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Bonita Project Bag Pattern

Bonita Project Bag Pattern
4.5★ Rating
5-7 Hours Time Needed
3.3K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Weekend Treat

Takes 5-7 hours, making it an enjoyable project to finish over a couple of days.

✨

Stylish Touch

An elegant detail to elevate any look, combining traditional techniques with contemporary design sensibilities.

About This Bonita Project Bag Pattern

This pattern creates a colorful, zippered project bag made from eight individual granny squares joined to form the body and a simple fabric lining for a neat finish. You will build each square in multiple colors, seam them into a tube, add a crocheted top edge, and install a zipper. The project is designed to use scrap worsted weight yarn and encourages playful color mixing while teaching simple lining and zipper techniques.

Bonita Project Bag Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The bag measures approximately 7" tall x 15" wide x 5" deep when finished. Detailed instructions include color-changing granny-square rounds, seaming guidelines, lining drafting, zipper installation, and a pompom accent.

Why You'll Love This Bonita Project Bag Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it transforms small scraps of yarn into a vibrant, fully functional accessory that brightens every day. I enjoy the satisfying rhythm of making granny squares and seeing them come together into a structured pouch. Adding the fabric lining and zipper gives a professional finish that you can be proud of, and I love teaching that technique because it makes the bag durable and useful. The color-play possibilities are endless, and this project always sparks creativity and joy when I stitch up a new version.

Bonita Project Bag Pattern step 1 - construction progress Bonita Project Bag Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Bonita Project Bag Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Bonita Project Bag Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love experimenting with different colorways for this bag; try a monochrome palette for a modern look or pastel shades for a softer finish.

You can change the finished size by swapping to a bulkier yarn and larger hook for a chunky tote-style pouch, or use a lighter weight yarn with a small hook to make a mini keychain pouch.

Instead of a full fabric lining, try interfacing fabric for extra structure or use oilcloth for a wipeable interior that is perfect for project bags holding notions.

Swap the zipper for a button flap or magnetic snap closure for a different aesthetic and easier installation if you prefer not to sew a zipper.

Make matching accessories like a small coin pouch, a hook roll, or a set of granny-square coasters to create a coordinated gift set.

Personalize the pompom by using metallic or boucle yarns for texture, or replace it with a crocheted tassel or leather zipper pull for a more refined finish.

I sometimes add a detachable wrist strap by sewing a small loop to one side and attaching a lobster clasp for hands-free carrying.

Try adding embroidered initials or small crocheted appliques to one square before seaming to make each bag unique and gift-ready.

For extra durability, use a heavier-weight fabric for the lining and double stitch the zipper area to reinforce the opening against frequent use.

If you want a reversible look, make two crocheted panels and sew them together with a hidden seam instead of a fabric lining for a fully crocheted reversible bag.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping lock or removable stitch markers during seaming can lead to mismatched seams and misaligned squares; use markers to line up corners and seams before sewing and check alignment before final stitching. ✗ Not leaving a long yarn tail at the final round for seaming will make joining squares tedious; leave the 18" [46 cm] tail from color F as instructed for easy whip-stitch seaming. ✗ Overstuffing the lining allowance or trimming too aggressively can prevent the lining from fitting correctly; cut fabric with the recommended 1/4" seam allowance and baste or pin before final stitching to ensure a good fit. ✗ Failing to test-fit the zipper against the crocheted opening may create puckering or snagging; always check zipper length and placement, shorten from the bottom if necessary, and pin the zipper tape to the inside making sure teeth are clear of crocheted stitches. ✗ Pulling color-change loops too tight can distort the granny square corners; when changing colors pull on the previous color tail gently to tighten the loop until it disappears but keep stitches relaxed for an even square.

Bonita Project Bag Pattern

Make a bright, scrappy project bag using eight colorful granny squares and a simple fabric lining. This zipper pouch is roomy enough for your current project and yarn essentials, and is a perfect way to use leftover worsted-weight yarn. The pattern walks you through granny-square construction, joining, crocheted top edging, adding a zipper, and drafting a neat fabric lining so you can finish a professional-looking bag.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for Bonita Project Bag Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Scrap worsted weight acrylic yarn (approx. 50-60 yards [45-55 m] each of 6 different colors)
  • 02
    Red Heart Super Saver (worsted weight, 100% Acrylic), 364 yards [198 grams] full skein reference; sample used partial skeins of each color
  • 03
    Sample color list: A Shocking Pink #0718, B Cornmeal #0320, C Spring Green #0672, D Turqua #0512, E Real Teal #0656, F Black #0312 (partial skeins of each)
  • 04
    Piece of woven fabric for lining approximately 22" [56 cm] long x 18" [46 cm] wide (heavier woven fabric such as twill, bull denim, or canvas recommended)
  • 05
    One 16" [41 cm] zipper (will likely need to be shortened to 15" [38.5 cm])
  • 06
    Matching thread for sewing lining and attaching zipper

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size US H (5.0 mm)
  • 02
    Yarn needle for sewing and weaving in ends
  • 03
    Removable stitch markers
  • 04
    Scissors
  • 05
    Sewing needle
  • 06
    Matching sewing thread
  • 07
    Pencil or chalk for marking fabric (or silver Sharpie for dark fabrics)
  • 08
    Pins for holding lining and crocheted piece in place
  • 09
    Sewing machine (optional) for seaming lining
  • 10
    Cardboard or pompom maker (approx. 2" [5 cm] piece) for pompom

Progress Tracker

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— Notes :

Info :

Eight granny squares, each constructed separately, are stitched together to form the bottom of the bag. The side/bottom seams are left open until after crocheted bag is complete, to make drafting the lining piece easier. Joined rounds of single crochet are added to the top edge of bag to complete the crocheted portion of this project. A simple fabric lining is drafted, using the crocheted bag as a template. The fabric lining is seamed using a sewing machine or by hand. After the lining is complete, the bottom of the crochet bag can be seamed.

Info :

Turning chains in the granny squares count as a stitch. Beginning chains in the top (single crochet) section of the bag do not count a stitch.

— Granny Square (Make 8) :

Info :

Colors used in sample for each square are listed below in order beginning with Round 1 and ending with the SC round: Square 1: B, A, C, E, F. Square 2: E, C, A, D, F. Square 3: C, E, B, A, F. Square 4: A, B, E, D, F. Square 5: D, A, C, E, F. Square 6: E, D, A, B, F. Square 7 (bottom): A, C, E, D, F. Square 8 (bottom): D, A, B, E, F.

Info :

Using first color, Ch 4, sl st to join into a ring.

Round 1 :

Ch 3 (counts as first DC of rnd), work the following sts into the ring: 2 DC, [ch 2, 3 DC] 3 times, ch 2, sl st into top of beg ch-3, fasten off.

Round 2 :

Change to second color. Make slip knot and place on hook, insert hook into any corner ch-2 sp from Rnd 1, yo and pull up loop, pull loop through loop on hook to anchor new color, ch 3 (beginning ch-3 counts as 1st DC now and throughout), 2 DC in same ch-2 sp, [3 DC, ch 2, 3 DC] into each of next 3 ch-2 sps, 3 DC in same ch-2 sp as first 3 DC of rnd were made, ch 2, sl st to top of ch-3, fasten off.

Round 3 :

Change to third color. Make slip knot and place on hook, insert hook into any corner ch-2 sp from Rnd 2, yo and pull up loop, pull loop through loop on hook to anchor new color, ch 3, 2 DC in same ch-2 sp, [3 DC into the next sp between DC clusters, (3 DC, ch 2, 3 DC) into the following ch-2 sp] 3 times, 3 DC into the next sp between clusters, 3 DC in same ch-2 sp as first 3 DC of rnd were made, ch 2, sl st to top of ch-3, fasten off.

Round 4 :

Change to fourth color. Make slip knot and place on hook, insert hook into any corner ch-2 sp from Rnd 3, yo and pull up loop, pull loop through loop on hook to anchor new color, ch 3, 2 DC in same ch-2 sp, [3 DC into each of the next 2 sps between DC clusters, (3 DC, ch 2, 3 DC) into the following ch-2 sp] 3 times, 3 DC into each of the next 2 sps between DC clusters, 3 DC in same ch-2 sp as 1st 3 DC of rnd were made, ch 2, sl st to top of ch-3, fasten off.

Round 5 :

Change to fifth color. Make slip knot and place on hook, insert hook into any corner ch-2 sp from Rnd 4, yo and pull up loop, pull loop through loop on hook to anchor new color, ch 1 (this counts as the 1st SC of rnd), SC in same ch-2 sp, [SC in each of the next 12 sts, 4 SC in next ch-2 sp] 3 times, SC in each of the next 12 sts, 2 SC in first ch-2 sp of rnd, slip st to first st of rnd, fasten off leaving 18" [46 cm] yarn tail to be used later for seaming.

Info :

Weave in all ends except the color F tail for seaming. Steam block all 8 pieces.

— Seaming the Bag :

Step 1 :

Line up granny squares 1-6 in a row, arranging them according to color preference. (In the sample, they were arranged from left to right: square #1-square #6.)

Step 2 :

Using yarn tails sew the sides of the squares together using a whip-stitch to make one long straight line of squares. Sew remaining seam to connect the first square to the sixth square, creating a tube. Whip-stitch the remaining two squares to each other using yarn tails. These 2 squares create the bottom surface of the bag. Place the bottom of the bag directly below the granny square tube, lining up the center seam of the bottom with the center of one of the tube-squares.

Step 3 :

Pin, then whip-stitch bottom of bag to tube of granny squares. Fold bottom of bag lengthwise so that the opposite edge of bottom matches up with the opposite side of tube. Pin, then whipstitch in place.

Info :

Do not finish seaming bottom-sides of bag until after lining has been made!

— Crocheting Top Edging of Bag :

Rnd 1 :

Fold bag flat as shown in photo above. Pull up loop of color F at right-hand top corner (or left-hand corner if crocheting left-handed). Ch 1 (beginning ch does not count as a stitch), SC in each st around, sl st to join. 96 sts.

Rnd 2 :

Yo with Color E and pull up loop to change color, pull on Color F tail to tighten last color F loop until it disappears, ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), SC around, sl st to join.

Rnd 3 :

Repeat Rnd 2, changing to color D at beginning of rnd.

Rnd 4 :

Repeat Rnd 2, changing to color C at beginning of rnd.

Rnd 5 :

Repeat Rnd 2, changing to color B at beginning of rnd.

Rnd 6 :

Repeat Rnd 2, changing to color A at beginning of rnd.

Rnd 7 :

Repeat Rnd 2, changing to color F at beginning of rnd.

Info :

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Steam block if necessary.

— Prep Lining :

Step 1 :

Fold lining fabric in half - it should measure about 18" [46 cm] wide by 11" [28 cm] tall when folded. Place folded bag on top of folded fabric, matching up the folded bottom edges.

Step 2 :

Using marking tool, trace around top and sides of bag including the bottom side notches. Be careful not to mark the crocheted piece by accident. Cut lining fabric out leaving a 1/4" seam allowance beyond the drawn lines.

Step 3 :

Pin, then sew side seams, ending at notch near bottom of bag. Reposition bottom openings of bag so that short seams can be made at notches, to shape the bottom of the bag. Be sure to watch the video for this step - it is much easier to understand this step after seeing it in action. Press top edge of lining to WS by 1/2".

— Seam Bottom of Crocheted Bag :

Step 1 :

Whip stitch remaining 2 seams on bottom of bag.

— Zipper :

Info :

Check measurement of zipper against the measurement of opening. If Zipper is longer than opening, it can be shortened from the bottom by stitching and the zipper teeth several times with a needle and thread, and trimming away the excess below the stitching line (be sure to watch the video for tips). Pin zipper into opening in top of bag. Place zipper tape to inside of crocheted fabric and make sure teeth are far enough away from crocheted fabric so that it will not get snagged by zipper teeth. Using sewing needle and thread, stitch zipper in place. (Be sure to watch video for tips!)

— Add Lining to Bag :

Info :

Slip lining inside bag matching side seams. Pin folded lining edge over zipper tape so that it just covers the stitching line. Using sewing needle and thread, slip stitch the folded edge of lining to the zipper tape.

— Pompom :

Info :

Pompom on sample was made with Colors A, B, C, D and E. Cut 2 pieces of color D yarn 10" [25.5 cm] long, set aside. Cut one piece of color D yarn at 20" [51 cm]. Fold the longer piece of yarn in half. Tie a knot about 1.5" [4 cm] away from the folded end to create a loop of yarn that measures about 3" [8 cm] in circumference. This loop will later be used to attach the pompom to the zipper. Set aside. Holding 5 strands of yarn together as one, wrap yarn around piece of 2" [5 cm] cardboard about 15 times. Before removing lps from cardboard, tie each 10" [25.5 cm] piece of yarn tightly around lps near center of cardboard (one on each side of the cardboard). Carefully slide lps off cardboard and tie longer piece of yarn (near the knotted end) around the center of lps, this time around both sides - make sure you tie a very tight knot. Use scissors to cut all of the lps of pompom, being careful not to cut the loop that was created to attach the pompom to the zipper. Fluff pompom and trim ends into a 1.75" [4.5 cm] ball.

Info :

Push folded end of pompom loop through hole in zipper tab, pulling it through as far as you can. Slip pompom through loop to secure pompom to zipper.

Assembly Instructions

  • Arrange granny squares 1-6 in a row and whip-stitch their sides together to form one long tube, then sew remaining seam to join first and sixth square creating a tube.
  • Whip-stitch the remaining two granny squares together to form the bottom panel, then pin and whip-stitch the bottom panel to the center of the tube aligning center seams.
  • Fold the bag bottom lengthwise and match the opposite edges to the opposite side of the tube, pin and whip-stitch these seams but do not finish bottom-side seams until after lining is made.
  • After sewing the side seams of the fabric lining, press the top edge under 1/2" and slip the lining inside the bag, then pin the folded lining edge over the zipper tape and slip-stitch the lining to the zipper tape.
  • Measure and pin the zipper in the top opening, shorten zipper from the bottom if needed, then hand stitch zipper tape to the inside of the crocheted top edge ensuring zipper teeth do not snag the crochet.
  • Attach the pompom by pushing the folded pompom loop through the zipper tab hole and slipping the pompom through the loop to secure it, trimming and fluffing as needed.

Important Notes

  • 💡Turn chains in granny squares count as a stitch; beginning chains in the top single crochet section do not count as a stitch.
  • 💡Leave the color F long yarn tail (about 18" [46 cm]) from the SC round for use when seaming squares together.
  • 💡Pin and baste the lining before final stitching to ensure a neat fit; do not finish bottom-side seams of crocheted bag until after the lining is in place.
  • 💡Check zipper length before installing and shorten from the bottom if needed so teeth do not extend past the opening.
  • 💡Steam block all granny squares after weaving ends (except the seaming tail) to ensure consistent size and easier seaming.

This Bonita Project Bag is a joyful way to use up scrap yarn while creating a functional zippered pouch with a polished lining. Try different color palettes for totally different looks and enjoy the satisfaction of a finished, useful project. Happy crocheting and gifting — make one for yourself and one for a friend! 🧶✨😊

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FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished bag measures approximately 7" [18 cm] tall x 15" [38.5 cm] wide (measured at top edge) x 5" [13 cm] deep (measured across the bottom).

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights, but this will change the finished size; make a gauge swatch and adjust hook size accordingly to maintain proportions.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate because it involves color-changing granny squares, joining pieces, crocheting a joined top edge, and installing a zipper and lining.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this project in 5-7 hours, though time may vary based on experience, finishing techniques, and how much time you spend on the lining and zipper.