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The One Piece Messenger Bag

Updated: May 5, 2023


This was an idea born from my frustration with making multiple pieces for a project, keeping them all together until you finish it all, and then having to sew everything together piece by piece. This is, as the title suggests a single piece pattern that is worked like those fun little 3-D shape cutouts you made in school, except instead of glue and paper, you use yarn and a tapestry needle.

It uses very simple stitches; single crochet (sc) for all body stitching, slip stitches (sl. st.) and chains (ch).

**If you'd like to have a PDF version, you can buy and download it here!

Though this can be worked in one single piece, you also have the option to make each piece separately if you want to customize the individual side, back, bottom, and front panels and the strap. I’ve provided a diagram for ease with the actual pattern or for those who find it easier to make it separately. And below you can find the stitch and row dimensions for each piece in the order they are worked ( kind of )

Front and Back: 33 sc * 32 rows

Bottom: 33 sc * 7 rows

Side Panels: 7 sc * 32 rows

Flap: 31 sc * 35 rows

Strap: 5 sc * 91 rows

 

Supplies Needed

Size 4 Worsted weight yarn:


(1 large skein of color 1, less than 1 skein for color 2)

I – 9 Crochet hook (5.5mm)

Tapestry/Embroidery needle

Stitch Markers/Safety Pins, etc.

 

Patterns for the Appliques

http://bhookedcrochet.com/2014/09/29/spiral-crochet-flower/

http://bhookedcrochet.com/2014/09/29/spiral-crochet-flower/

 

**If you'd like to have a PDF version, you can buy and download it here!

Pattern

Front and Bottom:

Row 1: Chain (ch) 34, single crochet (sc) in 2nd ch from hook, sc across, ch 1, turn (33 sc)

Row 2 – 32: sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn (33 sc)

** Mark this row with a stitch marker or safety pin **

Row 33 – 38: sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn (33 sc)

**Do not turn on last row **

Row 39: ch 8, turn, slip stitch (sl. st.) in 2nd ch. from hook, sl. st. in each ch., sc in each sc from previous row (33 sc, 7 ch.)

** Do not turn **

Back and Sides:

Row 40: ch 8, turn, sc into 2nd ch from hook, sc in each chain, ch 1, turn (47 sc)

Row 41 – 71: sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn. (47 sc)






Strap:

Row 1: sl. st. in next sc from previous row, sc in next 5 sc from previous row, ch 1, turn. (5 sc)

Row 2 – 91: sc across, ch 1, turn. (5 sc)

** Here, you can either fasten off and sew the strap onto the other side, or you can sl. st. on the inside of the bag to


connect the strap to the bag **



Flap:

** There are also two options here. If you want to use the same color for the flap, you can sl. st. over to the 3rd stitch from the strap and skip row 1. Otherwise, follow instructions for row 1**

Row 1: Join color 2 in the 3rd stitch from the strap, sc in next 31 sc of last row of bag, ch 1, turn. (31 sc)

Row 2 – 35: sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn.

 

Finishing

After finishing the flap, fasten off and weave the end in.

You can choose to block the whole thing off before sewing it up or use fabric stiffener to get more of a canvas texture and form. I chose not to do this because it was for my daughter, and she could not care less.

Fold bag up using stitch markers to indicate the front corners of the bag, pin it all together and sew it up into its shape.

Weave all your ends in and you’re done.

If you’re interested in the appliques I put on this bag, I've made a section for their patterns above.




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