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Bonita Project Bag Pattern

Bonita Project Bag Pattern
4.6β˜… Rating
5-7 Hours Time Needed
1.7K 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 makes a lined, zippered project bag constructed from eight granny squares joined into a tube with a separate bottom. It uses scrap worsted-weight yarn and includes full instructions for granny construction, seaming, adding a zipper, and drafting a fabric lining. The finished bag is roomy enough for a small project and tools, and finished with a playful pompom for a cheerful touch.

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

Youll learn how to neatly join squares, add joined rounds of single crochet for a clean top edge, and sew in a zipper with a simple fabric lining. The project is ideal for using leftover yarn and making a practical handmade pouch.

Why You'll Love This Bonita Project Bag Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it celebrates color and creativity, turning leftover yarn into a useful, beautiful pouch I reach for every day. I enjoy the small, satisfying steps of making granny squares then joining them into a structure that becomes much more than the sum of its parts. The addition of a lined interior and zipper gives the bag a polished, professional finish that I am proud to gift. I also love adding a pompom for a playful detail β€” it makes each bag feel personal and fun.

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 to remix this bag by using a monochrome palette for a more sophisticated look; try shades of grey with a bright contrasting pompom for a modern twist.

If you want a larger bag, I change to a bulkier yarn and a bigger hook; that gives a chunkier, more spacious pouch perfect for larger projects.

For a mini version suitable as a coin purse or key pouch, I use fingering or DK weight yarn and a smaller hook, then swap the 16" zipper for an 8-10" zipper.

I often add pockets to the lining for organization; use leftover fabric scraps to sew in a couple of small pockets before inserting the lining into the bag.

Try replacing the zipper with a buttoned flap closure or magnetic snap for a different look and ease of opening β€” just adjust the lining and top seam accordingly.

I sometimes embroider a small motif or initials onto one granny square before assembling to personalize the bag as a gift.

Want handles? Add crocheted straps to the sides before you sew the lining in place so they are fully enclosed and reinforced.

For extra durability, I double-stitch the zipper with matching thread and reinforce stress points at the ends of the zipper with a few extra hand-sewn passes.

Swap the pompom for a tassel, keyring charm, or leather zipper pull for a different finishing touch; all are simple to attach through the zipper tab loop.

Experiment with different lining fabrics β€” a fun cotton print dresses the interior up, while a sturdier canvas adds structure and longevity to the pouch.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

βœ— Not weaving in ends as you go leads to a very long finishing session; weave in ends after each round or color change to keep the project tidy and manageable. βœ— Skipping steam blocking can leave granny squares uneven and misshapen; steam block or gently shape each square before seaming to ensure consistent finished size. βœ— Sewing the bottom seam before drafting and inserting the lining makes fitting the lining difficult; wait to finish the bottom-side seaming until after the lining is cut and sewn into place. βœ— Attaching the zipper without checking its length can create a puckered opening; measure the zipper against the bag opening and shorten it first if necessary by stitching across the teeth and trimming. βœ— Pulling your tension too tight when joining squares can warp the tube shape; use a moderate, consistent tension and pin pieces in place before sewing to keep edges aligned.

Bonita Project Bag Pattern

This charming zippered project bag is made from eight colorful granny squares and finished with a lined interior and a zipper. Youll use scrap worsted-weight yarn to create vibrant squares, then assemble and line the pouch for a durable, polished finish. The pattern guides you through granny construction, seaming, adding a zipper, and making a pompom so youll have a useful project bag at the end.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for Bonita Project Bag Pattern

β€” Main Fabric

  • 01
    6 different colors of scrap worsted weight acrylic yarn - approximately 50-60 yards [45-55 m] each color (approx a ball the size of a medium apple)
  • 02
    Red Heart Super Saver (worsted weight, 100% Acrylic): Shocking Pink #0718 (A) - partial skein
  • 03
    Red Heart Super Saver Cornmeal #0320 (B) - partial skein
  • 04
    Red Heart Super Saver Spring Green #0672 (C) - partial skein
  • 05
    Red Heart Super Saver Turqua #0512 (D) - partial skein
  • 06
    Red Heart Super Saver Real Teal #0656 (E) - partial skein
  • 07
    Red Heart Super Saver Black #0312 (F) - partial skein
  • 08
    Piece of woven fabric approx 22" [56 cm] long x 18" [46 cm] wide (heavier woven fabric such as twill, denim or canvas)
  • 09
    One 16" [41 cm] zipper (will likely be shortened to 15" [38.5 cm])

β€” Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size US H (5.0 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
  • 02
    Yarn needle for sewing and weaving ends
  • 03
    Removable stitch markers
  • 04
    Scissors
  • 05
    Sewing needle and matching thread for zipper and lining
  • 06
    Pencil/chalk or silver sharpie for marking fabric
  • 07
    Measuring tape
  • 08
    2" [5 cm] cardboard for pompom making (or pompom maker)

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

β€” Sizes :

Info :

One size

β€” Finished Measurements :

Info :

Approximately 7" [18 cm] tall x 15" [38.5 cm] wide (measured at top edge) x 5" [13 cm] deep (measured across bottom, from front to back of pouch)

β€” Materials :

Infos :

6 different colors of scrap worsted weight acrylic yarn - approximately 50-60 yards [45-55 m] each color. US H [5.0 mm] crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge. Yarn Needle. Removeable stitch markers. Piece of fabric approx 22" [56 cm] long x 18" [46 cm] wide (heavier woven fabric such as twill, denim, canvas). Pencil for marking light fabrics, chalk or silver sharpie for dark fabrics. One 16" [41 cm] zipper (may be shortened to 15" [38.5 cm]). Sewing needle and matching thread.

β€” Yarn Used for Bag Shown :

Info :

Red Heart Super Saver (worsted weight, 100% Acrylic; 364 yards [198 grams]) Shocking Pink #0718 (A), Cornmeal #0320 (B), Spring Green #0672 (C), Turqua #0512 (D), Real Teal #0656 (E), Black #0312 (F) (partial skeins each color)

β€” Gauge :

Info :

1 Granny square measures 5" [13 cm] x 5" [13 cm]

β€” Abbreviations :

Info :

Ch = chain. DC = double crochet. Lp(s) = loop(s). Rnd = rnd. SC = single crochet. Sl st = slip stitch. Sp = space. St(s) = stitch(es). WS = wrong side. YO = yarn over.

β€” Notes :

Info :

Eight granny squares, each constructed separately, are stitched together to form the bottom of the bag. Side/bottom seams are left open until after crocheted bag is complete to make drafting the lining easier. Joined rounds of single crochet are added to the top edge of bag to complete the crocheted portion. The fabric lining is drafted using the crocheted bag as a template and is seamed by machine or by hand. Turning chains in the granny squares count as a stitch. Beginning chains in the top (single crochet) section of the bag do not count as a stitch.

β€” Instructions :

Granny Square (Make 8) :

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 3, 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.

β€” Seaming the Bag :

Seaming the Bag :

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.

Seaming the Bag :

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.

Seaming the Bag :

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!

β€” Crocheting Top Edging of Bag :

Round 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.

Round 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.

Round 3 :

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

Round 4 :

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

Round 5 :

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

Round 6 :

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

Round 7 :

Repeat Rnd 2, changing to color F at beginning of rnd. Fasten off. Weave in ends. Steam block if necessary.

β€” Prep Lining :

Prep Lining :

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. 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 ΒΌ" seam allowance beyond drawn lines.

Prep Lining :

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. Press top edge of lining to WS by Β½".

β€” Seam Bottom of Crocheted Bag :

Seam Bottom of Crocheted Bag :

Whip stitch remaining 2 seams on bottom of bag.

β€” Zipper :

Zipper :

Check measurement of zipper against the measurement of opening. If zipper is longer than opening it can be shortened from the bottom by stitching the zipper teeth several times with a needle and thread and trimming away the excess below the stitching line. 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.

β€” Add Lining to Bag :

Add Lining to Bag :

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.

β€” Pompom :

Pompom :

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.

Pompom :

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.

β€” Chart :

Info :

Bonita Granny Square Chart is provided for reference showing ch, sl st, DC and SC symbols for rounds 1-5.

Assembly Instructions

  • Line up and whip-stitch granny squares 1-6 in a row, then join the ends to form a tube; whip-stitch the remaining two squares together to form the bottom panel and align its center seam with the center of a tube square before attaching.
  • Pin the bottom panel to the tube and whip-stitch the bottom edge to the tube, then fold the bottom lengthwise so the opposite edge matches the opposite side of the tube and whip-stitch in place.
  • Fold bag flat and work joined rounds of single crochet around the top edge (see top edging Rnds 1-7), changing colors as instructed and finishing off securely.
  • Measure and prepare the lining from fabric, sew side seams leaving the notches, press the top edge to the WS, then insert the lining into the bag and slip-stitch the folded lining edge to the zipper tape so it covers the stitching line.
  • Pin zipper into the top opening, making sure teeth are clear of the crochet fabric, then hand-stitch the zipper tape to the crochet fabric using matching thread and a sewing needle.

Important Notes

  • πŸ’‘Turning chains in the granny squares count as a stitch, so include them when counting your stitches for consistency.
  • πŸ’‘Do not finish seaming the bottom-sides of the crocheted bag until after the fabric lining has been made and fitted.
  • πŸ’‘Steam block all granny squares before seaming to ensure they are uniform and align correctly when joined.
  • πŸ’‘When shortening a zipper, stitch several times across the teeth near the bottom and trim the excess below the stitching line to avoid damaging the zipper.
  • πŸ’‘Pin pieces carefully and use removable stitch markers to help keep squares aligned while seaming.

This colorful Bonita Project Bag uses your leftover worsted yarn to create a playful, practical pouch perfect for projects and gifts. The lined interior and sewn-in zipper give it a finished, durable feel while the pompom adds a cheerful accent. Make one for yourself or stitch a few as thoughtful, handmade presents. 🧢🎁

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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 x 5" [13 cm] deep (measured at the top edge and across the bottom).

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, but changing yarn weight will affect finished size and gauge; use an appropriate hook for your chosen yarn and make a gauge square to adjust the number of rounds or squares as needed.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate; you should be comfortable with basic granny square construction, changing colors, working double crochet clusters, single crochet joined rounds, and simple seaming techniques before starting.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete the project in about 5-7 hours depending on experience, whether you make the lining and zipper by hand, and how many interruptions you have while assembling and finishing.