Encore Worsted Purses: Free Pattern for a Classic Handmade Bag You’ll Love
There is something deeply satisfying about finishing a knitted or crocheted purse and knowing that every stitch came from your own hands. Purses made from Encore Worsted yarn sit in a special category of handmade accessories — they are sturdy, colorful, beautifully textured, and built to last. Whether you are a seasoned fiber artist or someone who has just finished their first few projects and is ready to level up, making a bag from Encore Worsted is one of those experiences that reminds you why you fell in love with yarn crafts in the first place.
This post shares a free pattern for an Encore Worsted purse, along with everything you need to know about the yarn itself, tips for customizing your bag, and guidance for finishing it like a pro. Grab your needles or hook, pull out that skein you have been saving, and let’s get started.
Why Encore Worsted Is Perfect for Purses
Before diving into the pattern, it helps to understand why Plymouth Yarn’s Encore Worsted is such a beloved choice for bags and accessories. Encore Worsted is a blend of 75% acrylic and 25% wool, and that combination turns out to be nearly ideal for structured projects like purses.
The wool content gives the yarn a natural drape, warmth, and the ability to bloom slightly after washing, which fills in your stitches beautifully. The acrylic content adds durability and makes the yarn machine washable, which matters a great deal when you are making something that will be tossed into cars, carried through markets, and set down on countless surfaces. A bag that can go through the washing machine on a gentle cycle is a bag you will actually use every day.
Encore Worsted also holds its shape remarkably well. Bags made from purely soft, stretchy yarns can sag and lose their structure over time, becoming formless pouches rather than proper purses. The slight firmness in Encore Worsted means your purse will maintain its intended silhouette even after months of regular use.
Then there is the color range. Encore Worsted comes in a staggering number of shades — classic neutrals, rich jewel tones, playful brights, earthy naturals, and everything in between. You can make a sleek black everyday bag, a vibrant festival tote in teal and mustard, or a delicate blush clutch for a more dressy occasion. The color possibilities alone make this yarn worth keeping in your stash at all times.
Finally, Encore Worsted is affordable. Quality yarn does not have to cost a fortune, and this is one of those yarns that delivers excellent results without requiring you to spend a significant amount per skein. For a project like a purse, where you might use two or three skeins, that accessibility matters.
What You Will Need
For the main purse pattern below, gather the following supplies before you begin:
Yarn: 2 skeins of Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted (200 yards each, so approximately 400 yards total). Choose one color for a classic look or two complementary colors for a striped or color-blocked variation.
Needles or Hook: If you are knitting, use US size 7 (4.5mm) straight or circular needles. If you prefer crochet, use a US size J/6mm hook. Both approaches work beautifully with this yarn; the pattern notes below include instructions for each.
Notions: A tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a pair of 20-inch purse handles (bamboo, metal, or plastic — all look great), fabric lining material if desired (a fat quarter of quilting cotton works perfectly), sewing needle and thread if you are adding a lining, one magnetic snap closure or a zipper, and stitch markers if you are knitting in the round.
Gauge: For knitting, aim for approximately 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. For crochet, aim for approximately 14 single crochets and 16 rows over 4 inches. Gauge is more flexible for bags than for garments, but staying close to these numbers will give you a purse close to the finished dimensions described.
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 12 inches wide, 10 inches tall (before handles), and 3 inches deep when blocked and assembled.
The Encore Worsted Purse: Free Pattern
Knitting Version
Cast On and Body:
Using your preferred cast-on method, cast on 54 stitches. If you are knitting flat and seaming, work back and forth. If you prefer a seamless bag, cast on using the magic loop method or divide stitches across double-pointed needles to work in the round.
For flat knitting: Work in stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) for 10 inches, ending on a wrong-side row. Do not bind off yet.
For knitting in the round: Place a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round. Knit every round for 10 inches.
Gusset (Side and Bottom Structure):
To create the three-dimensional structure of your purse, you will add a gusset. The gusset forms the side panels and the base of the bag, giving it that structured, box-shaped silhouette.
After completing the main body panels, cast on an additional panel separately. Cast on 12 stitches and work in stockinette (flat) for the length that wraps around the two short sides and the bottom of your bag — approximately 35 inches. This strip will be sewn to the edges of your main body piece to form the sides and base.
Alternatively, if working in the round with the gusset integrated: Work a total of 66 stitches around (54 for the front and back panels combined, and 12 stitches per short side). Continue in the round for 10 inches, then work the base by decreasing or working the bottom flat and seaming.
Handles:
The simplest approach with store-bought handles is to create a casing at the top of your bag. Once your main panels are complete, fold the top edge over one of your handles and seam it down to the inside of the bag, encasing the bar of the handle in a tube of fabric. Repeat on both sides with both handles.
For a knitted handle alternative: Pick up and knit 8 stitches at the top edge of one panel. Work in 1×1 rib (knit 1, purl 1) for 14 inches. Bind off and attach the other end of the ribbed strap to the opposite edge of the same panel. Repeat on the back panel.
Bind Off:
When you have completed the body, bind off loosely using a standard bind-off. Weave in all ends.
Crochet Version
Foundation Chain and Body:
Chain 55. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across — 54 single crochets. Chain 1, turn.
Continue working rows of single crochet until your panel measures 10 inches from the foundation chain. Fasten off and weave in the end. Make a second identical panel for the back of your purse.
Gusset:
Chain 13. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and across — 12 single crochets. Continue working in rows of single crochet until the gusset strip measures approximately 35 inches. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Assembly:
Pin the gusset strip to the front panel, starting at one top corner and working down the side, across the bottom, and up the other side. Use stitch markers or pins to hold everything in place, then seam using a whip stitch or slip stitch through both layers. Repeat with the back panel, attaching the other long edge of the gusset strip. When you are finished, your bag should stand up on its own with a flat base.
Handles:
Attach store-bought handles by folding the top edge of each panel over the handle bar and slip-stitching the folded edge securely to the inside of the bag. Work through both layers of yarn for extra strength — purse handles take real stress in everyday use, so a secure attachment matters.
For a crocheted strap instead: Join yarn at the top corner of one side panel, chain 100 (or your desired strap length), join with a slip stitch to the opposite top corner of the same panel. Work single crochet back along the chain, then slip stitch to fasten. Repeat from the back panel for a double strap. Alternatively, make one long strap running from the top left corner of the front panel, across the back, and down to the top right corner of the front panel for a cross-body style.
Adding a Fabric Lining
A fabric lining is one of the best things you can do for a handmade purse, and it is not nearly as difficult as it sounds. A lining stabilizes the bag, prevents small items from falling through any gaps in the stitch structure, and gives the interior a polished, professional look.
Cut two rectangles of lining fabric, each measuring 12.5 inches wide by 10.5 inches tall. Cut one strip measuring 4 inches wide by 35 inches long for the gusset lining. With right sides together, sew the gusset strip to the front and back lining panels using a quarter-inch seam allowance, exactly as you assembled the crocheted or knitted pieces.
Press all seams flat. Fold the top edge of the lining down by half an inch and press. Place the lining inside the finished bag with wrong sides together, aligning the top folded edge with the top of the knitted or crocheted bag. Use a sewing needle and matching thread to whip-stitch the folded lining edge to the inside of the bag, just below the handle attachment. Take small, neat stitches that catch the yarn but do not show on the outside of the bag.
If you are adding a magnetic snap closure, attach it to the lining pieces before assembling the lining. Place each half of the snap centered on the top edge of the front and back lining panels, about an inch below the top edge. Follow the package instructions for installing the snap — it typically involves cutting small slits, pushing the prongs through, and folding them back against a reinforcing piece of interfacing.
Customization Ideas
One of the great pleasures of making your own purse is that you are not bound by anyone else’s design decisions. Here are some ideas for making this Encore Worsted purse entirely your own.
Stripes and Color Blocking: Work the front and back panels in different colors for a bold, graphic look. Or work horizontal stripes by switching colors every two to four rows throughout the body of the bag. Encore Worsted joins colors cleanly, and the ends weave in neatly thanks to the slightly textured surface of the fabric.
Textured Stitches: Rather than plain stockinette or single crochet, try working the body in seed stitch, moss stitch, or basket weave. These textures add visual interest and also create a denser fabric that stands up to everyday wear beautifully.
Embellishments: Crochet a simple flower or leaf and attach it to the front panel with a button or brooch pin so it can be removed and repositioned. Add fringe along the bottom edge for a bohemian feel. Stitch a simple embroidered motif onto the front panel using contrasting yarn.
Size Variations: This pattern scales easily. For a small clutch, work with half the stitch count and reduce the height to six inches. For a large market tote, double the stitch count and increase the height to fifteen inches. The stitch gauge and yarn stay the same; only the proportions change.
Pockets: Work a small rectangular piece in the same stitch pattern, approximately six inches wide and five inches tall, and seam three sides of it to the inside of the lining before installing the lining. This creates an interior pocket for your phone or keys. If you want an exterior pocket, seam a small panel directly to the front of the bag before attaching the gusset.
Finishing Tips for a Professional Result
Blocking your knitted or crocheted bag before assembly makes a noticeable difference in the final result. Wet the finished panels thoroughly, squeeze out excess water gently without wringing, and pin them to a foam blocking mat or lay them flat on a clean towel. Shape them to the correct dimensions and allow them to dry completely. Blocked fabric lies flatter, measures more accurately, and is easier to seam.
When seaming, use the same yarn you used for the bag if possible. The seam will be invisible from the outside and blend seamlessly with the fabric. If your yarn is too bulky to seam neatly, split a strand or use a finer matching thread.
Press your fabric lining with an iron before installing it. Crisp, pressed fabric is much easier to sew neatly than wrinkled fabric, and the difference in the finished interior is significant.
Reinforce your handle attachments by stitching back and forth several times through the folded casing. Handles bear the full weight of everything you carry in your purse, and a few extra minutes of reinforcement will extend the life of your bag considerably.
Caring for Your Encore Worsted Purse
Because Encore Worsted is machine washable, caring for your finished purse is straightforward. Turn the bag inside out to protect any surface embellishments, place it in a mesh laundry bag, and wash on a cold, gentle cycle. Reshape the bag while damp and allow it to air dry flat or stuffed loosely with a small towel to help it hold its shape as it dries. Avoid the dryer, as heat can distort the shape of a structured bag.
For daily maintenance, a quick shake and brush-down with a soft cloth keeps the fabric looking tidy between washes.
Making This Pattern Your Ongoing Companion
Once you have made one Encore Worsted purse, it is hard to stop. The pattern adapts beautifully to every season — rich burgundy and forest green for autumn, bright citrus colors for summer, soft heather tones for spring. Each version feels like a new project even though the basic structure stays familiar, and that reliability is one of the most comforting things about having a good go-to pattern in your repertoire.
Share your finished bags with the crafting community online, tag your projects on Ravelry or Instagram, and leave a note here if you have a question or a variation you want to share. Handmade projects are always better when they are part of a conversation, and there is a wonderful community of makers working with Encore Worsted who would love to see what you create.
Whether this is your first handmade bag or your fiftieth, this Encore Worsted purse pattern gives you a solid foundation to work from and endless room to make it your own. Happy crafting.
