Palermo Bag in Hoooked Zpagetti - Downloadable PDF

Palermo Bag in Hoooked Zpagetti – Crochet Pattern Summary

The Palermo Bag is a crocheted handbag pattern designed for use with Hoooked Zpagetti super chunky textile yarn. Published as a downloadable PDF by Hoooked, this intermediate-level crochet project results in a sturdy, fashionable tote-style bag complete with bag handles. The pattern is suitable for crafters who are comfortable with basic crochet stitches and are ready to work in the round with a chunky, variable-width yarn.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a crocheted bag — specifically the Palermo Bag — constructed from the base upward in continuous rounds. The bag is designed with a flat, oval bottom that grows into structured sides, and is finished with two bag handles that are included in the kit. The base of the bag measures approximately 25 cm, achieved by working a foundation chain of approximately 16 to 18 chain stitches. The final result is a chunky, textured everyday bag with a bold, artisanal aesthetic.

Techniques Used

• Starting with a slip knot – the foundation of the project, used to begin the chain
• Foundation chain (kettingsteek) – a row of chain stitches that forms the base of the bag's oval bottom
• Working in the round – after the foundation chain, stitches are worked continuously around both sides of the chain to create a seamless oval base
• Increasing at the ends – at each short end of the oval, multiple stitches (specifically 3 treble/double crochet stitches into the same stitch) are worked into the same stitch to create the curved corners and allow the work to lie flat
• Building up the sides – once the base is complete, the crocheter continues working in rounds upward to form the body of the bag
• Attaching bag handles – pre-made bag handles are incorporated into the finished piece to complete the Palermo Bag

Stitches Used

The pattern makes use of a focused set of crochet stitches, all of which are illustrated with stitch symbols and diagrams within the PDF:

• Losse (l) – Chain stitch: used to create the slip knot foundation and the starting chain that forms the bag's base length
• Halve vaste (hv) – Half double crochet: a transitional stitch referenced in the pattern's stitch guide
• Vaste (v) – Single crochet (US) / Double crochet (UK): the primary stitch used throughout the body of the bag, worked in every stitch around the oval base and up the sides
• Stokjes (st) – Treble or double crochet: used specifically at the short ends of the oval base, where 3 stokjes are worked into the same stitch to create the rounded corners that give the bag its oval shape

Understanding Hoooked Zpagetti Yarn

Hoooked Zpagetti is a super chunky textile yarn made from recycled surplus materials sourced from the European fashion industry. All Zpagetti yarns are processed at Hoooked's own production centre in Portugal. A defining characteristic of Zpagetti is that its thickness and texture vary throughout the skein — this is an intentional feature of the recycled material, not a flaw. Because of this natural variation, the pattern emphasizes that crafters should pay close attention to the dimensions and shape of the piece rather than relying on a fixed stitch count per round. The stitch count per round is not fixed; instead, it should be adjusted based on the desired finished measurements.

Zpagetti is machine washable on a cold setting, making the finished Palermo Bag practical for everyday use. Each kit contains 120 metres of Zpagetti yarn, which is sufficient to complete the bag.

Materials Required

• Hoooked Zpagetti – super chunky recycled textile yarn, 120 metres