Add a touch of effortless style to your everyday accessories with the Core Japanese Bag, a chic crochet bag inspired by the simplicity of Japanese knot bags. Featuring a modern two-tone design, subtle textured stitching, and asymmetrical handles, this handmade bag is both stylish and practical. Its clever design allows the longer handle to slip through the shorter one, creating a simple closure that's as functional as it is eye-catching.
This easy crochet pattern is worked in two panels using mostly single crochet stitches, with decorative shell stitches adding texture to the contrasting section. Once the panels are joined, simply thread the longer handle through the shorter one to complete the bag's signature Japanese-inspired shape.
Whether you're making a stylish accessory for yourself or a thoughtful handmade gift, the Core Japanese Bag is a fun way to turn simple crochet stitches into something beautiful and useful.
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What You’ll Need
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Yarn: KnitPal Cotton to the Core Worsted (weight #4 – 65% cotton / 35% acrylic, 218 yards per 100 grams)
A: 1 ball in Pearl White
B: 1 ball in Pitch Black -
Hook:
3 mm crochet hook
Or size needed to obtain gauge
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Notions:
Scissors
Tapestry needle
Details
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Skill Level: Beginner
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Gauge: An 11-row gauge swatch = 2" (5 cm), with a 3 mm hook.
Swatch:
Ch 12.
Row 1: Sk 1st ch, sc in each ch across, turn. (11 sts)
Rows 2-11 (10 rows): Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (11 sts)
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Size:
Length (of the body, excluding the handles): 6.6" (17.2 cm)
Width: 10.3" (26.4 cm)
Abbreviations
- ch: chain
- dc: double crochet
- inc: increase (make 2 stitched in the same stitch)
- sc: single crochet
- sk: skip
- sl st: slip stitch
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- (...)x # or {...}x # - work instructions within parentheses/braces as many times as directed
- #) (# sts) - indicates the total number (#) of stitches you should have at the end of the round/row
Special Stitches
Shell stitch
Single crochet, skip two chains/stitches, and make five double crochets in the next chain, skip two chains/stitches. Repeat the sequence across.
Pattern
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PANELS (MAKE 2)
With Color A, ch 52
Row 1: Sk 1st ch, sc in each ch across, turn. (51 sts)
Rows 2-10 (9 rows): Ch 1 (do not count as st here and after), sc in each st across, turn. (51 sts)
Row 11: Ch 1, sc 35, sk all the remaining sts, turn. (35 sts)
Rows 12-43 (32 rows): Ch 1, sc 35, turn. (35 sts)
Fasten off and cut the yarn.
With color B.
Attach the yarn to the last st of Row 43, ch 35.
Row 44: Sk 1st ch, sc in each ch across (34 sc). Continue working in each st of Row 43, turn. (69 sts)
Row 45: Ch 1, sc, (shell sts)x 11, sc 2, turn. (11 shell sts, 3 sc)
Row 46: Ch 3 (count as 1st dc here and after), 3 dc in next st, (shell sts)x 10, sc, sk 2 sts, 3 dc in same st, dc in last st, turn.
Row 47-50 (4 rows): Rep the sequence of rows 45 and 46.
Row 51: Ch 1, sc 2, (sc 2, hdc, sc 3) x 11, sc 2, turn. (70 sts)
Fasten off and cut the yarn. Weave in all the ends.
JOINING THE HANDLES
Sew the top of the handles from both panels together. Use the same color thread. Fasten off and cut the yarn. Weave in all the ends.
JOINING THE BAG BODY
Using Color B, from the handle seam, insert the hook in the 35th st in Row 51 of both panels to join them together.
Ch1, sc 34, inc (bottom corner).
Continue in Color B, sc on the edge of a sc row, sc 2 on the edge of a dc row.
Change to Color A, to match the color change of the bag (sc on the edge of each row of both panels) x 43.
Continue working in the foundation chain of both panels, inc (corner), sc 34.
Fasten off and cut the yarn. Weave in all the ends. Pass the long handle through the short handle.
Download a printable pattern PDF
Share Your Finished Piece!
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