Glamorous raffia summer bag crochet pattern

Looking for the perfect accessory for your summer outfits ? This glamorous raffia summer bag crochet pattern is the project you need to start working on NOW ! It’s super easy, and will accomodate all your smart casual social events this summer.

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If you prefer to purchase an inexpensive add-free pdf version of this pattern I’ve got you covered. The premium pdf version has all the instructions, more step by step pictures, no ad, and it’s ready-to-print for you to carry around everywhere you can crochet and are not in front of a laptop. The glamorous raffia summer bag crochet pattern is available in my shop on Etsy.

Glamorous raffia summer bag crochet pattern: inspiration

I don’t know about you but with Spring settling down, I feel an urge for Summer and warmer weather! I’ve never crocheted garments or accessories before, but I had this bag idea for a long time now, probably something inspired by my travels in Indonesia when we were living in Kuala Lumpur. Hundreds of baskets of all kinds on Bali markets, I couldn’t help myself I had to geta few, they just call for beach time and I love beach.

Well they’ve been staying in my closet for a while now since we’re back in France, but I thought I could use a touch of tropical chic this summer, so I just did it myself this time!

Scroll down for the free patterns links below or you can also directly purchase a nice add-free pdf version of this project in my shop on Etsy for a small fee. The pdf version has all the pictures, instructions, and it’s ready-to-print to carry along with you wherever you want to sit and crochet!

Before you start your glamorous raffia summer bag crochet pattern

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Glamorous raffia summer bag crochet pattern

MATERIAL

6 mm / US J-10 crochet hook
Yarn:
- Raffia yarn: Rafaella from Hobbii.com in beige and black (one skein of 100gr each is enough).
Yarn needle
Stitch marker or a strand of yarn.
If you wish you can sew a magnetic lock to secure a bit more the opening

LEVEL

Beginner friendly

CROCHET LANGUAGE

This pattern uses US terms abbreviations.

GAUGE

Gauge is not critical for this pattern, crocheting with raffia is not easy so just do as you can! As an indication, with the material mentioned above, the center part of the bag is a 18cm / 7″ diameter circle, and the bag is 25 cm / 9.8″ large in total.

PATTERN NOTES AND SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

The number before the abbreviation represents how many times to work one type of stitch into consecutive stitches from the previous round (unless stated otherwise). Ex: 3inc = work one increase into each of the next 3 stitches.
This pattern is worked in continuous spiral rounds (i.e. without closing the rounds with a slip stitch) unless stated otherwise. It may help to mark the first stitch of each round with a stitch marker.
Raffia paper is relatively solid but it can break, so be gentle when pulling, and be cautious when you use the yarn needle to always go under stitches and loops, not piercing through the paper directly as it may break a stitch from a previous round.
You may add a magnetic lock if you wish to secure the opening, just sew it inside on both sides.
You may add lining if you wish to decorate the inside of the bag.
This is a simple pattern using only single crochet and increases, worked in rounds, so if your stitch count at the end of a round is wrong by one stitch, it’s no big deal, it won’t show in the final result, so if you want to avoid the frogging, it’s possible, especially to avoid damaging the raffia yarn. If you do frogging, be very gentle.
Because crocheting with raffia and a big hook is much harder on the hands and fingers than with thinner yarn, I would recommend to plan working on this project over several days/weeks to allow your hands to rest.

STITCHES AND ABBREVIATIONS (US CROCHET TERMS)

st: stitch/es
sc: single crochet

inc: single crochet increase (work 2 sc into the same st)

[number]: total number of stitches of the round

Rnd: round

(…) x 2: repeat whatever is in between the parenthesis the number of times indicated

in FLO: in the front loop only

in BLO: in the back loop only

THE BAG SIDES

With beige raffia yarn.

Rnd 1: work 6sc into a magic ring. [6]

Rnd 2: inc in each st around. [12]

Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x 6. [18]

Rnd 4: (2sc, inc) x 6. [24]

Rnd 5: (3sc, inc) x 6. [30]

Rnd 6: (2sc, inc, 2sc) x 6. [36]

Rnd 7: (5sc, inc) x 6. [42]

Rnd 8: (6sc, inc) x 6. [48]

Rnd 9: (7sc, inc) x 6. [54]

Rnd 10: (4sc, inc, 4sc) x 6. [60]

Rnd 11: (9sc, inc) x 6. [66]

Change color to black raffia (finish your last st with black). Leave long tails (at least 15cm / 6″) to make it easy to weave in.

Rnd 12: in FLO for the entire round, (5sc, 4inc) x 2, (4sc, 4inc) x 6. [98]

Rnd 13: (in both loops) (2sc, inc) x 32, 2sc .[130]

Rnd 14: sc around. [130]

Change color with beige (finish your last st with beige).

Rnd 15: sc around. [130]

Fasten off, make an invisible finish, and weave in all tails.

Make a second one.

The wrong sides will be the inside of the bag.

THE BASE

With beige raffia yarn, make a slip knot.

The base is crocheted in rows, the turning chain doesn’t count as a stitch.

Row 1: join the yarn at round 12, using the back loops we left there. You can start anywhere on the round. Work 46sc in the back loops of round 12. [46]

Row 2: chain 1, turn, 46sc. [46]

Row 3: chain 1, turn, 46sc. [46]

Row 4: chain 1, turn, 46sc. [46]

Row 5: chain 1, turn, sc around. [46]

Fasten off, leaving a tail of at least 90cm / 35″.

Using a yarn needle, sew the base to the other side of the bag, using the back loops of round 12, pull tight (but carefully) as you go. Secure with a knot and weave in ends.

THE BAG CORD

With beige raffia.

Make a slip knot, chain 2.

Work 1sc in the second chain from the hook. Now rotate slightly clockwise to hold the stitch you just made, and insert your hook under the loop located at the base of its V-shape. Work 1sc into this loop.

Again, rotate slightly clockwise to hold the last stitch your just made, and now at the base of its V-shape you should have a double-strand of raffia. Insert your hook under both loops of this strand, and work 1sc.

From now on you’ll always have 2 strands of raffia at the base of your stitch, keep working 1sc under these strands, until you reach the desired length of cord. Plan to keep 3 cm / 1.2” at both ends of the cord for sewing to the bag base.

Once you reach the desired length, fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. With a yarn needle, sew the cord to the base, on the inside, by grabbing stitches/loops over 2 to 3 cm. Be careful to always insert your needle under stitches/loops, not forcing your way through the raffia, otherwise it could damage the raffia paper and break a stitch from a previous round.