This beginner friendly crochet pattern makes the cutest bunny or bear purse for the little one in your life. The sweet face is easy to create and the straps can be crocheted to any length for children of all ages. My kids love their mini Summer bags! They crocheted up quickly and easily too. Scroll down to get the pattern for free or download an inexpensive pdf version from Etsy HERE or Ravelry HERE.
This design was inspired by a similar looking bunny purse I saw in a Children’s clothing store this Spring. It was one of those “I can make that!” moments. The original was of course woven and not crochet but I knew with Wool And The Gang‘s Ra Ra Raffia yarn I could recreate the look.
I love how playful these bags look . . my daughters have been taking theirs everywhere! And not that children’s fashion is high up on my list of priorities but these purses do look sweet with any outfit – dresses, jean shorts + t-shirts, you name it. I tailored the strap lengths to suit each of my girls and I’m thinking that as they grow I can always make longer straps if they’d like to keep using their purses. I don’t even think I’ll worry about using the same raffia yarn either . . light pink cotton yarn would be cute for the straps next time or a bright yellow tape yarn. Anything would work!
I love that with a simple switch of the ears you can make a bunny OR a bear purse. I decided to go with a pink nose on the bunny but black would have been equally cute. I debated added crochet flowers around the ears . . wouldn’t that be sweet and a great way to add more colour? I’ll have to post an update if I decide to accessorise them. A zipper closure was another thought. The purses work fine for small things (like a snack or small toy) but coins, money, rocks (my girls are always picking up rocks) could fall out without a closure. Again, I’ll post an update if I decided to upgrade their little bags.
Want to see more Summer crochet bag & purse patterns?
Check out these modern + easy designs!
Thanks for bearing with me, now let’s hop to it!
BLYTHE PURSE - Free Crochet Pattern
F I N I S H E D S I Z E
One size {kids} – 6.5” height, 6.5” width, 1” depth, 29” strap length
M A T E R I A L S
Hook – US G / 6 – 4.00mm crochet hook
Yarn – Any medium weight yarn (size 4 / ‘worsted’ / 10 ply)
◦ Wool And The Gang 100% Wood Ra-Ra Raffia Yarn
– Desert Palm (bear)
– Ivory White (bunny)
– Any light weight yarn (size 3 / ‘DK’ / 8 ply)
◦ Yarnspirations™ Patons® Grace™ Cotton Yarn
– Blush (bunny nose)
– Night (bear nose + eyes)
▪ Amounts needed:
◦ Medium weight yarn (used for bag + ears + strap)
115 yards or 105 meters
◦ Light weight yarn (used for nose + eye details)
5 yards or 4.5 meters
Extras – Darning needle (to create nose + eye details)
P A T T E R N A B B R E V I A T I O N S
English (US) terms
ch – Chain: Yarn over, pull through loop on hook
sc – Single Crochet: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops
sl st – Slip Stitch: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch and loop on hook
N O T E S
- Beginning chain does NOT count as a stitch in stitch counts
- Beginning in Round 2 you will hold a second strand of yarn behind your work and crochet over it to increase the strength and stiffness of the bag
- Join all rounds with a tight sl st into the first stitch from that round
- Begin next round with a small chain 1 and work first stitch into same stitch that you joined into (first stitch from previous round)
- The bag is worked in pieces and then assembled
- Stitch count is in [ ] at the end of each round/row
V I D E O T U T O R I A L
There is a video tutorial available for this pattern on YouTube:
W R I T T E N P A T T E R N
English (US) terms
CIRCULAR BODY
Round 1 |
Ch 2, 6 sc into 2nd chain from hook, join with a sl st to first sc
[6 sc]
Round 2 |
(Hold second strand of yarn behind work and crochet over it for a firmer bag)
Ch 1, 2 sc in each stitch around, join with a sl st to first sc
[12 sc]
Round 3 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch),
repeat from * around, join with a sl st to first sc
[18 sc]
Round 4 |
Ch 1, sc in next stitch,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 2 stitches),
repeat from * until 1 stitch remains,
sc in last stitch, join with a sl st to first sc
[24 sc]
Round 5 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch),
repeat from * around, join with a sl st to first sc
[30 sc]
Round 6 |
Ch 1, sc in next 2 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 4 stitches),
repeat from * until 2 stitches remain,
sc in last 2 stitches, join with a sl st to first sc
[36 sc]
Round 7 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch),
repeat from * around, join with a sl st to first sc
[42 sc]
Round 8 |
Ch 1, sc in next 3 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 6 stitches),
repeat from * until 3 stitches remain,
sc in last 3 stitches, join with a sl st to first sc
[48 sc]
Round 9 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch),
repeat from * around, join with a sl st to first sc
[54 sc]
Round 10 |
Ch 1, sc in next 4 stitches,
*(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 8 stitches),
repeat from * until 4 stitches remain,
sc in last 4 stitches, join with a sl st to first sc
[60 sc]
Round 11 |
Ch 1, *(sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch),
repeat from * around, join with a sl st to first sc
[66 sc]
Finish Off.
Repeat Rounds 1-11 to make a second circle
SIDE SECTION
Row 1 |
Chain 49, sc in second chain from hook, sc down chain [48 sc]
Row 2 |
Turn, ch 1, sc in each stitch down row [48 sc]
Finish Off.
STRAP
Row 1 |
Chain 85
Finish Off.
BUNNY EARS (scroll down for bear ears)
Row 1 |
Ch 12, sc in 2nd chain from hook, (hold second strand of yarn behind row and crochet next stitch over), sc down chain until 1 chain remains, 4 sc in last chain, turn (so you are working along opposite side of chain), sc in each chain [24 sc]
Row 2 |
Turn, ch 1,
sc in next 10 stitches,
2 sc in next 4 stitches,
sc in last 10 stitches [28 sc]
Row 3 |
Turn, ch 1,
sc in next 10 stitches,
(2 sc in next stitch, sc in next stitch) x 4,
sc in last 10 stitches [32 sc]
Finish Off.
BEAR EARS
Row 1 |
Ch 2, 5 sc in 2nd chain from hook [5 sc]
Row 2 |
Turn, ch 1, 2 sc in each stitch [10 sc]
Row 3 |
Turn, ch 1, *(sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch), repeat from * around [15 sc]
Finish Off.
NOSE + EYES
Thread darning needle with light weight yarn
• NOSE • Centering nose on seam, work between 4th and 5th round and 5th and 6th round to create a triangle shape.
- EYES • Beginning between 4th and 5th round, approximately 3 stitches from nose, work needle as follows: Down and over 1 round, down and over 1 round, over one stitch, up and over 1 round, up and over 1 round. Double back to thicken eye and create 3 eyelashes for each eye (if desired).
ASSEMBLY
Slip stitch Side Section to first Circular Body piece:
Begin with seam of circular body pointing down and count back 24 stitches (clockwise). Insert hook into 24th stitch and into last stitch of side section, slip stitch in a counterclockwise direction to attach side section to circular piece.
[48 sl st]
With yarn still attached continue slip stitching around circular body to attach Ears as shown.
Finish off.
Slip stitch Side Section to second Circular Body piece:
Begin with seam of circular body pointing down and count back 24 stitches (clockwise). Insert hook into 24th stitch and into last stitch of side section, slip stitch in a counterclockwise direction to attach side section to circular piece.
[48 sl st]
Finish off.
Attach Strap to either side of bag
I hope that you enjoyed this pattern and I’m sure the little one in your life will love that you made something sweet that’s just for them! I would love to see your finished purse so please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram (@LakesideLoops)!
