Our handbag is nothing but a circle, so we need to start by making a MR (a magic ring).

Chain 1 and make 8 double crochets in the MR.

Pull the shorter cord to tighten the MR.

Insert your hook into the nearest loop and make a slip stitch.

Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook.

This is the beginning of the 1^st half of our handbag.

Yarn over and insert your hook through the back loop only of the previous row.

Yarn over and pull through one loop on your hook (there are three of them now), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on your hook.

You have just made a half treble. Make another half treble in the very same loop, so that there are 2 half trebles in one loop. Continue until you have completed the whole row – 2 half trebles in every back loop of the previous row. As you finish the row, there should be 16 half trebles in total.

Make the 2^nd row the same way – 2 half trebles in every back loop of the previous row.

While finishing the 2^nd row you can mark the beginning of each following row with a thread or yarn in a contrastive colour. It will make your work easier.

Now, we are going to make the 3^rd row according to the pattern: 1 half treble in the back loop only, 2 half trebles in 1 back loop of the previous row.

The next row: 1 half treble in the back loop of the previous row, again - 1 half treble in the back loop of the previous row, 2 half trebles in 1 back loop of the previous row

The next row will be all downhill. We are not going to add any chains – we’re just going to work with the chains we already have there. 1 half treble in every back loop. We need to crochet the last 3 chains to organize our continuous rounds into a neat circle – that is, 1 single crochet in the back loop of the previous row, again – 1 single crochet in the back of the previous row, and the last chain is a slip stitch.

Your work may roll a bit and that is correct.

Now we need to repeat all the steps from the beginning to make the second half of our handbag.

IMPORTANT! Don’t cut the cord off when you finish the 2^nd half of your handbag – it will be used to join both halves together.

The next step is joining those two halves together.

Keep both halves flat together and, having the last chain left and the cord from the 2^nd half , start crocheting both halves together with slip stitches.

Insert your hook into the centre of the loop of the last row in one of the halves and do the same in the 2^nd half in the corresponding chain.

There are 3 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook. This is the 1^st slip stitch that joins both halves together.

Continue the same way.

Don’t slip stitch the whole row – you don’t want to close your handbag, do you? You need to leave a proper gap to open your bag so that you can put your precious things in there. I left about 20cm gap. This is what a stitch and a gap look like.

Now we need to make a strap. We will make it of the cord with a hook.

We will also use the lobster clasps too.

Pull as much cord out from the skein as you can so that you can crochet with two cords. Like you would like to crochet with a double folded cord. String the lobster clasp.

Make a loop.

You have a loop with lobster clasp. The cord ends go sideways.

Yarn over the right cord.

Take your work with your hand, hold the loop with your fingers and yarn over the left cord.

Yarn over and pull through both loops.

This is the 1^st chain of your belt. Now you need to smooth it  - pull it to tighten it.

Continue the same way until you have reached the desirable length of the strap.

As you have reached the desirable length of your strap, cut the cord and pull through the last loop and tighten it. To finish, you just need to string the 2^nd lobster clasp and sew on or weave the end of the cord between the chains of the strap. It’s finally finished!

The handbag is finished! Congratulations! Well done!

P.S. I sew in the zip fastener manually, but you have full discretion here. You can crochet a small flap opened with a button or leave it open.

What do you think? We’re sure you know how to make a crochet handbag now. Nay! There is no other option with such a teacher. So now, go and take your cameras, take some photos and upload them to your fanpages or on our Facebook group.