Crochet African Flower Bag Pattern

This crochet African flower bag is the perfect blend of color and style, made with 13 gorgeous 8 petal African flower crochet squares. With a fun, rounded bottom and endless color possibilities, it’s a must-make project that’s both practical and beautiful!

Author: Kimberly Arenas

Materials

Abbreviations (US terms)

Chains - ch
Single crochet - sc
Long single crochet (long sc)
Double crochet - dc
Half double crochet - hdc
Triple crochet - tr
Slip stitch - sl st

Notes

Square Size: Make sure each 8 petal African flower crochet square is the same size to ensure even stitching when assembling the bag. A tight tension will give you cleaner edges.
Customizing the Size: If you want a larger or smaller bag, simply adjust the number of rounds used after creating the flower, or use thinner yarn and a smaller hook.
Strap: Feel free to customize the strap length or width to your preference, whether you prefer a longer crossbody strap or a shorter handle for the crochet African flower bag pattern.

Instructions

Crochet 8 Petal African Flower:

With color A: Ch x5 and join with a sl st to form a closed circle.
Round 1: Ch x3 (counts as a dc), dc, ch x1. *Dc x2, ch x1* and then repeat 6 more times. Then join with a sl st to top of the beginning ch x3 (16 dc + 8 ch spaces).
Round 2: Join color B to any ch x1 space. Ch x3 and dc, ch x1, dc x2 in the same ch x1 space from the round below. *Then dc x2, ch x1, and dc x2 into the next ch x1 space*. Repeat from * for the rest of the round and make a sl st to the top of the beginning ch x3 (32 dc + 8 ch spaces).
Round 3: Sl st into the next stitch. Then sl st into the ch x1 space. Ch x3 and dc x4 into the ch x1 space. Then *in the next ch x1 space dc x5*, repeat from * for the rest of the round (8 shells). Next, fasten off the yarn.
Round 4: Join color C into any flower petal top. Make a sc into every stitch you made in the last round, but make a long sc in between petals.
A long sc is made by going down an extra row and then pulling up the yarn to be even with your current round and making a sc like normal. You want to pull the yarn up to your current round so that your flower doesn’t curl and lays flat better. After completing the round, then make a sl st to the first sc (5 sc on top of each petal + a long sc in between petals). Then fasten off the yarn.
Round 5: Join the white yarn to the top of any long sc from round 4. Make a sc into the same stitch, then sc into the next 2 stitches. Hdc, dc, and then dc again in the following stitches. Tr, ch x2, tr in the next stitch, this is your first corner and should be made into one of the long sc stitches from round 4. * Dc in the next 2 stitches, hdc, 1 sc in the next 5 stitches, hdc, dc in the next 2 stitches. Then make a corner: tr, ch x2, tr.* Repeat from * 2 more times.
Dc in the next 2 stitches, hdc, and 1 sc in the final 2 stitches. Then join with a sl st to the 1st sc.
Round 6: Ch x2, then dc in the next stitch and the following stitches until you reach a corner. When you get to the chain space in the corner make a dc x2 + ch x2 + dc x2. Then continue making dc stitches into the next side of the square. Repeat 3 more times for the rest of the round. Then sl st to the first dc in the round. Finally, fasten off the yarn.

Building the Crochet African Flower Bag:

Once you have the 13 crochet African flower squares made you want to lay them in a flat pattern as indicated by the photo.
Sl st the squares together like I did above using the soft navy yarn.
Align the Edges: Place the two crochet pieces you want to join side by side, with the wrong sides facing each other (the side you want to show should be facing outward). Make sure the edges you're joining are aligned properly.
Insert the Hook: Starting at one end of the edge, insert the crochet hook through the outermost stitch on the first piece.
Move to the Other Piece: Next, insert the hook into the corresponding stitch on the second piece.
Make a Sl St: Yarn over and pull through the 2 white stitch loops. Now you should have 2 navy loops on your hook. Then make a sl st like normal.
Repeat: Continue this process along the entire edge. Work your way back and forth between both pieces, stitching into the same stitch on each piece.
Even Tension: As you stitch, make sure to keep an even tension. You want the seam to be neat, but not so tight that it distorts the shape of the pieces.
Finish Off: When you’ve reached the end, pull the yarn gently to tighten the stitches. Be sure the seam is secure, but not overly tight. Tie off the yarn at the end, weaving in the ends on the wrong side to finish.
Once the granny squares have all been joined together like in the picture, fold it in half by bringing the bottom half to the top. Fold over the granny squares jutting from the sides and crochet those pieces to the main body of the bag.
Once all the slip stitch sewing of the bag has been completed you should have an M shape as the top of the bag.
Now to move onto the handle.

Crochet Handle for the Tote Bag:

Round 1: The first thing to do is rejoin the navy yarn to the top edge of the bag, preferably the dip on the side to hide any seams.
Then you will crochet the top edge of the bag with the navy yarn. 1 single crochet in each stitch, but when you come to the top of the squares, you want to make 3 single crochets in the very top stitches. Then for the part where the squares meet you want to crochet the 3 most bottom stitches together in a decrease, then continue up the side as before.
Round 2: Repeat the above process 1 more time but when you get to the first top of the bag chain 80-100 stitches (depending on the length you want the handle to be) and rejoin the chain to the other top of the bag on the same side. Then continue to sc the side of the bag and repeat the process for the other side of the bag. Make sure you have the same amount of chains on both sides for even handles.
Round 3-6: Sc around the entire outer round including the chains to add length to the bag and width to the bag's handles.
When the last round is completed fasten off and weave in the ends.
Now your crochet African flower bag pattern is complete! If you have any holes where the granny squares meet up take some extra navy yarn and your needle and sew the holes closed for a neater finish.
I hope you’re as excited to make your own Crochet African Flower Bag as I was to design it! I It's the perfect way to showcase your crochet skills and creativity.

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