Use your scrap yarn to make a festive crochet gift bag. You can make a penguin, snowman, or reindeer bag with this free crochet pattern.
Below you will find the complete pattern and instructional photos for the crochet gift bag pattern. You will also find all the materials, stitches, gauge, video tutorial (coming soon), and sizing information.
From Scrap to Crochet Gift Bag
I love the idea of making cute reusable gift bags. You can use your scrap yarn to make the ‘sweater’ portion of this crochet gift bag and then you just need some common colors like black, white, and brown for the rest of the bag.
Coffession Time
So I designed these gift bags and quickly crocheted them up only to find that they were shorter than I wanted them to be. I didn’t have time to redo them so I reworked one and now you have two sizes to choose from. These bags would also make great holiday tote bags or purses. The bags will stand up on their own but are not stiff. So a top-heavy gift will tip them over just like a paper bag.
The Premium Ad-Free PDF Pattern
Below you will find the free pattern with all the instructional photos and videos needed to complete the pattern, but I am also aware that several of us like to crochet on the couch, in the car, or in bed with a printout of the pattern. This is why I also offer a nicely formatted large font PDF version of the pattern that can be purchased on Etsy or Ravelry. You can print the pattern and take it on the go with you or tuck it into your project bag.
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Crochet Gift Bag
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Materials Needed
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4.4-5 oz or 229-260 yds of Red Heart Super Saver for one bag
Colors Used:
Snowman – White, Cherry Red, Spring Green, Pumpkin, Black
Reindeer – Spring Green, White, Cafe Latte, Cherry Red, Black, Coffee
Penguin – Turqua, Black, White, Gold, Charcoal
Size H 5mm Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle
Scissors
Stiff Tan Felt (for Reindeer)
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Stitches and Abbreviations
CH – Chain
SC – Single Crochet
HDC – Double Crochet
DC – Double Crochet
SLST – Slip Stitch
ST(s) – Stitch(es)
Gauge and Size
Gauge: 7 HDC X 6 Rows = 2 inches
Tall Bag: 12 inches tall, 8 inches wide, 4 inches deep
Short Bag: 9 inches tall, 8 inches wide, 4 inches deep
Crochet Snowman Bag Video Tutorial
Check out the video tutorial and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more fun crochet video tutorials.
Crochet Gift Bag
Notes:
-Written in US terms.
– I do not count my CH1, turning chain, as a stitch.
– For Snowman – Crochet 1 bag base, 2 eyes, 1-2 buttons, and 1 carrot nose.
– For Penguin – Crochet 1 bag base, 2 eyes, 1 beak, and 1 penguin face.
– For Reindeer – Crochet 1 bag base, 2 eyes, 1 large nose, 2 ears and cut out two antlers from felt.
– Feel free to work stripes for the sweater rows. The reindeer bag pictured has a stripe pattern of 2 rows green then 1 row white.
– The bags are crocheted and then sewn to create a flat base.
Gift Bag Base
CH 43
Sweater Round 1: HDC in 2nd CH from hook, HDC in next 41 CH. Turn so you are working down the opposite side of the chain, HDC on the opposite side of 42 CH. SLST to first HDC. (84 HDC)
Note: Round 1 has stitches worked down one side of the chain then down the other. The row is one continuous row that is joined with a slip stitch at the end.
Sweater Round 2-15: CH1, turn, HDC in next 84 STs, SLST to first HDC.
Stop after Round 15 for the smaller bag and continue with the Head rounds. If you want a taller back then work sweater rounds 16-28.
Sweater Round 16-28: CH1, turn, HDC in next 84 STs, SLST to first HDC.
Change to Head Color (Medium Brown for Reindeer, White for Snowman, Black for Penguin.
Head Round 1–10: CH1, turn, HDC in next 84 STs, SLST to first HDC.
Head Round 11: CH1, turn, HDC in first 12 STs, CH18, Skip 18 STs, HDC in next 24 STs, CH 18, Skip 18 STs, HDC in last 12 STs, SLST to first HDC.
Head Round 12: CH1, turn, HDC in first 12 STs, Work 18 HDC into CH space, HDC in next 24 STs, Work 18 HDC into CH space, HDC in last 12 STs, SLST to first HDC.
Head Round 13:CH1, turn, HDC in next 84 STs, SLST to first HDC.
Fasten off. Weave in your ends.
Crochet Eyes and Buttons
With Black or Charcoal
Round 1: Work 9 HDC into a Magic Circle. SLST to first HDC. Fasten off.
Alternate Pattern Round 1: CH 3, Work 9 HDC into the third CH from the hook. SLST to first HDC. Fasten off.
When you fasten off, leave a long yarn end to sew the eyes to the face of the bags.
Snowman Carrot Nose
Note: The carrot nose is worked all as one row.
With Orange CH 12
Row 1: DC in 4th CH from hook, DC in 3 CH, HDC in next 2 CH, SC in next 2 CH, SLST in last CH.
Fasten off leaving a long yarn end to sew the nose to the face of the snowman.
Large Reindeer Nose
With Red CH 3
Row 1: SC in 2nd CH form hook, SC in next CH. (2)
Row 2: CH1, turn, Work 2 SC in next 2 STs. (4)
Row 3: CH1, turn, Work 2 SC in first ST, SC in next 2 STs, Work 2 SC in last ST. (6)
Row 4-5: CH1, turn, SC in next 6 STs.
Border Round: CH1, turn to work down the side of Rows 1-5, Work 1 SC into the side of each row, turn and work 2 SC into the opposite of the foundation CH, turn and Work 1 SC into the side of each row, CH1, turn, Work 6 SC into the top of row 5, CH1, SLST to first SC.
Note: For the border row, when you turn you are turning 1/4 of the way in order to continue working around the nose.
Fasten off leaving a long yarn end to sew the nose to the face of the reindeer.
Reindeer Ears
With Dark Brown CH 4
Round 1: Work 2 SC into 2nd CH from hook, SC in next CH, Work 3 SC in last CH, (this will cause you to turn and be working into the opposite side of the foundation chain), Work 1 SC into the opposite side of next 2 CH. SLST to first SC.
Change to Medium Brown.
Round 2: CH2, Work (HDC, 3DC, HDC) into first ST, HDC in next 3 STs, (HDC, 2DC, HDC) in next ST, HDC in next 3 STs, SLST to first HDC.
Fasten off leaving a long yarn end to sew the ears to the reindeer’s face.
Antlers
The antlers are cut out of stiff felt. You want to use felt that will stand up on its own. You can use the template linked below to cut out the same antlers as the photos or you can cut out your own shape for the antlers.
Antlers Template
Penguin Beak
With Gold CH 2
Row 1: Work 2 SC in 2nd CH from hook. (2)
Row 2: CH1, turn, Work 2 SC in first ST, SC in next ST. (3)
Row 3: CH1, turn, Work 2 SC in first ST, SC in next 2 STs. (4)
Border Round: CH1, turn to work down the side of Rows 1-3, Work 1 SC into the side of each row, CH 2, turn and Work 1 SC into the other side of each row, CH2, turn, Work 4 SC into the top of row 3, CH2, SLST to first SC.
Penguin White Face
With White CH 16
Row 1: SC in 2nd CH from hook, SC in next 14 SC. (15)
Row 2-7: CH1, turn, SC in next 15 STs.
Row 8: Turn, SLST to first ST, SC in next ST, 2DC in next 3 STs, HDC in next ST, SC in next ST, SLST in next ST, SC in next ST, HDC in next ST, 2DC in next 3 STs, SC in next ST, SLST in last ST.
Border Round: CH1, turn to work down the side of Rows 1-7, Work 1 SC into the side of each row, CH 2, turn and Work 1 SC into the opposite side of each foundation CH, CH2 turn to work into the other side of each row, turn to work into Row 8, Skip the SLST, SC in next 9 STs, SLST to next ST, SC in next 9 STs. SLST to first SC.
Fasten off leaving a very long yarn end to sew the white face onto the head of the penguin.
Adding the Faces
Once all your face pieces are complete sew them to the center of the bag on the head section. Keep all pieces inside the width of the handles.
For the reindeer sew the ears over top of the antlers to hide the bottom of the antlers.
For the penguin sew the beak and eyes to the white face piece and then sew that onto the bag directly above the sweater rows.
If you would like, you can embroider extra details or add buttons onto the sweater section to give it more pizzazz.
Sewing a Flat Bottom
These bags use a nifty trick to create a flat bottom. Start by turning your bag inside out.
Then take one side seam and fold that bag so that it is on top of the bottom seam. This will create a point.
Next, count up 6 rows, or find a cross-section that is 4 inches wide.
Sew a seam across that 4-inch section. Then fold that point down against the bottom seam and tack it in place.
Repeat this process for the other side of the bag. Turn the back right side out and you will have a flat bottom bag.
Now your crochet gift bag is complete and ready to be enjoyed. They work up fast are a great way to wrap up a gift.
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