Sage Green Floral Bucket Bag Free Crochet Pattern

This sage green bucket bag is honestly one of my favourite makes, because it looks like something from a boutique window, yet every element uses stitches you probably already know! We will work the sturdy body in simple continuous single crochet rounds, then decorate it with two daisy granny squares and two dimensional 3D daisy appliques, and finish with sewn handles and a fluffy tassel.

I love how the layers come together here. The squares sit on the bag body like pretty panels, and those raised daisies are so much easier than they look. Once you find the rhythm of the petal stitch, they just bloom under your hook.

The finished bag measures about 10 inches wide by 9.5 inches tall, not counting the handles, so there is plenty of room for your wallet, phone, keys, a water bottle and even a small crochet project. Let us make it together, step by step.

Materials

• 450 yards bulky weight (size 5) cotton or cotton blend yarn in sage green (Yarn A)
• 200 yards bulky weight cotton or cotton blend yarn in cream / ecru (Yarn B)
• 25 yards bulky weight cotton or cotton blend yarn in golden yellow (Yarn C)
• US K-10.5 (6.5mm) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
• At least 4 stitch markers
• Scissors
• Optional: plastic canvas or purse base insert cut to a 9.5 inch circle for extra structure

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• dc: double crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• MR: magic ring
• BLO: back loop only
• ch-sp: chain space
• inc: increase, 2 sc in the same stitch
• st/sts: stitch / stitches
• RS: right side

Special Stitches

• 3D raised petal stitch: work into the chain space indicated as follows: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), making one half double crochet. Without fastening off, work 3 dc into the same space, then work one hdc into the same space, giving 5 stitches in the space (1 hdc, 3 dc, 1 hdc). Slip stitch into the same space to close and anchor the petal at its base. The petal naturally curls away from the fabric, which is exactly what we want.
• Corner shell: work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the same corner chain-2 space.

Gauge & Size

• Finished size: about 10 inches wide by 9.5 inches tall, not including the handles
• Gauge: 14 sc by 16 rows equals 4 inches in continuous rounds with Yarn A; one daisy granny square through Round 5 measures 4.5 by 4.5 inches
• Construction: base and walls worked in continuous rounds, with sewn-on granny square panels, appliques, handles and a tassel
• Skill level: Intermediate

Bag Base Pattern

Using Yarn A, make a magic ring. The body is worked in continuous rounds, so do not join; move your stitch marker up at the end of each round.

Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), work 8 sc into the magic ring and pull the ring closed snugly. (8 sc)

Round 2: Work 2 sc in each sc around. (16 sc)

Round 3: (Sc 1, 2 sc in the next st) repeat 8 times around. (24 sc)

Round 4: (Sc 2, 2 sc in the next st) repeat 8 times around. (32 sc)

Round 5: (Sc 3, 2 sc in the next st) repeat 8 times around. (40 sc)

Round 6: (Sc 4, 2 sc in the next st) repeat 8 times around. (48 sc)

Round 7: (Sc 5, 2 sc in the next st) repeat 8 times around. (56 sc)

Round 8: (Sc 6, 2 sc in the next st) repeat 8 times around. (64 sc)

Round 9: (Sc 7, 2 sc in the next st) repeat 8 times around. (72 sc)

Round 10: (Sc 8, 2 sc in the next st) repeat 8 times around. (80 sc)

Your base should measure about 9 inches in diameter. Do not cut the yarn.

Bag Body Pattern

Round 11: Working in BLO of each sc around, sc in each st around. (80 sc)

Rounds 12 to 38: Sc in each st around. (80 sc)

After Round 38 the walls should measure about 9.5 inches tall from the base fold.

Round 39: Working in BLO, sc in each st around. (80 sc)

Round 40: Sc in each st around. (80 sc)

Sl st into the next st to close the round. Fasten off Yarn A and weave in the ends.

Before making the handles, divide the 80-stitch circumference into two halves of 40 stitches. Mark stitch 20 (front centre) and stitch 60 (back centre). The handle attachment points are stitches 15 and 25 on the front, and stitches 55 and 65 on the back.

Handles

Make 2. Using Yarn A, ch 80.

Row 1: Sl st in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. (79 sl st)

Fasten off, leaving a 20 inch tail for sewing. Fold the handle in half along its length so the beginning and ending tails align, thread your tapestry needle with the tail, and whipstitch the two layers together along the whole length. Pull firmly to create a dense, stable handle about 10 inches long.

Align one handle end at stitch 15 and the other at stitch 25 on the front panel and sew each end securely to the interior of the top edge over at least 4 stitches in each direction. Repeat for the back panel using stitches 55 and 65.

Daisy Granny Square Pattern

Make 2. Each square uses Yarn B with Yarn C for the centre only. Using Yarn C, make a magic ring.

Round 1 (centre): Ch 3 (counts as the first dc), work 11 dc into the magic ring, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3, and pull the ring closed. (12 dc)

Fasten off Yarn C. Join Yarn B into any dc.

Round 2 (first ring of petals): Ch 1, sc into the same st, (ch 4, sk 1 dc, sc into the next dc) repeat 5 times, ch 4, sl st into the beginning sc to join. (6 ch-4 loops)

Round 3 (3D petal round): Work one 3D raised petal stitch into each ch-4 loop around. Do not join after the last petal; sl st carefully into the back of the sc base of the first petal to anchor. (6 raised petals)

Round 4 (first border round): Ch 4, sl st into the back loop of the sc base of the next petal, working behind the petals, and repeat for each petal to create a ch-4 loop behind each petal. At the end, sl st into the base of the first ch-4 to join. (6 ch-4 loops behind petals)

Round 5 (square shaping round): Sl st into the first ch-4 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same sp, ch 2, 3 dc in the same sp for the first corner shell. Continue working corner shells and side groups as follows: work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the first ch-sp, then 3 dc into each of the next 2 ch-sps, then (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the next ch-sp. Continue around until all 4 corners have corner shells, and join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. (4 corner ch-2 spaces, approximately 36 dc around)

Round 6 (evening the sides): Sl st into the ch-2 corner sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same corner sp. Work 3 dc in each dc group along the side to the next corner, then work a corner shell in the next corner ch-2 sp. Repeat for the remaining sides and corners, ending with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (4 corner ch-2 spaces, approximately 12 dc per side between corners)

Round 7 (final border round): Sl st into the corner ch-2 sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same corner sp. Work 3 dc in each space between dc groups along the side. Repeat the corner shell and side groups around, ending with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (4 corner ch-2 spaces, 9 dc per side between corners)

Fasten off Yarn B, leaving a 24 inch tail for seaming. Both squares should measure about 4.5 by 4.5 inches.

Hold both squares with right sides facing and align them side by side along one edge. Using Yarn B and your tapestry needle, whipstitch the adjacent side edges together through both loops for a flat seam. Position the joined panel against the outside of the bag body, centred vertically, with the top edge of the squares about 1.5 inches below the top edge of the bag. Pin it in place with stitch markers, then sew all four edges of each square to the bag body with whipstitch through the outer loops of the square border and the sc stitches of the body.

Daisy Applique Pattern

Make 2. Using Yarn C, make a magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 1, work 10 sc into the ring, pull the ring closed, join with a sl st to the first sc. (10 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around, join with a sl st to the first sc. (20 sc)

Fasten off Yarn C. Join Yarn B into any sc.

Round 3 (first petal layer): (Ch 7, sc into the second ch from the hook, hdc into the next ch, dc into each of the next 3 ch, hdc into the last ch, sk 1 sc of Round 2, sl st into the next sc) repeat 10 times. After the last petal, sl st into the first sl st to secure. (10 petals)

Round 4 (second elevated petal layer): Turn the motif to access the back. Join Yarn B into the back loop of any sc in Round 2 that was skipped in Round 3. (Ch 8, sc into the second ch from the hook, hdc into the next ch, dc into each of the next 4 ch, hdc into the last ch, sl st into the back loop of the next skipped sc of Round 2) repeat 10 times. (10 longer back petals)

Fasten off Yarn B, leaving an 18 inch tail. Centre the daisy applique over the centre of one granny square and sew it securely through the centre disc, stitching all around at least twice. Repeat for the second daisy.

Finishing & Assembly

For the tassel, cut 12 strands of Yarn B and 6 strands of Yarn C, each 20 inches long. Hold all 18 strands together and fold them in half. Using a separate 12 inch piece of Yarn B, tie firmly around the folded end about 0.75 inches from the fold. Trim all the cut ends to about 2.5 inches below the tassel head and unravel the individual plies for a fluffy body. Attach the tassel to the lower right corner where the two squares meet.

Weave in all ends with your tapestry needle, running each tail through at least 6 stitches in different directions before trimming. To block, submerge the finished bag in cool water, gently squeeze, roll it in a towel, and shape it over a balloon or large bowl while it dries. Steam the granny squares lightly from the wrong side, but let the 3D daisies dry naturally in their raised position.

Tips

Stick with 100 percent cotton or cotton-dominant blends for this bag. Acrylic and stretchy yarns will make it lose its shape, and fuzzy yarns will hide your pretty stitch work.

Want a different size? Each extra increase round after Round 10 adds 8 stitches and about 0.55 inches to the circumference, and each extra plain round between Rounds 12 and 38 adds about 0.25 inches of height. For a small bag, stop increasing at Round 7 (56 sc), or at Round 8 (64 sc) for a medium bag.

Hand wash your finished bag in cool water with gentle detergent, reshape it while damp, and store it stuffed with tissue paper so it keeps its lovely shape.