Arizona Purse in Caron Simply Soft Paints - Downloadable PDF

Arizona Purse in Caron Simply Soft Paints – Crochet Pattern by Drew Emborsky

The Arizona Purse is a beginner-friendly crochet bag pattern designed by Drew Emborsky and worked in Caron Simply Soft Paints yarn. This stylish handbag features an intriguingly textured stitch pattern that adds visual interest and a chic, bohemian flair to any outfit. The finished purse measures approximately 16 inches wide at the base and 14½ inches tall including the handles, making it a generously sized everyday bag. This pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF, making it an excellent choice for crocheters who want to expand into accessories without a significant investment.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a structured crocheted purse with a wide, flat base that tapers slightly toward the top opening. The bag features a distinctive woven or cable-like surface texture created through a clever combination of stitches worked in sequence. Rather than using a zipper or button closure, the purse attaches directly to a pair of round wooden handles measuring 6 inches in diameter, giving it a classic, polished look reminiscent of vintage frame bags and mid-century fashion accessories.

Techniques Used

• Flat panel construction: The purse body is worked in flat rows, beginning with a foundation chain of 63 stitches, then built up row by row to form a rectangular panel.
• Twisted stitch pattern: A repeating two-row sequence creates the signature textured fabric. One row works a series of skipped and reordered double crochet stitches to produce a woven, interlocking effect; the following row works single crochet in back loops only to reset the fabric and add additional texture.
• Back loop only (BLO) crochet: Working single crochet exclusively in the back loops creates a subtle ridge that enhances the dimensional quality of the finished fabric and helps the stitch pattern read more clearly.
• Handle channel shaping: Near the top of the bag, stitches are strategically skipped to reduce the stitch count and create a narrower channel section that wraps securely around the wooden handles.
• Working around a handle: The final attachment row is worked directly around the wooden handle, anchoring the crocheted fabric to the frame with a round of single crochet. This technique eliminates the need for sewing the handle on separately and creates a clean, professional finish.
• Whipstitch seaming: Once both panels are complete, the sides and bottom are joined using a whipstitch seam worked with wrong sides facing, then the bag is turned right side out so the seam is hidden on the inside.
• Finishing edging: A row of evenly spaced single crochet is worked along the purse opening edges to neaten the sides and create a tidy, finished appearance around the bag's mouth.

Stitches Used

• Chain (ch) – used for the foundation and turning chains throughout
• Slip stitch (sl st) – used to join rounds and fasten off cleanly
• Single crochet (sc) – used in the alternating texture rows, the handle attachment row, and the finishing edging
• Half double crochet (hdc) – referenced in the pattern abbreviations for finishing work
• Double crochet (dc) – the primary stitch in the textured pattern rows, worked in a skip-and-reorder sequence to create the woven effect

Materials

• Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Paints in colorway Driftwood (0005) – 2 skeins required. Each skein contains 113g / 4oz and approximately 190m / 208 yards. Simply Soft Paints is a worsted weight yarn known for its smooth, soft acrylic fiber and its gently variegated, tonal color shifts, which add subtle visual movement to the finished fabric without the need for color changes.
• Hook: US size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook, or the size needed to achieve the stated gauge of 16 stitches and 6 rows