Pale mint centers and dusty berry puff rounds give this shoulder bag its sunburst effect. A cream squaring round makes the motifs easy to join and keeps the palette calm. The wide strap is worked separately so its length can be adjusted before attachment.
Pattern overview
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Finished size: 12 in / 30.5 cm wide × 8.5 in / 21.5 cm tall
- Construction: Six motifs per side in 3 × 2 panels
- Terminology: US crochet terms
Materials
- 110 yd / 101 m pale mint worsted-weight cotton
- 170 yd / 155 m dusty berry cotton
- 260 yd / 238 m warm cream cotton
- 4.5 mm crochet hook
- Blocking supplies, yarn needle and scissors
- Optional magnetic snap and fabric backing
Gauge
Each blocked motif measures 4 in / 10 cm. The joined 3 × 2 panel should measure about 12 × 8 in / 30.5 × 20 cm before edging.
Abbreviations
- ch: chain
- dc: double crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- puff: yarn over, insert hook and pull up a loop three times, yarn over and pull through all seven loops, ch 1 to close
- sc: single crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
- sp: space
Make 12 sunburst motifs
With mint, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3, work 15 dc into the ring. Join. 16 dc. Fasten off.
Round 2: Join berry between any two dc. Make one puff between each pair of dc around. Join in the first puff. 16 puffs. Fasten off.
Round 3: Join cream in any ch-1 space. Ch 3 and 2 dc in the same space. Work 3 dc in every remaining ch-1 space. Join. 16 clusters.
Round 4 — square the circle: Ch 1, sc in same st, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st, then work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next st for a corner. Continue with dc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st, then make the next corner. Repeat around. Join and fasten off.
Block every motif to 4 in / 10 cm.
Join the panels
Arrange six motifs in a 3 × 2 grid for each side. With cream and right sides together, slip stitch through the outer loops along each seam. Join motifs into rows, then join the two rows.
Place the panels with wrong sides together. Sc through both layers down one side, across the bottom and up the other side. Work 3 sc in each lower corner. Leave the top open.
Add the opening border
Join cream at a side seam. Work sc evenly around the opening and join. Work three additional sc rounds. If adding a magnetic snap, sew each half to a small fabric circle and attach it inside the center of the border.
Make the wide strap
With cream, ch 11.
Row 1: Sc in second ch and across. Turn. 10 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in back loop only across. Turn.
Repeat Row 2 until the strap measures 42 in / 107 cm or your preferred length. Fasten off with a long tail.
Sew one end over a side seam, overlapping the bag by 2.5 in / 6 cm. Sew around the edge and add an X. Check that the strap is not twisted before attaching the second end.
Finishing
Weave in ends and block lightly. Place a folded towel inside so the bag dries with a rectangular shape. Check the strap after the first use and add another line of stitching if the attachment shifts.
Customize your bag
Reverse the mint and berry rounds, or use one color for both center rounds. For a shorter shoulder bag, stop the strap at 28–32 in / 71–81 cm. A lining is recommended for pens, keys and other narrow objects.
Pattern check
- Twelve motifs measure 4 in / 10 cm.
- Each panel contains six motifs in a 3 × 2 grid.
- The strap is not twisted.
- Strap ends overlap the side seams by 2.5 in / 6 cm.
- Any snap has a backing patch.
Common questions
Why does my sunburst stay round?
The four corner increases in Round 4 create the square. Mark the corner stitches before beginning if they are difficult to identify.
Can I use more than two motif colors?
Yes. Keep the final squaring round the same color on every motif so the joins look consistent.
