Celtic Crochet Bag Charm – FREE Pattern by Celtic Knot Crochet

There is something deeply satisfying about adding a handmade finishing touch to an everyday item, and that is exactly what this Celtic crochet bag charm delivers. Whether you clip it to your tote, your handbag, your backpack, or even your keyring, this tiny crocheted charm carries the unmistakable spirit of Celtic artistry in a form small enough to tuck into your palm. Best of all, this pattern is completely free, designed with both beginner-friendly techniques and results beautiful enough to impress even the most seasoned crafter.

In this post, I am going to walk you through everything you need to know to make your own Celtic crochet bag charm — the materials, the stitches, the step-by-step instructions, and plenty of tips along the way. By the time you finish reading, you will have all the confidence you need to pick up your hook and get started today.

What Is a Celtic Crochet Bag Charm?

A bag charm is a small decorative piece — typically dangling from a zipper pull, a bag handle, or a clip — that adds personality and a pop of color to an accessory you carry every day. Celtic-inspired crochet takes this concept and elevates it with the interlocking motifs, knotwork patterns, and rich visual heritage of traditional Celtic design.

Celtic knotwork has been woven into European art and culture for over a thousand years, appearing in illuminated manuscripts like the Book of Kells, carved into stone crosses, and embroidered onto ceremonial garments. Bringing that aesthetic into crochet is a way of honoring that heritage while creating something woven by your own hands. The result is a charm that feels both timeless and entirely personal.

This particular design centers on a small crocheted medallion or motif worked in the round, finished with a simple chain loop and an optional tassel or bead embellishment. It is compact, it works up quickly, and it makes an absolutely gorgeous gift.

Why You Will Love This Pattern

Before we get into the instructions, let me tell you a few reasons why this charm has become such a popular make for crochet lovers of all skill levels.

It is genuinely quick. Most crafters complete the main motif in under two hours, making this a perfect project for an evening in front of a favorite show or a lazy weekend afternoon. It is also wonderfully low-cost. Because the finished piece is small, you only need a tiny amount of yarn — which makes this an ideal stash-busting project. Have leftover yarn from a bigger project gathering dust in your craft bin? This charm will put it to beautiful use.

The pattern is also incredibly versatile. Once you understand the basic construction, you can adapt it endlessly — changing colors, swapping yarn weights, adding embellishments, or even working multiple motifs together to create a layered charm cluster. And because the design is rooted in Celtic knotwork aesthetics, it has a universal appeal that works for everyone from teenagers customizing their school bags to adults dressing up a classic leather handbag.

Finally, the finished charm makes a wonderful handmade gift. It is small enough to slip into an envelope, meaningful enough to feel special, and unique enough that the recipient will know real thought and care went into making it.

Materials You Will Need

One of the great joys of this project is how little you need to get started. Here is a simple list of everything required.

Yarn: Approximately 20–30 meters of fingering weight or sport weight yarn in your chosen color. Traditional Celtic palettes favor forest green, deep navy, russet, and natural cream, but feel free to work in any color that speaks to you. A variegated or semi-solid yarn can add beautiful depth to the finished motif.

Hook: A 2.5mm or 3mm crochet hook works beautifully with fingering weight yarn. If you are using sport weight, go up to a 3.5mm hook. The goal is a relatively tight gauge so the motif holds its shape.

Notions: You will also need a stitch marker or two, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, a bag charm clip or lobster claw clasp (available at most craft stores or online), a short length of chain or a jump ring to attach your charm to the clasp, scissors, and optionally, a small bead or wooden button for embellishment and a few strands of coordinating yarn if you want to add a tassel.

Blocking tools: A small foam mat, pins, and a spray bottle with water will help you block your finished motif into a crisp, professional shape.

Understanding the Stitches

This pattern uses standard crochet stitches that most beginners will already know. If you are newer to crochet, here is a quick reference.

Magic ring (adjustable ring): A technique for starting a piece worked in the round that allows you to cinch the center closed tightly. If you prefer, you can substitute a chain ring (chain 4, slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring) — the result is nearly identical.

Chain stitch (ch): The foundation of most crochet work, created by drawing a loop of yarn through the loop on your hook.

Slip stitch (sl st): A joining stitch used to connect rounds and to move across work without adding height.

Single crochet (sc): A short, tight stitch that creates a dense, firm fabric — perfect for a charm that needs to hold its shape.

Half double crochet (hdc): A stitch of medium height, adding a subtle lift and a slight texture difference from single crochet.

Double crochet (dc): A taller stitch with a bit more drape. Used here to create the raised sections that give the motif its knotwork feel.

Front post double crochet (FPdc): This is the stitch that really makes Celtic-style crochet come alive. By working around the post of a stitch in the previous round rather than into the top loops, FPdc creates a raised ridge that mimics the interlocking strands of a Celtic knot.

Pattern Abbreviations

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
FPdc — front post double crochet
BPdc — back post double crochet
MR — magic ring
sp — space
rep — repeat
st(s) — stitch(es)
rnd — round

The Celtic Crochet Bag Charm — Free Pattern

Round 1

Start with a magic ring. Chain 3 (counts as your first double crochet throughout). Work 11 dc into the ring. Pull the tail of your magic ring to close the center. Slip stitch into the top of your starting chain-3 to join. You will have 12 stitches in this round.

Round 2

Chain 1, do not turn. Work 2 sc into each stitch around. Slip stitch to join in the first sc. You will now have 24 stitches.

Round 3

Chain 1. Work 1 sc in each stitch around, placing a stitch marker at the beginning of your round so you can easily track your progress. Slip stitch to join. 24 stitches.

Round 4

This is where the Celtic knotwork character begins to emerge. Chain 3 (counts as dc). Work 1 dc into the next stitch, then work 1 FPdc around the post of the corresponding stitch in Round 2. Continue around, alternating groups: (2 dc into the next 2 stitches, 1 FPdc around the post of the stitch directly below in Round 2) repeated around. Slip stitch to join.

This creates a series of raised ridges that radiate outward from the center, evoking the looping strands of a Celtic knot.

Round 5

Chain 1. Work 1 sc into each stitch, treating each FPdc as a regular stitch for the stitch count. Slip stitch to join. 24 stitches.

Round 6

Chain 2 (counts as hdc). Work 1 hdc into each stitch around, then work FPdc around each of the raised posts created in Round 4 to continue building the knotwork effect upward through the layers. Slip stitch to join.

Round 7

Chain 1. Work a slip stitch into each stitch around to create a neat, flat border edge. This round locks in the shape and gives the charm a finished look.

Fasten off and leave a tail of approximately 15 cm for weaving.

Finishing the Charm

Weaving Ends

Thread your yarn needle and weave the tail carefully through several stitches on the wrong side of the work, pulling gently to avoid puckering. Weave in a figure-eight pattern for extra security, then trim close to the work. Repeat with any other yarn tails.

Blocking

Wet blocking will transform your motif from a slightly curled, loose piece into a crisp, beautifully flat medallion. Dampen the piece thoroughly with your spray bottle, pin it out on your foam mat to the desired dimensions (typically around 5–6 cm in diameter for this motif), and leave it to dry completely — ideally overnight. The difference is remarkable and absolutely worth the extra step.

Attaching the Clasp Loop

Once your motif is blocked and dry, cut a piece of yarn approximately 25–30 cm long in a matching or coordinating color. Fold it in half and use a lark’s head knot to attach the folded loop to any stitch along the top edge of your charm. Thread both tail ends through a jump ring or a small section of metal chain, tie a secure knot, and attach your lobster claw clasp to the other end of the chain. Clip it onto your bag and admire your work.

Adding a Tassel (Optional)

A simple tassel makes a wonderful addition below the main motif. Cut six to eight strands of yarn, each approximately 10 cm long. Fold them in half and use a lark’s head knot to loop them through a stitch at the bottom of the charm. Trim the ends to an even length and fluff gently. For extra detail, wrap a short piece of contrasting yarn tightly around the tassel just below the knot and secure with a small square knot.

Adding a Bead or Button (Optional)

If you would like to add a bead, choose one with a hole large enough to thread yarn through. After blocking, thread both yarn tails from your starting magic ring through the bead, then knot them securely on the underside to hold the bead centered on the charm. A small wooden button stitched to the front with a few simple whip stitches also gives a beautiful, rustic finish.

Color Ideas and Variations

One of the most delightful aspects of this charm is how dramatically the same pattern reads in different colorways. Here are a few of my favorite combinations.

Classic Celtic: Deep forest green with a cream tassel. Timeless, earthy, and immediately evocative of Ireland’s rolling countryside.

Autumn knotwork: Burnt orange or rust with a gold tassel. Perfect for fall and equally gorgeous for anyone who loves warm, spiced tones year-round.

Ocean and silver: Stormy blue-grey with a metallic silver bead. This combination feels elegant and contemporary while still carrying that ancient knotwork spirit.

Rainbow celebration: Work the charm in a bright variegated yarn for something cheerful and eye-catching. These make fantastic gifts for children or for anyone who loves color.

Monochrome magic: Work the entire charm — motif, loop, and tassel — in a single natural cream or undyed yarn. The texture of the FPdc stitches does all the visual work, and the result is surprisingly sophisticated.

Tips for Success

A few small things can make a big difference when working a charm this small.

Work your stitches a little tighter than you normally would. Because the finished piece is miniature, loose stitches can make the motif look floppy and undefined. A snug gauge keeps everything crisp and helps the knotwork detail read clearly.

Change your yarn needle frequently as you weave in ends. With such a small piece, bulky or uneven tail weaving on the wrong side can create lumps that show through to the front. Take your time and weave neatly.

If your FPdc stitches feel awkward at first, practice on a small swatch before starting the charm. Once you get the motion right — inserting your hook from front to back around the post of the stitch below — it becomes very natural, and those raised ridges are endlessly satisfying to create.

Don’t skip the blocking. I know I already said this, but it really does make such a significant difference to the finished result. Even five minutes of pinning and a few hours of drying time will take your charm from homemade to genuinely polished.

Making a Set to Gift or Sell

This charm works beautifully as part of a coordinated gift set. Consider making three charms in complementary colorways, grouping them on a single clasp for a charm cluster, or pairing a charm with a small crocheted coin purse in matching yarn. If you plan to sell your finished makes, this charm is an excellent addition to any craft fair or online shop — it uses very little material, works up quickly, and has strong visual appeal that photographs beautifully.

If you do sell items made from this pattern, please credit Celtic Knot Crochet as the pattern designer. The pattern itself is shared freely for personal use and sale of finished items, which is a generous gift from the designer to the crafting community.

Sharing Your Makes

If you make this charm, I would absolutely love to see it. Share your finished photos on Instagram or Pinterest and tag Celtic Knot Crochet so the designer can celebrate your work. There is something genuinely wonderful about watching a free pattern travel out into the world and return in the form of hundreds of unique, handmade pieces — each one a little different, each one carrying the maker’s own touch.

Leave a comment below if you have questions about any step of the pattern, if you have made any fun adaptations, or if you would simply like to share how your charm turned out. This community is at its best when we are encouraging each other, sharing what we have learned, and celebrating the small, beautiful things we make with our hands.

Final Thoughts

A Celtic crochet bag charm might be small in size, but it carries a great deal of meaning — the heritage of a centuries-old art tradition, the warmth of something made by hand, and the quiet satisfaction of a project completed from first stitch to finished clasp. This free pattern from Celtic Knot Crochet makes all of that accessible to any crafter willing to pick up a hook and try.

Whether you are making this for yourself, for someone you love, or as a small batch to share or sell, I hope every stitch brings you joy. Happy crocheting.