Baby Gorilla Purse

Baby Gorilla Purse by Lisa Ferrel

What is Being Made

The Baby Gorilla Purse is a playful, structured crochet bag designed by independent designer Lisa Ferrel. This intermediate-level project creates a charming gorilla-shaped purse featuring a functional zipper closure and dimensional facial features. The finished piece combines practical accessory design with whimsical character construction, making it suitable for those with some crochet experience.

Crochet Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental crochet techniques built into an intermediate project structure. The construction begins with a magic circle foundation, which allows for seamless circular increases. The design uses single crochet as the primary stitch throughout, worked in continuous rounds without joining. Incremental increases are strategically placed using double stitches (2 sc in next st) to create the expanding circular base that forms the gorilla's head and body. The pattern demonstrates controlled shaping through evenly spaced increases across multiple rounds, allowing crafters to understand how to build three-dimensional forms in crochet. The sides are constructed separately and then assembled, introducing basic garment construction principles.

Stitches Used

• Single Crochet (sc): The foundational stitch used throughout the entire project for both the base fabric and structural increases
• Double Stitches (2 sc in next st): Strategic increases placed at regular intervals to expand the circular rounds and create the gorilla's dimensional shape
• Magic Circle: The starting technique used to begin the project with a seamless center point

Materials Required

The Baby Gorilla Purse uses I Love This Yarn brand worsted weight yarn in multiple colors. The yarn palette includes 2.5 oz. of brown as the main color (MC), which forms the primary body of the gorilla. Toasted almond accent yarn (½ oz.) provides contrast details. Red and black yarn (1 yard each) are used for additional facial features and details. A Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook is used throughout the project, appropriately sized for worsted weight yarn. Finishing materials include a yarn needle for weaving in ends and securing pieces, two sew-on 18-mm eyes for the gorilla's face, and a 7-inch brown zipper that provides functional closure for the purse opening. The total yardage and material quantities are calculated to complete the finished accessory.

Yarn Weight and Construction Notes

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, which is a medium-weight yarn ideal for creating structured, durable accessories. Worsted weight yarn works quickly on a Size H hook, making this intermediate project manageable in terms of time investment while still producing a sturdy, well-defined finished piece. The combination of worsted and aran weight options provides flexibility for crafters with different yarn preferences, though the pattern is primarily designed around worsted specifications.