How to Crochet a Trendy Bag

1. Prepare the Rope

   Cut the rope in half so you have two five-yard pieces. Curl one end of a piece of rope to make a small ring. Use a sewing needle and matching thread to sew the rope ring in place.

2. Attach the Yarn to the Rope

   Hold the rope so it coils toward the left. Tie the yarn to the rope and draw up a loop through the center of the rope.

3. Begin Crocheting Around the Rope

   Round 1: Starting at the joined point of the rope ring, single crochet 9 stitches around the rope.

   Round 2: Working around the rope, single crochet 3 stitches into the first stitch from round 1. Single crochet 2 stitches in each remaining stitch. 

   Attach a small safety pin as a marker for the end of the round. Move the marker up with each new round.

4. Continue Crocheting the Coiled Piece

   Round 3: Single crochet 2 stitches in every stitch.

   Round 4: *Single crochet 2 in the space between the groupings of 2 stitches from the previous round, chain 1 and skip a stitch. Repeat from *.

   Round 5: Single crochet 3 in every chain-space.

   Round 6: *Skip 1 stitch, single crochet 2 in the next stitch, single crochet 2 in the space between the groupings of stitches from the previous round. Repeat from *.

   Rounds 7 & 8: Single crochet 2 in every space between the groupings of stitches from the previous round.

   Round 9: Single crochet 3 in every space between the groupings of stitches from the previous round.

   Round 10: Skip 1 stitch, single crochet 2 in the space between the groupings of stitches from the previous round, single crochet 2 in the next stitch. Repeat from *.

   Round 11: Single crochet 2 in every space between the groupings of stitches from the previous round. Repeat to the end of the rope.

5. Finish the Crochet on the Rope

   When the rope ends, work stitches over the end of the rope as much as possible, pushing the very end to the back of your crochet. 

   Work 10 single crochet stitches into the stitches from the previous round. End off the yarn.

   Weave in all the ends. Make a second coiled piece to match the first.

6. Make the Strap and Purse Sides

   Chain 3s at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch. Make the first double crochet in the first stitch of the row.

   Chain 15. 

   Row 1: Starting in the 3rd chain from the hook, work 12 double crochets.

   Row 2: Chain 3, double crochet 12 stitches. Turn.

   Repeat row 2 a total of 42 times.

   Row 3: Chain 3, double crochet 2 together, double crochet 8, double crochet 2 together. Turn.

   Row 4: Chain 3, double crochet 2 together, double crochet 6, double crochet 2 together. Turn.

   Row 5: Chain 3, double crochet 8 stitches. Turn.

   Repeat row 5 a total of 75 times.

   Row 6: Chain 3, double crochet 2 stitches into the first stitch, double crochet 6, double crochet 2 stitches into the last stitch. Turn.

   Row 7: Chain 3, double crochet 2 stitches into the first stitch, double crochet 8, double crochet 2 stitches into the last stitch. Turn.

   End off the yarn. 

   Slip stitch the two ends together and weave in all the ends.

7. Attach the Strap and Sides

   With the wrong sides together, hold a coiled piece with the side/strap piece. Align the point where the strap goes from wide to narrow with the last 10 single crochet stitches on the coiled side. 

   Use slip stitch to join the wide part of the crocheted band to the coiled side. Stop when the band narrows again. 

   Repeat on the other side of the bag. Weave in all the yarn ends.

8. Make the Button Closure

   Use yarn to sew a shank-style button centered on the top of one side of the purse. Stitch the button in place through the stitches in the coils. 

   Join yarn to the back of the purse in the same position as the button. Chain 20, then end off the yarn. Attach the end of the chain to the purse at the starting position to form a loop. 

   This loop needs to be able to fit over the button to hold the bag closed, If you are using a large button, you may need to add more chains to the loop. Before securing the end, hold or pin the end to ensure that the loop is long enough.

   Weave in the yarn ends.

Tips as You're Working

• Avoid the need for changing yarn mid-coil by starting a new skein for the second half of the bag. It's easier to attach more yarn when making the strap piece.
• Although this is written with specific stitch patterns, you may find that you need to adjust the clusters of stitches as you work around the coils depending on your rope and yarn. The goal is to make circles that lie flat. 
• Want a bigger or smaller purse? Start with more or less rope and follow the pattern as closely as possible, adjusting as needed.
• For a fun pop of color, use a contrasting yarn color when you attach the strap/sides to the coiled pieces. It will look like piping.
• If you use variegated yarn, you'll get a fun effect on the coils.