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Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern

Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern
4.7★ Rating
8-10 Hours Time Needed
1.6K Made This
✂️

Intermediate Level

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

⏱️

All-Day Adventure

Requires 8-10 hours, ideal for a full day of immersive crocheting.

✨

Stylish Touch

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

About This Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern

This pattern creates a flat crocheted tote bag with a bold black cat motif worked in single crochet colorwork. The front uses a stitch chart read right-to-left and left-to-right for alternating rows to build the silhouette. You will work the front and back as panels and assemble them with a running stitch, then add long crocheted handles. The pattern uses DK weight yarn and a small hook for a dense, sturdy fabric.

Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The front panel is worked from bottom to top following the included graph, with clear row-by-row color counts. Handles are simple narrow straps worked in rows then edged for strength and appearance.

Why You'll Love This Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because the graphic cat motif is bold yet elegantly simple, making a big visual impact with basic stitches. I enjoy the precision of working from a chart and the satisfaction when the image emerges row by row. The techniques used — color changes and hiding yarn tails — are practical skills that improve any crocheter's colorwork. I also love how sturdy and functional the finished bag feels while still being a delightful, handmade accessory.

Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern step 1 - construction progress Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love how easy it is to customize this bag by changing the background colors; try pastel shades for a soft, subtle look or deep jewel tones for dramatic contrast.

If you want a larger bag, I often switch to a bulkier yarn and a larger hook; just remember the image proportions may shift, so experiment with a small swatch first.

To make a mini version for a keychain, use fingering weight yarn and a small hook, and reduce the starting chain proportionally.

I sometimes add a lining to mine for extra structure and to hide yarn tails; use a lightweight cotton or canvas and sew it to the inside top edge.

For a different handle style, try short hand straps or a crossbody length by adjusting the number of rows when making the strap — I make mine longer for over-the-shoulder wear.

I also like to embellish with small crocheted appliques or a zipper closure for added security and style.

Try embroidering different eye shapes or adding tiny felt accents to change the cat's expression and personality — small details make a big difference.

If you prefer cleaner inside floats, you can use Swiss darning to weave carried yarns in place rather than bobbins; it gives a flat finish on the wrong side.

Consider using a slightly firmer hook for the handles to create a stronger strap; sometimes I add a lining strip inside the handle for reinforcement.

I encourage you to play with color placement on the chart to create your own composition; flipping or mirroring the cat image can produce a fresh, unique bag.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Not preparing enough bobbins for colorwork can slow you down and cause tangled yarn; prepare several bobbins or short lengths of yarn for each color section before you start to keep tails organized. ✗ Skipping the turning chain at the beginning of rows will change stitch heights and distort the edges; always begin each new row with the turning chain as instructed to maintain row height consistency. ✗ Pulling color change floats too tight will distort the fabric and draw in the work; keep floats loose enough to lay flat and avoid gaps by gently tensioning the yarn, not tightening it. ✗ Forgetting to keep tails on the wrong side will leave visible ends on the finished piece; follow the chart instructions and keep ALL tails on the wrong side while crocheting, then weave them in with a tapestry needle. ✗ Not pinning panels before sewing can lead to uneven seams and misalignment; fold right sides together and pin or clip the edges so the front and back match before running a neat running stitch.

Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern

Create a charming Black Cat Bag with a clear colorwork chart and step-by-step instructions. This tote features single crochet fabric with a bold cat silhouette and contrasting color blocks to make a striking everyday accessory. You will learn color-changing techniques, working with multiple bobbins, and finishing tips to create a professional-looking bag. Perfect as a gift or a statement piece for your handmade collection.

Intermediate 8-10 Hours

Materials Needed for Black Cat Bag Crochet Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    DK weight yarn (size #3) - Gazzal Baby Bamboo (50% acrylic/50% bamboo), 50g (1.76oz)/115m (125yd) - Orange (95202) - quantity: approximate full skein(s) as needed
  • 02
    DK weight yarn (size #3) - Gazzal Baby Bamboo (50% acrylic/50% bamboo), 50g (1.76oz)/115m (125yd) - White (95227) - quantity: approximate full skein(s) as needed
  • 03
    DK weight yarn (size #3) - Gazzal Baby Love (45% acrylic/55% modal), 50g (1.76oz)/115m (125yd) - Black (1629) - quantity: approximate full skein(s) as needed

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size 2.5 mm
  • 02
    Scissors
  • 03
    Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and sewing pieces
  • 04
    Bobbins or small pieces of cardboard to wrap colorwork yarns
  • 05
    Stitch markers (optional)
  • 06
    Pins for holding panels during assembly
  • 07
    Measuring tape or ruler

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Materials & Tools :

Info :

DK weight/ size #3 yarn. Gazzal Baby Bamboo (50% acrylic/50% bamboo, 50g (1,76oz)/115m (125yd)) orange (95202) and white (95227) colors. Gazzal Baby Love (45% acrylic/55% modal, 50g (1,76oz)/115m (125yd)) black (1629) color. 2.5 mm crochet hook. Scissors. Tapestry needle.

— Abbreviations :

Infos :

Ch - chain. Sc - single crochet. RS - right side. WS - wrong side.

— Tips before starting :

Info :

The front and back parts of the bag are crocheted in single crochet. Each square in the pattern indicates one single crochet. The front part of the bag is crocheted according to the pattern from bottom to top (see the chart). The first row is crocheted from right to left. Crochet the front and back parts of the bag in back and forth rows (turn as you complete each row). Begin each new row with a turning chain.

Info :

You can use bobbins (or a piece of cardboard to wrap the yarn around) for crocheting the colored blocks. Add more yarn once the yarn on the bobbin is finished. You can use as many bobbins as you like. Before starting work, you should have ready bobbins in pearl and rose colors. Try not to pull the yarn too tight when changing colors, but also do not let it be too loose so that there are no gaps.

Info :

Below you can find a small excerpt of the chart on how to change the colors on the front and wrong sides. Right Side - NO tails on this side. Wrong Side - Keep ALL tails on this side while crocheting. Read graph from right to left. Read graph from left to right.

— Front (follow chart) :

Info :

Start crocheting the front side of the bag. Chain 85 with white yarn. Start working in the second chain from the hook as follows in the chart below. After the end of each row turn and ch 1. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch.

← Row 1 [RS] :

(white) x 84

→ Row 2 [WS] :

(white) x 84

← Row 3 [RS] :

(white) x 84

→ Row 4 [WS] :

(white) x 72, (black) x 2, (white) x 10

← Row 5 [RS] :

(white) x 9, (black) x 4, (white) x 71

→ Row 6 [WS] :

(white) x 71, (black) x 4, (white) x 9

← Row 7 [RS] :

(white) x 9, (black) x 5, (white) x 70

→ Row 8 [WS] :

(white) x 70, (black) x 5, (white) x 9

← Row 9 [RS] :

(white) x 9, (black) x 5, (white) x 70

→ Row 10 [WS] :

(white) x 69, (black) x 5, (white) x 10

← Row 11 [RS] :

(white) x 10, (black) x 5, (white) x 69

→ Row 12 [WS] :

(white) x 69, (black) x 5, (white) x 10

← Row 13 [RS] :

(white) x 10, (black) x 5, (white) x 69

→ Row 14 [WS] :

(white) x 69, (black) x 5, (white) x 10

← Row 15 [RS] :

(white) x 10, (black) x 5, (white) x 69

→ Row 16 [WS] :

(white) x 69, (black) x 5, (white) x 10

← Row 17 [RS] :

(white) x 10, (black) x 5, (white) x 69

→ Row 18 [WS] :

(white) x 69, (black) x 5, (white) x 10

← Row 19 [RS] :

(white) x 10, (black) x 5, (white) x 69

→ Row 20 [WS] :

(white) x 69, (black) x 5, (white) x 10

← Row 21 [RS] :

(white) x 9, (black) x 5, (white) x 70

→ Row 22 [WS] :

(white) x 70, (black) x 5, (white) x 9

← Row 23 [RS] :

(white) x 9, (black) x 5, (white) x 70

→ Row 24 [WS] :

(white) x 70, (black) x 5, (white) x 9

← Row 25 [RS] :

(white) x 9, (black) x 5, (white) x 70

→ Row 26 [WS] :

(white) x 71, (black) x 5, (white) x 8

← Row 27 [RS] :

(white) x 8, (black) x 5, (white) x 71

→ Row 28 [WS] :

(white) x 37, (black) x 3, (white) x 15, (black) x 2, (white) x 14, (black) x 5, (white) x 8

← Row 29 [RS] :

(white) x 8, (black) x 5, (white) x 13, (black) x 4, (white) x 13, (black) x 5, (white) x 36

→ Row 30 [WS] :

(white) x 36, (black) x 5, (white) x 13, (black) x 4, (white) x 13, (black) x 5, (white) x 8

← Row 31 [RS] :

(white) x 7, (black) x 6, (white) x 12, (black) x 5, (white) x 14, (black) x 5, (white) x 35

→ Row 32 [WS] :

(white) x 35, (black) x 5, (white) x 15, (black) x 5, (white) x 12, (black) x 5, (white) x 7

← Row 33 [RS] :

(white) x 7, (black) x 5, (white) x 11, (black) x 6, (white) x 16, (black) x 5, (white) x 34

→ Row 34 [WS] :

(white) x 34, (black) x 5, (white) x 17, (black) x 6, (white) x 10, (black) x 5, (white) x 7

← Row 35 [RS] :

(white) x 7, (black) x 5, (white) x 9, (black) x 7, (white) x 17, (black) x 5, (white) x 34

→ Row 36 [WS] :

(white) x 33, (black) x 5, (white) x 19, (black) x 7, (white) x 8, (black) x 5, (white) x 7

← Row 37 [RS] :

(white) x 7, (black) x 5, (white) x 7, (black) x 7, (white) x 20, (black) x 5, (white) x 33

→ Row 38 [WS] :

(white) x 33, (black) x 5, (white) x 20, (black) x 8, (white) x 6, (black) x 5, (white) x 7

← Row 39 [RS] :

(white) x 7, (black) x 5, (white) x 5, (black) x 10, (white) x 20, (black) x 4, (white) x 33

→ Row 40 [WS] :

(white) x 32, (black) x 5, (white) x 19, (black) x 12, (white) x 4, (black) x 5, (white) x 7

← Row 41 [RS] :

(white) x 7, (black) x 5, (white) x 3, (black) x 14, (white) x 18, (black) x 5, (white) x 32

→ Row 42 [WS] :

(white) x 32, (black) x 5, (white) x 18, (black) x 15, (white) x 2, (black) x 5, (white) x 7

← Row 43 [RS] :

(white) x 7, (black) x 23, (white) x 17, (black) x 5, (white) x 32

→ Row 44 [WS] :

(orange) x 8, (black) x 23, (white) x 1, (black) x 21, (white) x 1, (black) x 23, (orange) x 7

← Row 45 [RS] :

(orange) x 7, (black) x 23, (white) x 1, (black) x 21, (white) x 1, (black) x 21, (orange) x 10

→ Row 46 [WS] :

(orange) x 12, (black) x 19, (white) x 1, (black) x 20, (white) x 2, (black) x 23, (orange) x 7

← Row 47 [RS] :

(orange) x 7, (black) x 24, (white) x 1, (black) x 20, (white) x 1, (black) x 18, (orange) x 13

→ Row 48 [WS] :

(orange) x 13, (black) x 39, (white) x 1, (black) x 24, (orange) x 7

← Row 49 [RS] :

(orange) x 8, (black) x 23, (white) x 1, (black) x 39, (orange) x 13

→ Row 50 [WS] :

(orange) x 13, (black) x 39, (white) x 1, (black) x 23, (orange) x 8

← Row 51 [RS] :

(orange) x 8, (black) x 23, (white) x 1, (black) x 39, (orange) x 13

→ Row 52 [WS] :

(orange) x 13, (black) x 39, (white) x 1, (black) x 23, (orange) x 8

← Row 53 [RS] :

(orange) x 9, (black) x 21, (white) x 2, (black) x 39, (orange) x 13

→ Row 54 [WS] :

(orange) x 13, (black) x 40, (white) x 1, (black) x 21, (orange) x 9

← Row 55 [RS] :

(orange) x 9, (black) x 21, (white) x 1, (black) x 40, (orange) x 13

→ Row 56 [WS] :

(orange) x 13, (black) x 40, (white) x 2, (black) x 19, (orange) x 10

← Row 57 [RS] :

(orange) x 10, (black) x 19, (white) x 1, (black) x 42, (orange) x 12

→ Row 58 [WS] :

(orange) x 10, (black) x 63, (orange) x 11

← Row 59 [RS] :

(orange) x 11, (black) x 65, (orange) x 8

→ Row 60 [WS] :

(orange) x 7, (black) x 65, (orange) x 12

← Row 61 [RS] :

(orange) x 12, (black) x 52, (orange) x 20

→ Row 62 [WS] :

(orange) x 24, (black) x 47, (orange) x 13

← Row 63 [RS] :

(orange) x 14, (black) x 42, (orange) x 28

→ Row 64 [WS] :

(orange) x 31, (black) x 38, (orange) x 15

← Row 65 [RS] :

(orange) x 16, (black) x 35, (orange) x 33

→ Row 66 [WS] :

(orange) x 35, (black) x 32, (orange) x 17

← Row 67 [RS] :

(orange) x 19, (black) x 27, (orange) x 38

→ Row 68 [WS] :

(orange) x 40, (black) x 23, (orange) x 21

← Row 69 [RS] :

(orange) x 24, (black) x 17, (orange) x 43

→ Row 70 [WS] :

(orange) x 84

← Row 71 [RS] :

(orange) x 84

→ Row 72 [WS] :

(orange) x 84

← Row 73 [RS] :

(orange) x 84

→ Row 74 [WS] :

(orange) x 84

← Row 75 [RS] :

(orange) x 84

→ Row 76 [WS] :

(orange) x 84

← Row 77 [RS] :

(orange) x 84

→ Row 78 [WS] :

(orange) x 84

← Row 79 [RS] :

(orange) x 84

→ Row 80 [WS] :

(orange) x 84

← Row 81 [RS] :

(orange) x 84

→ Row 82 [WS] :

(orange) x 84

← Row 83 [RS] :

(orange) x 84

→ Row 84 [WS] :

(orange) x 84

Info :

Once the last row is finished, fasten off, and hide the yarn tail.

— Back part of the bag :

Info :

White color yarn. Chain 85, and start working in the second chain from the hook.

Row 1 :

84 sc, turn

Rows 2-43 :

ch, 84 sc, turn

Info :

Orange color yarn

Rows 44-83 :

ch, 84 sc, turn

Row 84 :

ch, 84 sc

Info :

Cut yarn, and hide the tail.

— Handle of the bag (make 2) :

Info :

Leave a long tail for sewing at the beginning and end of the row. Chain 6 with orange yarn. Start working in the second chain from the hook.

1 row :

5 sc, turn

2-159 rows :

ch, 5 sc, turn

160 row :

ch, 5 sc

Info :

Do not cut yarn and Crochet one circle round of sc around all handle.

Info :

The handle using the materials stated in this pattern is ~24 inches / 61 cm in length. Make the length of the handle as desired.

— Colorwork practice & finishing :

Info :

See earlier photo sequences for how to change color on right and wrong sides. See below how the ready part in 10 rows looks. See how the ready part on the wrong side looks. Hide all yarn tails on the wrong side with the help of the needle. See how the ready part looks on the front and wrong sides.

— Assembly :

Item Name (Assembly 1) :

Embroider the eyes on the head with white color yarn. I used Gazzal Baby Bamboo (white (95227) color).

Item Name (Assembly 2) :

Fold the right side of the parts facing each other.

Item Name (Assembly 3) :

Sew the front and back sides with a Running stitch.

Item Name (Assembly 4) :

Turn the bag inside out and sew the handle.

Info :

Hide all yarn tails and press lightly if needed to set edges. The finished bag using the materials stated in this pattern is ~11.4 inches / 29 cm in height and ~12.6 inches / 32 cm in width.

Assembly Instructions

  • Embroider the cat eyes on the front panel using white yarn (Gazzal Baby Bamboo white 95227) following the small chart provided, then weave ends to secure.
  • Fold the front and back panels with right sides facing each other and align edges carefully before sewing.
  • Sew the side and bottom seams of the bag using a running stitch for a neat finish, leaving the top open.
  • Turn the bag right side out and position handles; sew each handle securely to the top edge of the bag with reinforced stitching using the long tails left for sewing.
  • Weave in and hide all yarn tails on the wrong side with a tapestry needle and block or press lightly if desired.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use bobbins or short lengths of yarn to manage multiple color changes and keep tails organized on the wrong side.
  • 💡Begin each row with the turning chain; the ch 1 does not count as a stitch in this pattern, but it maintains even row height.
  • 💡Keep floats loose when carrying color across the back to prevent puckering; do not pull the yarn too tight when changing colors.
  • 💡Pin panels with right sides together before sewing to ensure edges align and seams are even.
  • 💡Do not cut the handle yarn before working a round of single crochet around the strap; this secures the edges and creates a neat finish.

This Black Cat Bag is a playful and stylish accessory you will love to wear or gift, combining graphic colorwork with simple single crochet shaping. The pattern is detailed to help you master color changes and tidy finishing, producing a sturdy, attractive tote. Make one for yourself or a friend and enjoy the satisfaction of handmade charm. 🧶✨

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished bag measures approximately 11.4 inches / 29 cm in height and 12.6 inches / 32 cm in width using the recommended yarn and hook size.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use a different yarn weight, but this will change the final size and fabric density; choose an appropriate hook and adjust chain count if necessary.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate because it uses colorwork techniques and chart reading; you should be comfortable with single crochet, turning chains, and basic color changes before starting.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this project in 8-10 hours, though time may vary depending on experience, speed, and practice with color changes.