Nightjar Bag in Berroco Iris - Downloadable PDF

Nightjar Bag Crochet Pattern in Berroco Iris — Downloadable PDF

The Nightjar Bag is a stylish, structured crocheted tote designed by Mel Kennelly and published by Berroco. Rated Easy in skill level, this pattern is an excellent project for beginner to confident beginner crocheters looking to build practical skills while producing a finished accessory ready for everyday use. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it immediately accessible after purchase.

What Is Being Made

The Nightjar is a crocheted bag with a rounded base that expands into a full, open body. The finished bag measures approximately 26 inches (66 cm) in circumference and 12 inches (30.5 cm) down the center, not including the straps. The generous dimensions make it a practical everyday carryall or market bag. Construction begins at the base and works upward in continuous rounds, giving the bag a seamless, polished appearance.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: The bag begins with a foundation chain and is worked in the round from the base upward, building the oval bottom first before transitioning into the body.
• Oval base shaping: The foundation chain is worked along both sides, with strategic increases at each end to create a smooth, rounded oval base. Corner markers (removable stitch markers or safety pins) are used to track increase points precisely.
• Increase rounds: Multiple increase rounds are worked at the corners of the oval base — placing 3 half double crochets into a single marked stitch — to expand the circumference evenly before the body begins.
• Seamless rounds: Once the base shaping is complete, corner markers are removed and a beginning-of-round marker is placed, and the body is worked in continuous joined rounds.
• Blocking: The pattern specifies that gauge is measured after blocking, indicating that wet or steam blocking is an important finishing step to achieve the correct dimensions and drape.

Stitches Used

• Half double crochet (hdc): The primary stitch throughout the entire bag, used for both the base and the body. Half double crochet creates a dense yet flexible fabric with a subtle texture, ideal for a structured bag.
• Chain stitch (ch): Used to create the foundation chain and as turning/joining chains at the beginning of rounds.
• Slip stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds at the end of each completed round, keeping the work tidy and the round edges clean.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 18 stitches and 14.5 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) in half double crochet, measured after blocking. Achieving accurate gauge is essential to ensuring the bag reaches its intended finished measurements, and the pattern strongly encourages crocheting a gauge swatch before beginning.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Berroco Iris™ in colorway #11608 Platinum — 3 hanks of 100 g each. Berroco Iris is a worsted weight yarn, offering the body and stitch definition well suited to a structured bag construction.
• Hook: Crochet hook size E-4 / 3.5 mm, or the size needed to obtain gauge. Note that this is a smaller hook than typically used for worsted weight yarn, which contributes to a tighter, more structured fabric appropriate for a bag.
• Notions: Removable stitch markers or safety pins, used throughout the base shaping rounds to track corner increase positions.

Who This Pattern Is For

The Nightjar Bag is designed with the beginner to easy-level crocheter in mind. The stitch vocabulary is intentionally simple — relying almost entirely on the half double crochet — making this an ideal pattern for someone who has mastered basic crochet stitches and is ready to tackle a project worked in the round with straightforward shaping. The use of stitch markers to manage increases makes the construction process clear and manageable even for those new to bag construction.