Free Pattern: Crochet Tablet Bag

There is something deeply satisfying about carrying your tablet in something you made yourself. A handmade crochet tablet bag is not just a protective case — it is a small declaration that you value craft, that you want your everyday objects wrapped in something personal and beautiful. Whether you are heading to a coffee shop, tucking your device into a tote bag, or just moving from room to room at home, a snug crocheted pouch keeps your screen scratch-free and your style very much intact.

This free crochet tablet bag pattern is designed for intermediate beginners — meaning if you know how to single crochet, double crochet, and work in rows, you are ready to dive in. The finished bag fits most standard tablets up to about 10 inches, including the iPad (most generations), Amazon Fire HD 10, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and similar devices. The design features a simple ribbed body for structure and stretch, a fold-over flap closure, and an optional button or snap for security. You can work it up in an afternoon, and the result looks far more polished than the hours suggest.

Let’s get started.

Materials You Will Need

Before you cast on (or rather, chain up), gather everything you need so the project flows smoothly from start to finish.

Yarn: Approximately 150–200 yards of worsted weight yarn (size 4). Cotton yarn is highly recommended for this project because it is sturdy, holds its shape, and provides gentle protection for your screen. Brands like Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Paintbox Simply DK (held double), or Paintbox Cotton Aran all work beautifully. You can absolutely use acrylic if that is what you have on hand — just be aware it will have slightly less structure.

Hook: US Size H/8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook. If your gauge runs loose, try a 4.5 mm hook. If it runs tight, bump up to 5.5 mm.

Notions: Yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, one large button or sew-on snap (about 1 inch diameter), sewing needle and thread to attach the button, stitch markers (optional but helpful), and a ruler or tape measure.

Gauge: 14 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet. Gauge is important here because you want the bag to fit snugly without being too tight to insert the tablet or too loose to protect it.

Finished Size: Approximately 8 inches wide by 10.5 inches tall (before the flap), which fits tablets up to 10 inches diagonally. See the sizing notes at the end if you need to adjust for a larger or smaller device.

Abbreviations

ch — chain
sc — single crochet
dc — double crochet
hdc — half double crochet
BLO — back loop only
sl st — slip stitch
st(s) — stitch(es)
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
rep — repeat
sk — skip
sp — space
tog — together

Pattern Notes

This bag is worked flat in two panels (front and back), then seamed together along the sides and bottom. The flap is worked as a continuation of the back panel. Working flat makes it easy to keep even tension and to add the ribbed texture that gives the bag its structure.

The ribbing stitch in this pattern is achieved by working single crochet through the back loop only (BLO). This creates those lovely raised lines that run horizontally across the bag, giving it both visual interest and a slight stretch that helps the bag accommodate your tablet easily. If you have never worked BLO before, do not be intimidated — you simply insert your hook under the back loop of the stitch (the loop farthest from you) rather than under both loops as usual.

Read through the entire pattern once before beginning. It is a good habit with any project, and it will help you understand where the pieces connect.

The Pattern

Gauge Swatch (Recommended)

Chain 18. Work single crochet in BLO across for 20 rows. Fasten off and measure your swatch. It should measure approximately 4 inches by 5 inches. Adjust your hook size as needed before beginning the main panels.

Front Panel

Foundation Chain: Chain 30.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. (29 sc) Turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st across. (29 sc) Turn.

Repeat Row 2 until your piece measures approximately 10.5 inches from the foundation chain. This will typically be around 42 rows, but count your inches rather than your rows since individual tension varies.

Fasten off and weave in ends. Set the front panel aside.

Back Panel and Flap

Foundation Chain: Chain 30.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. (29 sc) Turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st across. (29 sc) Turn.

Repeat Row 2 until your piece measures approximately 10.5 inches, matching the front panel exactly.

Do not fasten off. You will now continue directly into the flap.

Flap (Continuation of Back Panel)

The flap adds approximately 4 more inches of height to the back panel. It folds over the top of the bag to cover the opening and secure the tablet inside.

Continue working Row 2 (sc in BLO across) for an additional 16 rows, or until the flap measures 4 inches.

Flap Shaping (Optional Rounded Edge):

If you want a straight-edged flap, simply fasten off after the 16 rows. If you prefer a softly rounded flap, work the following:

Decrease Row 1: Ch 1, sc2tog over first 2 sts, sc in BLO across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (27 sts) Turn.

Decrease Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in BLO across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (25 sts) Turn.

Decrease Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in BLO across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. (23 sts) Turn.

Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail for weaving.

Buttonhole Row (Optional)

If you are using a button closure, you will want to add a buttonhole to the flap. Work this on the second-to-last row of your flap (before any decrease rows if you are using the rounded edge option).

Buttonhole Row: Ch 1, sc in BLO across first 12 sts, ch 2, sk 2 sts, sc in BLO across remaining 15 sts. Turn.

Next Row: Ch 1, sc in BLO across, working 2 sc into the ch-2 space to fill the gap. Turn.

Continue as established. The buttonhole will land in the center of the flap, which should align nicely with the center front of the bag.

Edging

Once both panels are complete and before seaming, you can add a simple edging around the flap to give it a clean, finished look.

With RS facing, join yarn at the corner of the flap. Work a single round of sc evenly around all edges of the flap (including the shaped or straight bottom edge), working 3 sc into each corner to keep the fabric lying flat. Slip stitch to join and fasten off.

Assembling the Bag

Lay the front and back panels together with wrong sides facing (right sides out). The flap portion of the back panel should extend above the top of the front panel.

Using your yarn needle and a length of yarn (about 24 inches), whipstitch or single crochet the front and back together along the bottom edge and both side edges. Work through both loops of both panels at once for a firm seam. If you prefer a visible, decorative seam, use a contrasting yarn color and single crochet the pieces together — this adds a fun pop of color along the edges.

Leave the top edge open (this is where you insert and remove the tablet).

Weave in all ends securely. Give the seams a gentle tug to make sure they are secure — you want to know your tablet is safe before you start relying on the bag.

Adding the Closure

Button Option: Position your button on the front panel, centered horizontally and about 1 inch below the top opening. Thread your sewing needle with a double strand of thread that matches your yarn color. Sew the button on securely, going through the button holes at least 8 times. Knot tightly on the wrong side.

Fold the flap over and check that the buttonhole aligns with the button. Adjust if needed before sewing the button permanently.

Snap Option: Sew the two halves of a large sew-on snap to the inside of the flap and the outside of the front panel, centered and positioned so that the flap lies flat when snapped closed. Snaps are particularly useful if you are new to sewing buttons, and they give a very clean, unobtrusive look.

No-Closure Option: Honestly, the bag works fine without any closure at all if the fit is snug. The fold-over flap alone will keep your tablet in place in most situations. You can add a small loop of chain stitch and a large bead as a decorative toggle if you want just a little extra security without sewing.

Finishing Touches

Block your finished bag lightly if you are using cotton yarn. Wet blocking (soaking in lukewarm water, gently squeezing out excess water in a towel, then shaping and laying flat to dry) will even out your stitches beautifully and give the bag a more professional finish. Cotton responds especially well to wet blocking.

If you want to add an interior lining — which is a lovely touch and adds extra protection for your screen — cut two pieces of fabric (a sturdy canvas, felt, or quilting cotton work well) to match your panel dimensions. Sew them together on three sides, fold the top edge under by half an inch and press with an iron, then slip the lining inside your crocheted bag and whipstitch it to the inside of the top opening. This also covers your yarn ends and makes the inside look very tidy.

Sizing Adjustments

The pattern as written fits tablets up to 10 inches diagonally. To customize the size, measure your specific tablet and add 1 inch to the width and 1.5 inches to the height to allow for ease and seam allowance. Then adjust your starting chain and row count accordingly.

As a general guide: for every additional inch of width, add approximately 3.5 stitches to your starting chain (based on the gauge of 14 stitches per 4 inches). For every additional inch of height, add approximately 4 rows.

For smaller devices like 7-inch or 8-inch tablets, or for e-readers like the Kindle Paperwhite, you can reduce the starting chain to 24 and shorten the panel height to about 8 inches. The flap can be shortened to 3 inches as well.

Yarn Color Ideas and Styling

One of the best things about making your own tablet bag is that you get to choose exactly how it looks. Here are a few color and texture ideas to inspire you.

A single solid color in a rich cotton yarn — deep teal, terracotta, dusty rose, sage green — looks elegant and modern. The ribbed texture adds enough visual interest that you do not need stripes or patterns to make it pop.

For a color-blocked look, use one color for the front panel and a different color for the back and flap. The contrasting color seam (worked in a third color) ties the whole thing together beautifully.

Variegated or self-striping yarn creates an effortless stripe effect with no extra work on your part. Since the rows are short, the color changes happen quickly and the result is dynamic and lively.

If you want to add embellishment, a simple surface slip stitch worked in a contrasting color after the bag is assembled can create geometric lines or botanical motifs across the front panel. A small crocheted flower tacked to the flap corner is a sweet finishing touch.

Care Instructions

If you used cotton yarn, your tablet bag is machine washable on a gentle cycle in cold water. Reshape while damp and lay flat to dry — do not put it in the dryer, as cotton can shrink. If you used acrylic, check your yarn label, but most acrylic is also machine washable and dryer-safe on low heat.

Remove your tablet before washing, obviously.

Tips for Success

Working in back loop only is the key technique in this pattern, and it is worth taking a moment early on to make sure you are finding the correct loop every time. The back loop is the one that sits farther from you as the work faces you. If you accidentally work through both loops on some rows and one loop on others, your ribbing will look uneven. It happens — just keep an eye on it as you go.

Tension consistency matters more in this project than in, say, a blanket, because you want both panels to be exactly the same size before seaming. If you tend to work tighter when you are tired or distracted, try to work both panels in similar conditions and check your measurements as you go rather than at the very end.

Use stitch markers to mark the first and last stitch of every row if you find yourself losing the edges. It is surprisingly easy to accidentally skip or add a stitch at the edges when working in BLO, because the back loop can be harder to spot at the very end of a row.

Finally, weave in your ends as you go rather than saving them all for the end. With only two panels and a bit of edging, there are not many ends to deal with, but tidying as you go means you finish the project feeling accomplished rather than slightly dreading the last ten minutes of cleanup.

Why Make a Crochet Tablet Bag?

In a world full of mass-produced accessories in the same four colors every season, there is real joy in reaching for something you made yourself. A handmade crochet tablet bag carries your care and attention inside every stitch. It protects your device with something softer and more personal than a plastic shell. It makes a wonderful gift — personalized with someone’s favorite color, sized to their specific device, finished with a button that matches something else they own.

It is also just a very satisfying beginner-to-intermediate project. It is small enough to finish in a single weekend, structured enough to teach you something about working flat and seaming, and practical enough that you will actually use the finished object every day. Those are the best kinds of makes.

If this is your first time working a ribbed fabric in crochet, welcome to a technique you will reach for again and again. It works beautifully in hats, bags, cuffs, and scarves. And if you are an experienced crocheter looking for a quick, useful project to use up a skein of good cotton yarn, this bag is exactly that.

Happy crocheting. Take your time with it. And enjoy every single stitch.