Boho Tapestry Crochet Bag Pattern

Tapestry crochet does something no other colourwork technique manages: because we carry the unused colours inside the stitches instead of behind them, the fabric comes out double-thick, dense, and stiff enough to stand up on its own. On a blanket that would be a problem, but on a bag it is the entire point, and I love it!

We will make a Wayuu-style backpack with an interlocking diamond lattice: ochre diamonds and charcoal diamonds sharing edges across a sand ground, repeating four times around the bag. The flat circular base grows straight into the body with no seam, the body is one long spiral of 96 stitches, and the flap is a separate flat circle sewn across the back. We finish with two straps, a handle tab, a drawstring cord and a tassel.

The finished backpack is 8 inches wide by 10 inches tall, with a 5-inch base and 26-inch straps. It is honestly intermediate, not because anything is technically hard, but because there is a lot of it: around twelve thousand stitches with three colours live at once. Once the colour changes feel automatic, this becomes very calm work, I promise!

Materials

• DK weight 100% cotton yarn, smooth and firmly plied, in Sand (Main Colour): about 520 yards, buy 5 balls of 50 g
• DK weight 100% cotton yarn in Ochre, deep golden mustard (Contrast Colour 1): about 85 yards, 1 ball
• DK weight 100% cotton yarn in Charcoal, near-black blue-grey (Contrast Colour 2): about 85 yards, 1 ball
• 2.75mm (US C/2) crochet hook
• Locking stitch markers, at least 4
• Blunt yarn needle
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• 1 swivel clasp, about 1.25 inches (3 cm), for the tassel (optional)
• Optional: stiff plastic canvas cut to a 4.75 inch circle for the base, and fabric plus needle and thread for a lining

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• BLO: back loop only
• st/sts: stitch / stitches
• sp: space
• MR: magic ring
• MC: main colour (Sand)
• CC1: contrast colour 1 (Ochre)
• CC2: contrast colour 2 (Charcoal)

Special Stitches

• Tapestry colour change: work the last single crochet of the outgoing colour up to the final yarn over, so there are two loops on the hook. Drop that strand to lie along the top of the round, pick up the new colour, yarn over with it and pull through both loops. The top of that stitch is now the new colour, which keeps the diamond edges sharp. The two colours you are not using lie along the top of the previous round and get encased inside the stitches as you work over them, with even tension: too loose and they show as bumps, too tight and the round draws in.

Gauge & Size

• Finished size: 8 inches wide x 10 inches tall (20 x 25 cm), base 5 inches (12.5 cm) across, straps 26 inches (66 cm)
• Gauge: 24 sc and 26 rounds = 4 inches (10 cm) worked in the round in tapestry with two colours carried. Swatch in the round while carrying two spare strands, because a flat single-colour swatch will mislead you
• Construction: round base worked into the body in a continuous spiral with no joining and no turning; separate flat circular flap, straps and handle tab sewn on
• Skill level: Intermediate

Base Pattern

A flat circle in sand, sixteen rounds, six increases per round. Work it in a continuous spiral with a marker in the first stitch, and measure at the end rather than pressing on. With MC:

Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)

Pull the ring closed and place a marker in the first stitch.

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (18 sts)

Round 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (24 sts)

Round 5: (Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (30 sts)

Round 6: (Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (36 sts)

Round 7: (Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (42 sts)

Round 8: (Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (48 sts)

Round 9: (Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (54 sts)

Round 10: (Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (60 sts)

Round 11: (Sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (66 sts)

Round 12: (Sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (72 sts)

Round 13: (Sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (78 sts)

Round 14: (Sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (84 sts)

Round 15: (Sc in next 13 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (90 sts)

Round 16: (Sc in next 14 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (96 sts)

Round 17 (fold round): Sc in BLO of each st around. (96 sts)

The base should now measure about 5 inches (12.5 cm) across and sit with a very slight dome, which is correct. The back loop round creates the crease the sides will stand up from. Keep the marker in place, because every round from here on is 96 stitches and the numbering restarts at 1 for the body.

Body Pattern

Sixty-seven rounds, 96 stitches each, worked as one continuous spiral straight on from the base. Five plain rounds settle the fold, then the colourwork band runs for fifty-three rounds, then plain rounds and a drawstring channel finish the top. Join CC1 and CC2 at Round 6 by simply laying them along the top of Round 5 and working over them. Do not tie them on, because a knot inside the fabric shows as a lump forever. Each colourwork round is written as one 24-stitch repeat, worked 4 times, and every round totals 96 stitches.

Rounds 1 to 5: Sc in each st around in MC. (96 sc each round)

Round 6: (2 CC1, 7 MC, 7 CC2, 8 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 7: (2 CC1, 7 MC, 7 CC2, 8 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 8: (2 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, 7 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 9: (7 MC, 3 CC2, 5 CC1, 3 CC2, 6 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 10: (6 MC, 3 CC2, 2 CC1, 3 MC, 2 CC1, 3 CC2, 5 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 11: (5 MC, 3 CC2, 2 CC1, 5 MC, 2 CC1, 3 CC2, 4 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 12: (5 MC, 2 CC2, 2 CC1, 7 MC, 2 CC1, 2 CC2, 4 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 13: (4 MC, 2 CC2, 2 CC1, 9 MC, 2 CC1, 2 CC2, 3 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 14: (3 MC, 2 CC2, 3 CC1, 9 MC, 3 CC1, 2 CC2, 2 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 15: (2 MC, 2 CC2, 3 CC1, 11 MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 16: (3 CC2, 3 CC1, 13 MC, 3 CC1, 2 CC2) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 17: (2 CC2, 3 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC2, 6 MC, 4 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 18: (4 CC1, 7 MC, 3 CC2, 7 MC, 3 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 19: (4 CC1, 7 MC, 3 CC2, 7 MC, 3 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 20: (4 CC1, 7 MC, 3 CC2, 7 MC, 3 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 21: (2 CC2, 3 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC2, 6 MC, 4 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 22: (3 CC2, 3 CC1, 13 MC, 3 CC1, 2 CC2) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 23: (2 MC, 2 CC2, 3 CC1, 11 MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 24: (3 MC, 2 CC2, 3 CC1, 9 MC, 3 CC1, 2 CC2, 2 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 25: (4 MC, 2 CC2, 2 CC1, 9 MC, 2 CC1, 2 CC2, 3 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 26: (5 MC, 2 CC2, 2 CC1, 7 MC, 2 CC1, 2 CC2, 4 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 27: (5 MC, 3 CC2, 2 CC1, 5 MC, 2 CC1, 3 CC2, 4 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 28: (6 MC, 3 CC2, 2 CC1, 3 MC, 2 CC1, 3 CC2, 5 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 29: (7 MC, 3 CC2, 5 CC1, 3 CC2, 6 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 30: (2 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, 7 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 31: (2 CC1, 7 MC, 7 CC2, 8 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 32: (2 CC1, 7 MC, 7 CC2, 8 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 33: (2 CC1, 7 MC, 7 CC2, 8 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 34: (2 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, 7 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 35: (7 MC, 3 CC2, 5 CC1, 3 CC2, 6 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 36: (6 MC, 3 CC2, 2 CC1, 3 MC, 2 CC1, 3 CC2, 5 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 37: (5 MC, 3 CC2, 2 CC1, 5 MC, 2 CC1, 3 CC2, 4 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 38: (5 MC, 2 CC2, 2 CC1, 7 MC, 2 CC1, 2 CC2, 4 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 39: (4 MC, 2 CC2, 2 CC1, 9 MC, 2 CC1, 2 CC2, 3 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 40: (3 MC, 2 CC2, 3 CC1, 9 MC, 3 CC1, 2 CC2, 2 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 41: (2 MC, 2 CC2, 3 CC1, 11 MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 42: (3 CC2, 3 CC1, 13 MC, 3 CC1, 2 CC2) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 43: (2 CC2, 3 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC2, 6 MC, 4 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 44: (4 CC1, 7 MC, 3 CC2, 7 MC, 3 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 45: (4 CC1, 7 MC, 3 CC2, 7 MC, 3 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 46: (4 CC1, 7 MC, 3 CC2, 7 MC, 3 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 47: (2 CC2, 3 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC2, 6 MC, 4 CC1) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 48: (3 CC2, 3 CC1, 13 MC, 3 CC1, 2 CC2) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 49: (2 MC, 2 CC2, 3 CC1, 11 MC, 3 CC1, 3 CC2) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 50: (3 MC, 2 CC2, 3 CC1, 9 MC, 3 CC1, 2 CC2, 2 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 51: (4 MC, 2 CC2, 2 CC1, 9 MC, 2 CC1, 2 CC2, 3 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 52: (5 MC, 2 CC2, 2 CC1, 7 MC, 2 CC1, 2 CC2, 4 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 53: (5 MC, 3 CC2, 2 CC1, 5 MC, 2 CC1, 3 CC2, 4 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 54: (6 MC, 3 CC2, 2 CC1, 3 MC, 2 CC1, 3 CC2, 5 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 55: (7 MC, 3 CC2, 5 CC1, 3 CC2, 6 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 56: (2 CC1, 6 MC, 3 CC2, 3 CC1, 3 CC2, 7 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 57: (2 CC1, 7 MC, 7 CC2, 8 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Round 58: (2 CC1, 7 MC, 7 CC2, 8 MC) 4 times. (96 sc)

Rounds 57 and 58 close the lattice with the same band the motif opened with in Rounds 6 and 7, so the pattern is cut off symmetrically. Cut CC1 and CC2, leaving 4 inch tails, and work over them for the next few stitches to bury them.

Rounds 59 to 61: Sc in each st around in MC. (96 sc each round)

Round 62 (drawstring channel): (Sc in next 4 sts, ch 2, skip next 2 sts) 16 times. (64 sc and 16 ch-2 sps, 96 stitch positions)

Round 63: (Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp) 16 times. (96 sc)

Rounds 64 to 66: Sc in each st around in MC. (96 sc each round)

Round 67: Sl st in each st around. (96 sl sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 6 inch tail. The body should now measure about 10 inches (25 cm) tall from the base fold and 16 inches (40 cm) around, which is 8 inches across when laid flat.

Flap Pattern

A flat circle in sand, twenty-one rounds, worked exactly like the base to start. The spiral this makes is the visible feature, so keep your tension even. With MC:

Rounds 1 to 16: Work exactly as Rounds 1 to 16 of the Base. (96 sts at the end of Round 16)

Round 17: (Sc in next 15 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (102 sts)

Round 18: (Sc in next 16 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (108 sts)

Round 19: (Sc in next 17 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (114 sts)

Round 20: (Sc in next 18 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (120 sts)

Round 21: (Sc in next 19 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times. (126 sts)

Round 22: Sl st in each st around. (126 sl sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 24 inch (60 cm) tail for sewing. The finished flap is about 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) across and should lie flat.

Straps, Handle, Cord & Tassel

For each strap (make 2), with MC, ch 157.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (156 sc)

Rows 2 to 10: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (156 sc)

Fasten off, leaving a 20 inch (50 cm) tail for sewing. The finished strap is about 26 inches (66 cm) long and 1.5 inches (4 cm) wide. Working the strap lengthwise means it barely stretches at all, which is exactly what a shoulder strap needs.

For the handle tab, with MC, ch 25.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (24 sc)

Rows 2 to 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (24 sc)

Fasten off, leaving a 12 inch (30 cm) tail. The finished tab is about 4 inches (10 cm) long and 0.75 inch (2 cm) wide.

For the drawstring cord, with MC, ch 196, leaving a 4 inch tail. Working into the back bump of each chain, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (195 sl sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 4 inch tail. The finished cord is about 30 inches (76 cm). Weave both tails back inside the cord so the ends do not fray.

For the tassel, cut 20 strands each of MC, CC1 and CC2, all 11 inches (28 cm) long, 60 strands total. Lay the strands together in a bundle and fold them in half over a 10 inch length of MC, tie that length tightly at the fold with a double knot, and leave its ends long as the hanging loop. Wrap a 24 inch length of CC1 firmly around the whole bundle about 0.75 inch (2 cm) below the fold, twenty or so turns, to form the neck, then thread the end onto a yarn needle, pass it up through the middle of the neck wrap, and pull it down into the skirt so it disappears. Trim the skirt straight across at about 5 inches (12.5 cm) from the fold, and attach the swivel clasp to the loop at the top.

Finishing & Assembly

With the bag upright, find the round start marker at the top edge and count from there: that stitch is stitch 1, the centre back, and the count runs 1 to 96 around the top. The flap does not attach at its edge. Lay the flap on a table right side down, measure 1.5 inches up from the centre of the spiral, and lay a marker line across the flap at that point, where it measures about 5.75 inches across, matching 34 stitches of the bag. Pin the bag top edge along that line, centred on the centre back, so it spans sts 80 to 96 and sts 1 to 17, and sew with the flap 24 inch tail, going along the line twice. Fold the flap down over the front and check it hangs straight before you finish off.

Sew on the straps with a square of small stitches all the way around each strap end, going around twice. The left strap top end sews to sts 85 to 93, just below the flap seam, and its bottom end to sts 82 to 90 of the base fold round. The right strap top end sews to sts 5 to 13, just below the flap seam, and its bottom end to sts 8 to 16 of the base fold round. Try the bag on before sewing the bottom ends, because folding an end under now is a ten-second fix.

Fold the handle tab in half to make a 2 inch loop and sew the two short ends together, then sew that joined end to the centre back at the top edge, straddling sts 96 and 1 and stitching through the flap as well. Weave the drawstring cord in and out through the sixteen ch-2 spaces of Round 62, starting and finishing at the centre front so the knot sits under the flap, and tie the ends in a square knot. Clip the tassel swivel clasp through a stitch at the front edge of the flap, about 1 inch in from where it hangs lowest.

Tapestry fabric this dense barely needs blocking. Stuff the bag firmly with rolled towels, hold a steam iron 3 to 4 inches above the surface and steam all the way around and over the flap without touching the fabric, lay the straps flat and steam them, and leave everything stuffed until completely cool and dry.

Tips

Move the marker before you work the first stitch of the round, not after, because with a 96-stitch spiral a marker placed one stitch late shifts the whole motif sideways.

Count each repeat as you finish it. Every repeat is 24 stitches, so you get four checkpoints per round instead of one, and an error caught at the end of the first repeat costs you 24 stitches instead of 96.

Work the base and the flap on the same day, because they share the same sixteen rounds and your tension will match where the flap sits against the bag.

Do not cut CC1 or CC2 during the colourwork band, ever. They are carried through all 53 rounds whether they appear in a round or not.

Take breaks. A 2.75mm hook in dense cotton for twenty hours is hard on hands, so twenty minutes on and five minutes off is a kind friendlier rhythm.