: Ch 176.
Alternative Row 1: Sk first ch, sc in each ch to end of row; turn. (175)

Rows 2-5 : Ch 1, sc in each sc; turn. (175)

Fasten off leaving a 15” tail for seaming. Use tail and tapestry needle to seam short edges of strap together into a loop, taking care to ensure it’s not twisted.

Finishing

Blocking:
Steam block main pieces using either a steamer or steam setting on iron. (Do not touch iron to yarn.) To block strap, stretch it a bit and pin to blocking board, then steam as described above. Blocking in stretched position will help ensure the crochet strap doesn’t stretch a lot with wear.

Joining Main Pieces:
With right sides of Main Front and Back facing out, pin purse front and back to crocheted strap/purse bottom as described below.

• If using shorter purse bottom piece (Option A), position piece so that both the beginning and end of piece has an equal amount of overhang on each side of purse top, then pin to front and back pieces along 2 sides and bottom.
• If using longer purse bottom + strap (Option B), position strap seam at bottom of purse then pin to front and back pieces along 2 sides and bottom.

Using a tapestry needle and existing yarn tails where possible, seam front of purse to purse bottom piece along pinned edges. Using a basting stitch, work underneath both strands of the sc “V”s of both the front and purse bottom piece/strap. Join back of purse to purse bottom piece in the same manner. (See photo above.)

If using strap Option A, before fastening off seaming thread, thread strap hardware onto overhanging pieces of purse bottom on either side of purse. Fold overhanging pieces toward inside of purse and seam so as to securely fasten.

Joining Purse Flap:
Choose a side of purse to designate as the front. With RS of purse flap facing out, pin flap to Purse Back along top edge. Using existing yarn tails if possible, seam flap to Purse Back. Using a basting stitch, work underneath the sc “V”s of both pieces to be joined.

Adding a Closure

To add a closure to top of purse choose to either crochet the button described below or find a wooden, bone or plastic button you prefer.

Make a Crochet Button:
Foundation Round: Ch 5, sl st to first ch to form a circle.

Round 1: Ch 1, 11 sc in circle, sl st to first sc to join. Fasten off leaving a 12” tail to sew button to purse.

Sew button of choice to front of purse.

Adding Fringe

Fringe pieces need to measure approx. 32” long before adding them to bag. To quickly cut fringe pieces of all the same length, wrap yarn around a piece of cardboard that is approximately 16” tall. Cut at one end.

Beginning in top of purse at front seam, insert hook from the front of purse toward back and grab five strands of fringe. Pull fringe partially up to front of purse. Insert fingers through resulting loop of fringe and pull fringe tails through loop. (See photo tutorial in this blog post.)

Repeat in every fourth or fifth stitch along side of purse until approx. 10 sections of fringe are complete. Repeat on opposite front of purse. Flip purse over and repeat on both edges of back. Trim as desired. (Fringe pictured in sample is approx. 14-15” long.)

Grab your new bag, pop a flower in your hair and head out for your next vagabond adventure!

More Free Crochet Patterns for Bags + Purses

• Beginner Crochet Tote Bag - fun crochet geometry
• How to Add Leather Handles to Any Crochet Bag - easy upgrade
• Crochet Tote Bag Free Pattern - with leather handles
• Finger Crochet Bag Pattern + Video - no hook, no problem!
• Free Crochet Bag Pattern For Beginners - very simple construction
• Mesh Crochet Market Bag Pattern - perfect for the farmer's market
• Crochet Bag Made From Squares - dead simple, yet so fun
• Urban Nomad Boho Bag - creative construction + style

More Boho Free Crochet Patterns

Need some more free boho crochet patterns to add to your handmade wardrobe? Here are a few reader faves you might like. You can always find all our free crochet patterns here.

1. Saratoga Poncho Top - an easy, lightweight crochet top for spring made from two simple rectangles.

2. Remix Cardigan - made with virtually no seaming, this fun pattern is ripe with options to personalize.

3. Taos Mukluk Slippers - these cozy kicks are crocheted on top of flip flops, making them extra comfy and slip resistant.

4. Canyonlands Boho Top - this drapey, flattering top is made with very easy construction and a beautiful lacy stitch.