Easy Crochet Bag Pattern | Wave Stitch Shoulder Bag Tutorial 🧶

Crochet Wave Stitch Shoulder Bag: Oval Base and Four-Round Body Guide

The waves in this shoulder bag come from changing stitch heights across each round. Short stitches create the lower sections, while half double, double, and treble crochet gradually build the higher sections. A contrasting round of single crochet follows that contour, making each wave visible.

The sample combines blue and cream yarn with two narrow crochet handles. The bag begins with an oval base, then continues into a striped body worked in joined rounds.

These written instructions transcribe the on-screen pattern in the Crochet Notes video. The video also provides close-up demonstrations of the base ends, handle construction, and attachment.

Materials

• Medium-weight yarn in two colors.

• A crochet hook suitable for the yarn; the original project notes list a 5 mm hook.

• Stitch markers.

• A yarn needle and scissors.

• A button for the closure shown in the tutorial.

Label your yarns before starting:

• Color A: blue in the sample.

• Color B: cream in the sample.

Use yarns of similar thickness so changing colors does not noticeably change the fabric’s width.

US Crochet Abbreviations

Abbreviation Meaning

ch Chain

sc Single crochet

hdc Half double crochet

dc Double crochet

tr Treble crochet

inc Work 2 single crochets into one stitch

BLO Back loop only

sl st Slip stitch

Brackets contain a repeated sequence. For example, [sc, inc] × 3 means to work one single crochet followed by an increase, three times.

In the body instructions, 2 dc means one double crochet in each of the next two stitches. An increase is identified separately.

Pattern Note: Check the Transition Between Base and Body

The video’s base captions and body stitch totals do not fully agree. The base instructions below are reproduced as displayed, while the body captions consistently specify 140 stitches.

Keep a record of your actual stitch count. Before beginning the body, check it against the 14-stitch wave repeat. If it does not match, review the base demonstration and resolve the difference before continuing. The written instructions here do not introduce an unshown decrease round or silently change the video’s numbers.

Part One: Crochet the Oval Base

With Color A, ch 64.

The base is worked around the foundation chain, with shaping at the rounded ends. Mark the beginning of the round and move the marker as you progress.

Base Instructions Displayed in the Video

Round On-screen instructions

R1 62 sc, 3 sc in the final ch, 61 sc, then complete the rounded end.

R2 Inc, 60 sc, 3 inc, 60 sc, 2 inc.

R3 Sc, inc, 62 sc, [sc, inc] × 3, 62 sc, [sc, inc] × 2.

R4 2 sc, inc, 61 sc, [2 sc, inc] × 3, 61 sc, [2 sc, inc] × 2.

R5 3 sc, inc, 61 sc, [3 sc, inc] × 3, 61 sc, [3 sc, inc] × 2.

For R1, the caption does not spell out the final rounded-end placement. Follow the close-up base demonstration for that section.

Keep the increases grouped around the curved ends rather than spreading them along the straight sides. Check each end before beginning the next round: a misplaced increase changes both the outline and the position of the later stitches.

After completing the base, count the stitches and check the transition note above before starting the wave pattern.

Part Two: Work the Wave Stitch Body

The body captions use 10 repeats of 14 stitches, giving 140 stitches per round.

The four-round sequence alternates a shaped wave round with a back-loop single crochet round. The second wave round reverses the stitch-height arrangement.

Body Round 1 — Color A

Ch 1.

Work the following sequence 10 times:

[1 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, 3 tr, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc] × 10.

Join as demonstrated.

Stitch count: 140.

The sequence rises from single crochet to treble crochet, then returns to shorter stitches. Work each stitch into its corresponding next stitch; the taller stitches create height without adding increases.

Body Round 2 — Color B

Change to Color B.

Ch 1, then work 1 sc in BLO of every stitch around. Join.

Stitch count: 140.

Working into the back loops leaves the unused front loops visible as a ridge. Keep the single crochets comfortably tensioned so this round follows the wave instead of pulling it tight.

Body Round 3 — Color B

Work the following sequence 10 times:

[2 tr, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 3 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, 1 tr] × 10.

Join as demonstrated.

Stitch count: 140.

This arrangement places shorter stitches through the middle of the repeat and taller stitches toward its ends.

Body Round 4 — Color A

Change to Color A.

Ch 1, then work 1 sc in BLO of every stitch around. Join.

Stitch count: 140.

Use the four-round sequence for the continuing body, following the video for the demonstrated height. The on-screen finishing instruction specifies repeating Body Rounds 1–2 for the top edge.

Understand the Repeat Boundaries

The beginning and end of a repeat belong together.

In Body Round 1, the final 2 sc meet the 1 sc at the beginning of the next repeat. Together, they form a group of three short stitches at the lower part of the wave.

In Body Round 3, the final 1 tr meets the next repeat’s opening 2 tr, forming a group of three taller stitches.

This explains why the first and last stitch groups look uneven when read separately. Do not add extra stitches to make the written repeat appear symmetrical.

Check One Repeat Before Continuing

Count the first wave repeat before working around the entire bag:

1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 14 stitches.

For the reverse wave:

2 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 14 stitches.

A marker at the end of each repeat can help while learning the sequence. If a round does not finish at the expected point, check the repeat count, the join, and whether an extra stitch was accidentally worked into the beginning chain.

The captions list the beginning chain separately from the 140-stitch total; do not add it as an extra stitch in your count.

Part Three: Make and Attach the Handles

The handle demonstration begins at 10:54. It shows a narrow crochet cord, with the short on-screen caption “ch 2, sc*.”

Use the close-up demonstration for the insertion points and turning movement; that caption alone does not describe the complete cord technique.

Make two handles of matching length. Before fastening them permanently, lay the bag flat and mark the attachment points on both sides.

Check that:

• Neither handle is twisted.

• The spacing is balanced on the two faces.

• Both handles reach the same height when lifted together.

Follow the assembly demonstration from 12:07, keeping the joins firm without gathering the upper edge.

Add the Button and Finish

The button step begins at 12:50. Check its position against the demonstrated fastening before securing it.

Weave in the color-change ends along matching sections of the fabric. Keep bulky knots away from the handle attachments and the opening.

Place a few lightweight items inside the finished bag and lift it by both handles. Inspect the attachment points and upper edge before using it regularly.

Watch the Crochet Tutorial

Use the video alongside the written rounds, especially for the rounded base ends, handle technique, and assembly.

• 0:27 — Materials

• 0:39 — Oval base

• 5:49 — Wave stitch body

• 10:54 — Handles

• 12:07 — Assembly

• 12:50 — Button

The most useful checks are the count at the end of the base, the 14-stitch body repeat, and the alignment of the two handles. Resolve any count difference before adding more rounds, so the waves can continue evenly around the bag.