# Granny Square Christmas Handbag Free Crochet Pattern
Oh, this bag. The moment I pictured it — those classic granny squares turned on point so they read as diamonds, deep burgundy with forest green and golden yellow — I knew I had to make it mine. It is the kind of bag that gets compliments in the grocery store line, I promise you that.
The construction is simpler than it looks: 18 full granny squares and 12 half-squares joined on the diagonal, a ribbed band along the top, and store-bought leather handles attached with rivets for that polished finish. If you are comfortable with basic granny squares and color changes, you have got this. It is a bigger project — plan for a couple of cozy weekends — but oh, the payoff.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted weight yarn in five colors: burgundy/deep wine red, 420 yards (Color A, outer rounds, joining, ribbing); forest green, 110 yards (Color B); golden yellow/mustard, 110 yards (Color C); cream/off-white, 90 yards (Color D); true red/crimson, 90 yards (Color E)
- US H-8 / 5.0 mm crochet hook (or size needed for gauge)
- Tapestry needle, stitch markers
- Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
- Two pre-made leather bag handles with D-ring attachments, about 12 inches long each
- Eight 8 mm gold rivets or Chicago screws
- Small decorative charm on a lobster clasp (optional)
- Lining fabric, about 1/2 yard of cotton quilting fabric (optional but recommended), plus sewing needle and thread
Finished size:
- Approximately 13.5 inches wide, 11.5 inches tall (not including handles), 3.5 inches deep. Each full granny square measures 3.75 inches after blocking
- Handle drop is about 6 inches
The Pattern
Gauge: one full 4-round granny square = 3.75 × 3.75 inches after blocking. For the ribbing (sc through back loop only): 16 sts = 4 inches; 18 rows = 4 inches. Block your first square and measure before making all 18!
Full Granny Square (make 18)
Work each round in the color shown in the color guide below, joining and fastening off after every round.
Round 1: Magic circle, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc into the ring, ch 2, (3 dc into ring, ch 2) 3 times. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch-3. (12 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces)
Round 2: Join new color in any ch-2 corner sp. Work (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next corner sp, ch 1) 3 times. Join. (24 dc, 4 corner spaces, 4 ch-1 side spaces)
Round 3: Join new color in any corner sp. (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, ((3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) 3 times. Join. (36 dc, 8 ch-1 spaces)
Round 4: Join Color A in any corner sp. (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) twice, ((3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner sp, ch 1, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1) twice) 3 times. Join. (48 dc, 12 ch-1 spaces)
#### Color guide
- Type X (3 per panel): R1 cream (D), R2 red (E), R3 green (B), R4 burgundy (A)
- Type Y (1 per panel, center): R1 gold (C), R2 red (E), R3 green (B), R4 burgundy (A)
- Type Z (5 per panel): R1 red (E), R2 gold (C), R3 cream (D), R4 burgundy (A)
Front panel = 3 X + 1 Y + 5 Z. Back panel = same. Total: 18 full squares.
Half-Square (make 12 — 6 per panel)
Foundation: With gold (C), magic circle, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc into ring, ch 2, 3 dc into ring, ch 2, 3 dc into ring. Do not join. (9 dc, 2 ch-2 spaces) Fasten off.
Row 1 (RS): Join green (B) in first ch-2 sp. Ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, 3 dc loosely across the center, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in second ch-2 sp. Turn and fasten off. (15 dc)
Row 2: Join burgundy (A) at the flat beginning edge. Ch 1, sc evenly across the two legs of the triangle, working 3 sc into each corner ch-2 sp and 1 sc into each dc, skipping all ch-1 spaces. Do not work across the hypotenuse yet. Fasten off.
Hypotenuse edging: Rejoin burgundy (A) at one tip of the long diagonal edge, ch 1, and sc evenly across it (about 1 sc per 2 dc rows). Fasten off.
After blocking, each half-square should have two 3.75-inch legs and sit as a neat right triangle.
Joining the Panels
Lay out each panel with the squares on point (rotated 45 degrees so they read as diamonds), filling the outer edges with half-squares to make a clean rectangle. With burgundy (A), join using a flat slip stitch seam: place two squares wrong sides together, and slip stitch through the back loops of both edge stitches at once, working across the full shared edge (work sl st, ch 1, sl st to mirror each ch-2 corner). Join squares in diagonal rows until the 3-by-3 grid is assembled, then attach the half-squares around the edges. Make two identical panels.
Side Gusset (make 2)
With burgundy (A), chain 15.
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (13 dc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across. Turn. (13 dc)
Repeat Row 2 until the strip measures about 34 inches long. Then work one round of sc all the way around the strip’s perimeter in Color A. Fasten off.
Join one long gusset strip to the front panel along both side edges and the bottom edge with the flat slip stitch join, then join the same strip to the back panel the same way. Leave the top open.
Ribbed Top Band
With burgundy (A), starting at one back corner of the top opening, sc evenly around the entire top perimeter — about 1 sc per stitch across panel tops and 1 sc per row-end along the gusset sides, approximately 120 sc total. Join with a slip stitch to form a ring.
Ribbing rounds: Ch 1, work 1 sc in the back loop only of each sc around, join with sl st. (120 sc) Repeat for 8 rounds total. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Handles
Center each leather handle on the front and back panels: measure in 3 inches from each side edge along the top band and mark two attachment points about 5 inches apart. Thread each handle’s D-ring strap through the ribbed band at the marks, fold the strap end inside the bag, and secure with the gold rivets. Add your charm to a D-ring, line the bag if you like, and step back to admire.
Sophie’s Tips
- Block every square before joining — even small size differences multiply across a joined panel and will throw off your finished measurements.
- When joining on point, lay the whole panel out on the floor first and pin the arrangement with stitch markers so you don’t lose track of the X/Y/Z placement.
- Not feeling the hardware? Crocheted strap handles in burgundy work too — just make them sturdy with tight single crochet.
Go carry a little Christmas cheer on your arm!
