By Your Side Basket Bag - Free Crochet Pattern for Women in Paintbox Yarns Recycled Crafty Pots by Paintbox Yarns

By Your Side Basket Bag – Free Crochet Pattern by Paintbox Yarns

The By Your Side Basket Bag is a stylish and sturdy crocheted handbag designed by Paintbox Yarns. This intermediate-level free downloadable crochet pattern produces a structured basket-style bag with a satisfying, tactile finish — perfect for everyday use or as a handmade gift. The finished bag measures 12½in/32cm in height and 17¾in/45cm at its widest point, making it a generously sized carry-all with real practical appeal.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a basket bag — a handbag with a firm, rounded silhouette reminiscent of a woven basket. The structured shape is achieved through crochet technique rather than internal framing, showcasing how the right yarn and stitch combination can produce a naturally rigid, self-supporting form. The bag features 3 buttons (size ½in/1.5cm) as decorative or functional closures, adding a polished, finished detail to the design.

Techniques Used

• Worked in the round – The bag is constructed using continuous or joined rounds, which is the defining technique of this pattern. Working in the round eliminates the need for seaming and creates a seamless, cohesive structure ideal for bag-making.
• Front loop only (flo) crochet – Working into the front loop only of a stitch creates a distinctive textured ridge on the fabric. This technique is commonly used in basket bag patterns to mimic the look of woven or ribbed construction and adds to the structured, stiff quality of the finished piece.
• Stitch marker use – The pattern calls for 2 lockable stitch markers, indicating that round beginnings or key structural points are tracked carefully, which is typical of in-the-round construction at an intermediate level.

Stitches Used

• Single crochet (US) / Double crochet (UK) – The primary stitch used throughout the bag. The gauge is set at 14 stitches and 15 rows to 4in/10cm in single crochet using a H-8 (5mm) hook. Single crochet is a tight, dense stitch that contributes significantly to the bag's firm, basket-like structure.
• Chain (ch) – Used as a foundational element and likely in handle or button loop construction, as is standard in bag patterns of this style.

Materials

• Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Recycled Crafty Pots – a chunky weight yarn, used in the colourway Neapolitan. This pattern requires 2 balls at 8¾oz/250g each. As the name suggests, this yarn is made from recycled materials, making it an eco-conscious choice. Its chunky weight works up quickly and contributes to the bag's substantial, structured feel.
• Hook: H-8 (5mm) crochet hook — the recommended hook size to achieve the stated gauge.
• Additional materials: A darning needle for weaving in ends, 2 lockable stitch markers for tracking rounds, and 3 buttons (½in/1.5cm) for embellishment or closure.

Pattern Notes and Skill Level

This pattern is rated intermediate, making it well-suited to crocheters who are comfortable with working in the round and managing stitch markers but may not yet have tackled complex shaping or advanced techniques. The use of front loop only crochet and in-the-round construction are the key skills required. The pattern is written in US terminology, with UK terminology provided in italics in round brackets throughout, making it accessible to an international audience.

Paintbox Yarns Recycled Crafty Pots is exclusively available at LoveCrafts.com, and Paintbox Yarns notes that yarn quantities are approximate and based on average requirements. The By Your Side Basket Bag pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF, offering excellent value for crafters