Diamonds are a Granny’s Best Friend Crochet Bag Line

When inspiration strikes, it really strikes! I fell in love with a diamond granny stitch pattern I saw. I just knew I needed to make a tote bag out of it. Although, I couldn’t decide how big I wanted it, how many colors for the diamonds, etc. I realized then it would be pretty easy to make different sizes based on how many pattern repeats I wanted. Then, the Diamond Granny stitch bag line was born!

I started out with the big tote first, actually. The interesting thing with the diamond color-work of this stitch is that you don’t make chains between the clusters. Which, I actually love! I love a closer weave granny stitch. Not doing the chain stitch really brings out the pattern. It’s also quite fun to travel the yarn through the stitches. It ends up looking really complicated while you’re making it, but it’s actually fairly simple once you get the hang!

Think of it as alternating rows of one color and then another row of two colors. If you keep an eye on the pattern, it’s quite simple. I would recommend starting with the two color bags (either the medium bucket bag, or small purse) if you’re new to this type of color-work. The bottoms of the bag are created using an oval. You can make the bottoms of the bags wider if you would like by adding more rows. Just keep in mind that will also create more diamond stitches as you work up the rest of the pattern.

I wanted to use store-bought handles for these bags to really elevate the pieces. There is nothing wrong with making crochet handles though, of course! That was actually my original plan for the medium bucket bag. Perhaps I shall include that on a future version of this pattern? Spoiler alert?

This is my first pattern writing of this caliber where I try to include multiple sizes on one pattern. Feedback is super appreciated!

Pattern

Materials:
4 skeins of K&C Cotton yarn
6 mm hook
Snap On Handles of your choice
Yarn Scissors
Tapestry Needle

Legend:
ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
dc – double crochet
sk – skip
sc – single crochet

Notes:
Carry yarns through stitches: where indicated, you will continue the non-working yarn through the working stitches as you go. You will also be carrying the yarn up through the rounds of work. If you choose to cut them as you go, that completely make sense if you don’t want to see the yarn on the inside of your work, but if you don’t mind, it’s easier than weaving in ends 😉

Color change stitch: The color change stitch is created by using a different color yarn to complete the final pull through of a double crochet. This will ensure that the “v” on the top of the stitch is with the new color which makes the color changes look more cohesive.

Instructions:
Small Purse: Ch 29
Medium Bucket Bag: Ch 38
Large Tote: ch 47

For all bags: Round 1: In color A – in 4th ch from hook, 5dc, in back hump: dc in next 25 {33, 43} st until last st, 6dc in last st, then 25 {33, 43} dc across the “V”s. sl st in top of st of ch 3. For small bag move to Round 4
For Medium Bag: Round 2: ch 3, DC in same st, 2 DC in next 5 st, dc in next 33, 2 dc in next 6 stitches, DC in next 33 st, sl st in top of chain 3 stitch to join. Move to Round 4
For Large Bag: Round 3: ch 3, DC in same st, 2 DC in next 11 st, dc in next 43, 2 dc in next 12 stitches, DC in next 43 st, sl st in top of chain 3 stitch to join
All bags: Round 4: Ch 2, 2dc in same st [sk 2, 3DC in next st] rep until 2 st left, sk 2, sl st in 1st cluster to join
Round 5 (carry yarn through stitches): ch 2, DC in same space, DC color change St to color B, {in next sp 2 DC, DC color change St to color A, in next sp 2 DC, DC color change St to color B} Rep til last cluster, 3 DC, SL st to join
Round 6: in color B, ch 2, 2 DC {in next sp 3 DC picking up traveling yarn from previous row} rep til last space 3dc
For small and medium bags: Repeat rounds 5 – 6 (3 more times)
For lage bags move onto Round 7 –
Round 7: (carry yarn through clusters) – ch 2, DC in same space, DC color change St to color C, {in next sp 2 DC, DC color change St to color B, in next sp 2 DC, DC color change St to color C} Rep til end last space, 3dc in space, SL st to join
Round 8: in color C, ch 2, 2 DC {in next sp 3 DC picking up traveling yarn from previous row} rep til end, sl st to join
Repeat Rounds 5 – 8 (3 more times)
Repeat Round 4 in color A
Next Round: ch 2, DC in each st around
Next Round: Ch 1, sc in each st around

For small purse flap:
Row 1: starting in the corner of work, Ch 2, 2dc in same st [sk 2, 3DC in next st]
Row 2: Ch 3, 3 dc in cluster sp, repeat until end, 1 dc in last stitch of previous row
Repeat 1 – 2 once