My Patterns

The Virus Bag Free Crochet Pattern

The fabulous crochet virus pattern has been really popular lately with it’s scary skull and bubbling spreading design. I’ve seen many beautiful blankets and shawls in so many wonderful colors made with this pattern that I just had to give it a go.

Knowing I didn’t want to make a blanket or shawl, since I like to be different, I came up with this fashionable bag design using a chart of the triangular virus pattern I found on Pinterest.

In this bag design, the virus pattern takes centre stage. It is carefully positioned so what normally forms the corner of the virus pattern spreads up the front and down the back of this roomy shoulder bag. I really had fun designing and making this bag and I hope you will enjoy this pattern too.

The pattern is relatively easy to follow and includes a helpful video to take you through it step by step. Virus is a 4 row repeat. The base and top are single crochet. The finished bag measures 15″ wide and 21″ tall excluding the handles.

Although I added a deep solid bottom to the bag, using the virus pattern does mean than this bag has holes in the side, about the size of a US quarter or UK 10p coin.

It would make a great market bag or beach tote, or you may decide to add a lining and perhaps a zipper too for a wider range of uses. When I get around to lining mine I think I might add some small pockets inside so I can keep things like wallet and keys in an easy to reach place.

For this project I chose to use Lily Sugar’n’ Cream cotton yarn, since I wanted the bag to be strong, durable and not stretchy. This yarn comes in wide range of beautiful/vibrant colors and I found myself spoilt for choice at my local craft store.

Since I love purple and also like a nice fresh green, I picked out the Fruit Punch colorway. I then focused on the shade of purple and picked out Blackcurrant to match. I needed 4 skeins of Fruit Punch and 2 skeins of blackcurrant. (This post contains affiliate links)

This pattern starts out by making two identical virus triangles. The triangles are then crocheted together to form the body of the bag. Next we make the oval-shaped base and bottom section of the bag, then crocheted it onto the body. Lastly we make the top section and handles of the bag.

If you would prefer a PDF version of this pattern, with extra photos, download it HERE for a small fee.

The Virus Bag Free Crochet Pattern

You will need:

MC – Fruit Punch (4 skiens)   7oz
CC – Blackcurrant (2 skeins) 4.5oz
Hook – H/8 (5mm)
4 Stitch Markers

Virus Triangles (make 2)

Using MC. Chain 10. Sl st in 1st ch to make a ring.

Row 1: Ch 3, 19 Dc in ring.

Row 2: Ch 3 and turn. Starting in next dc, dc in each dc across. Last dc in 3rd ch of start of previous row. (20 Dcs inc ch 3)

Row 3: Ch 4 and turn. Starting in next dc, [dc ch1] in each dc across. Finishing with a dc in 3rd ch of previous row.

Row 4: Ch 10 and turn. Sc in next gap. [Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. [Ch 7, skip next gap, sc in next] twice. [Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. Ch 7 dc in 3rd ch.

Row 5: Ch 3 and turn. 9 Dc in ch 7 sp. Sc in ch 4 sp, [ch4, sc in next ch 4 sp] twice. 10 dc in each of next 2 ch 7 sps. Sc in ch 4 sp, [ch4, sc in next ch 4 sp] twice. 10 dc in last sp.

Row 6: Ch 3 and turn. Starting in next dc, dc in each of next 9 dc. Sc in ch 4 sp, ch 4, sc in next ch 4 sp. Dc in each of next 20 dcs. Sc in ch 4 sp, ch 4, sc in next ch 4 sp. Dc in each of next 9 dc. Dc in 3rdch of start of previous row.

Row 7: Ch 4 and turn. Starting in next dc, [dc ch1] in each dc across. Skip ch 4 gap, do not ch 1, pull dcs together to close gap. Finishing with a dc in 3rd ch of previous row.

Row 8: Ch 10 and turn. Sc in next gap. [Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. Ch 7, skip next gap, sc in next. [Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. [Ch 7, skip next gap, sc in next] twice. [Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. Ch 7, skip next gap, sc in next. [Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. Ch 7 dc in 3rd ch.

Row 9: Ch 3 and turn. 9 Dc in ch 7 sp. *Sc in ch 4 sp, [ch4, sc in next ch 4 sp] twice. 10 dc in ch 7 sp. Rep from *. 10 dc in ch 7 sp. *Sc in ch 4 sp, [ch4, sc in next ch 4 sp] twice. 10 dc in ch 7 sp. Rep from *.

Row 10: Ch 3 and turn. Starting in next dc, dc in each of next 9 dc. *Sc in ch 4 sp, ch 4, sc in next ch 4 sp. Dc in each of next 10 Dcs. Rep from *. *Dc in each of next 10 Dcs. Sc in ch 4 sp, ch 4, sc in next ch 4 sp. Rep from *. Dc in each of next 9 dc. Dc in 3rd ch of start of previous row.

Row 11: Ch 4 and turn. Starting in next dc, [dc ch1] in each dc across. Skip ch 4 gaps, do not ch 1, pull dcs together to close gap. Finishing with a dc in 3rd ch of previous row.

Row 12: Row 8: Ch 10 and turn. *Sc in next gap. [Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. Ch 7, skip next gap, sc in next. [Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. Rep from *. [Ch 7, skip next gap, sc in next] twice. *[Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. Ch 7, skip next gap, sc in next. [Ch 4, skip next gap, sc in next] 3 times. Rep from * Ch 7 dc in 3rd ch.

Row 13: Repeat row 9, repeating from each * an extra time.

Row 14: Repeat row 10, repeating from each * an extra time.

Row 15: Repeat row 11.

Row 16: Repeat row 12, repeating from each * an extra time.

Row 17: Repeat row 9, repeating from each * 2 extra times.

Row 18: Repeat row 10, repeating from each * 2 extra times.

Row 19: Repeat row 11.

Row 20: Repeat row 12, repeating from each * 2 extra times. Fasten off.

 

Assembling the body of the bag

Lay the two triangles out in front of you face up (where you finished should be bottom left). On each triangle, find the top centre gap, place stitch markers in the 4th gap on each side. (see video)

Flip top triangle over so it is pointing downward and the wrong side is face up. Then, fold top points of top triangle under. Fold bottom points of back triangle over. The sides of the triangle should meet – you may want to pin with a few safety pins to hold them in place.

Use MC to sc along each of the two seams to join the two triangles together place 2 scs in each gap. The marked gaps should match up with the bottom points of each triangle

Bottom of bag

Using CC. Ch 32.

Rnd 1: Sc in 2ndch from hk. Sc in each of next 29 chains. 3 sc in last chain. Working along bottom of foundation ch, sc in each of next 29 chains. 2 sc in last chain, sl st to join in top of 1st sc.

Rnd 2: Ch1. *Sc in each of next 29 stitches. 2 sc in each of next 3. Rep from *. Sl st to join.

Rnd 3: Ch 1. *Sc in each of next 29 stitches. [2sc in next, 1 in next] 3 times. Rep from *. Sl st to join.

Rnd 4: Ch 1. *Sc in each of next 29 stitches. [2sc in next, 1 in each of next 2] 3 times. Rep from *. Sl st to join.

Rnd 5: Ch 1. *Sc in each of next 29 stitches. [2sc in next, 1 in each of next 3] 3 times. Rep from *. Sl st to join.

Rnd 6: Ch 1. *Sc in each of next 29 stitches. [2sc in next, 1 in each of next 4] 3 times. Rep from *. Sl st to join.

Rnd 7: Ch 1. *Sc in each of next 29 stitches. [2sc in next, 1 in each of next 5] 3 times. Rep from *. Sl st to join.

Rnd 8: Ch 1. *Sc in each of next 29 stitches. [2sc in next, 1 in each of next 6] 3 times. Rep from *. Sl st to join.

Rnds 9-18: Ch 1. Sc in each around. Sl st to join. Do not fasten off. Turn inside out and place upside down at top of bag body piece.

Body of bag should still be inside out. Find centre point between 2 markers.

Rnd 19: Assembly. Ch 1. Insert hook in centre gap and in through the front of the same stitch on base piece and make a single crochet. Insert hook in same gap and into next stitch of base piece and make a single crochet. Continue around to join the two pieces together. On the body piece – 2 Sc in each gap (including the marked gaps), except 3 sc in each ch 7 space and 4 sc in the starting ring of the back triangle. On the base piece – 1 sc in each. Sl to join and fasten off.

Top of bag

Turn bag right way out. To right of bottom centre, find dc at end of 7th row. (see video).

Using CC, join with a sl st.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in same sp. Continuing to work around – 2 sc in each dc sp, 3 dc in ch 7 spaces, 4 sc in starting ring of triangle. Finish with a sc in starting sp and sl st in top of 1st sc to join.

Rnds 2-5: Ch 1, sc in each around. Sl st to join. (seam should travel diagonal up to left)

Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in each of next 2. Ch 60. Skip next 20 stitches. Sc in each of next 33. Ch 60. Skip next 20. Sc in each of remaining 31 stitches. Sl st to join.

Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in next. Sc in each of next 60 chains (in the same way you’d work into a foundation chain). Sc in each of next 33 stitches. Sc in each of next 60 chains. Sc in remaining stitches, sl st to join.

Rnd 8-11: Ch 1, sc in each round, sl st to join.

If you’d like to feature this pattern on your website, you have my permission to use 1 photo as long as you provide a link back to my site.

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10 thoughts on “The Virus Bag Free Crochet Pattern

  1. This is such a great idea! It’s been so long since I’ve made anything usually it’s just a blanket. Haha but I’m been thinking about picking it up again and this is now I’m my list of things to try!

  2. Love this! I have been wanting to try new hobbies this month, and maybe I will give this a go!

  3. What a great bag design! If I ever get better at crocheting and get past the first basic step, I’ll have to attempt this! I would love to make this for grocery shopping at farmers markets.

  4. I don’t crochet so I would have never known what a virus bag is if I hadn’t read this post. Thank you so much for educating me. This is something my mom would absolutely love. Thanks.

  5. Beautiful! I love this. I have been reading such great things about the benefits of crocheting and knitting to mental health. It’s a bonus that you get to create something so pretty!

  6. This is great! I can do a basic crochet stitch at best – one of my closest friends is great at it, so i’ll be sending this tutorial her way 🙂

  7. I remember when crochet bags were all the rage when I was a kid and my sisters were older. Just proves that everything comes back in style, even purses! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm. xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home

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