Scrap Yarn Crochet Purse – Zero Waste Bag Pattern

There is something deeply satisfying about finishing a big project and looking at the pile of leftover yarn sitting on your table. Those small balls and partial skeins feel too precious to throw away but too small to start anything meaningful — or so you might think. This scrap yarn crochet purse pattern is here to change your mind entirely. It turns every leftover bit of yarn into a beautiful, functional bag that you will actually want to carry, and it does it in a way that feels intentional rather than chaotic.

At Make and Do Crew, we love a pattern that works with what you already have. This one is the ultimate zero waste project because there are no rules about color, no specific yarn weight requirements, and no strict gauge to hit. You bring the scraps, and we bring the structure. Let’s make a bag together.

Why Scrap Yarn Projects Are Having a Moment

The crafting world has been embracing slow fashion and sustainable making for years now, but it feels like scrap projects are finally getting the recognition they deserve. There is growing awareness around textile waste, and knitters and crocheters are in a unique position to do something about it in their own creative practice. When you buy yarn for a project, you almost always end up with more than you need. Over the years, those leftovers accumulate into a collection that can feel overwhelming.

Rather than letting scraps sit in a bin or, worse, ending up in a landfill, using them up in a thoughtful project is one of the most satisfying things you can do as a maker. A crochet purse is perfect for this purpose because a bag naturally benefits from stripes, color changes, and texture variation. What might look mismatched in a blanket looks intentional and artistic in a bag. The patchwork quality of scrap yarn becomes a design feature.

This pattern is also a great stash-busting gateway project if you are newer to crochet. It teaches you how to work in the round, change colors seamlessly, add structure to a fabric, and finish a project with handles and a lining — all skills that will serve you in future makes.

What You Will Need

Because this is a scrap yarn pattern, the materials list is intentionally flexible. Here is what to gather before you start.

Yarn: Any combination of scrap yarn works here. For a sturdy bag, you want to aim for a worsted weight equivalent overall, but you can hold thinner yarns together to achieve this. A fingering or sport weight yarn held double will behave similarly to a worsted weight single strand. The bag shown in the photos was made with a mix of cotton, acrylic, and cotton-acrylic blend scraps in various weights, all held to a consistent worsted thickness.

Hook: A 5mm or 5.5mm crochet hook is a good starting point. Adjust up or down depending on how thick your yarn combination ends up being. You want a firm, dense fabric that will hold its shape, so go down a hook size if your swatches feel floppy.

Notions: You will need a yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers, and about half a yard of medium-weight cotton fabric for the lining. A sewing needle and thread in a coordinating color complete the notions list. Optional but recommended: a magnetic purse snap or a button and loop closure.

Gauge: Approximately 14 stitches and 16 rows equal 4 inches in single crochet with worsted weight yarn and a 5.5mm hook. Because this is a bag, gauge does not need to be exact — just aim for a dense, structured fabric.

A Note on Color Planning for Scrap Bags

You have two main approaches when making a scrap bag, and both are completely valid. The first is to crochet intuitively, reaching for whatever scrap appeals to you in the moment and letting the color story emerge organically. This is chaotic in the best possible way and often produces the most interesting results. The second approach is to do a little planning upfront — laying out your scraps, grouping similar values (lights, mediums, and darks) or similar hues (warms versus cools), and deciding on a rough sequence before you start.

If you want the bag to feel cohesive, consider including at least one neutral — cream, tan, gray, or black — that can act as a visual anchor between the more colorful scraps. Stripes of a neutral between every color change can make even wildly different colors feel harmonious. You can also tie the palette together by repeating one color throughout the bag at regular intervals, the way a pattern might repeat a refrain.

If you are worried about the scraps feeling random, remember that the crochet texture itself provides a lot of visual unity. The stitches create a consistent rhythm across all the color changes, and that consistency is what makes a scrap bag look like a design choice rather than an accident.

Pattern Instructions

Finished Size

The finished bag measures approximately 11 inches wide, 9 inches tall, and 3 inches deep, with handles that add an additional 8 inches. This is a generously sized everyday tote-style purse — big enough for your wallet, keys, phone, and a small notebook, but not so large that it becomes unwieldy.

Abbreviations

Throughout this pattern, the following abbreviations are used: ch (chain), sc (single crochet), sl st (slip stitch), st (stitch), sp (space), RS (right side), WS (wrong side), and BLO (back loop only).

The Bottom Panel

The bag is constructed in two main pieces — a flat rectangular bottom that is then worked in the round up the sides — plus separately crocheted handles.

Begin with your first scrap color. Chain 39. This starting chain forms the long edge of the bottom panel.

Row 1: Sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. (38 sc) Turn.

Rows 2 through 12: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

At the end of Row 12, do not turn. You will now work around the entire perimeter of the rectangle to set up the sides.

Perimeter round: Ch 1. Work 38 sc across the top edge of the rectangle, 3 sc in the corner st, work 11 sc down the short side, 3 sc in the corner st, work 38 sc across the bottom (working into the starting chain), 3 sc in the corner st, work 11 sc up the other short side, 3 sc in the corner st. Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round. (108 sts total)

Place a stitch marker in the center sc of each corner cluster to help you track your corners as you work the sides.

The Sides

From here, you will work in continuous rounds upward, changing colors as you go and using your scraps however feels right to you.

Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (108 sts)

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around to 1 st before the corner marker, 3 sc in the corner st, sc in each st to 1 st before the next corner marker, 3 sc in the corner st, repeat for all 4 corners. Join with sl st. (116 sts)

Repeat Round 2 twice more for a total of 3 increase rounds. This creates a slight flare at the base of the sides that gives the bag its gentle structure and makes it easier to load and carry. (132 sts after 3 increase rounds)

From here, work even with no increases.

Rounds 4 through 28: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st.

Change colors whenever you like. For a clean color change, work the last sc of the old color until 2 loops remain on the hook, then draw the new color through those 2 loops to complete the stitch. This creates crisp, clean stripes with no muddy edges.

If you are working with a scrap that is only long enough for a single round, that is completely fine. One-round stripes look wonderful in a bag like this, and the variety in stripe widths adds to the handmade character of the finished piece.

Rounds 29 and 30: Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st around. Join with sl st.

Working in the back loop only for these two rounds creates a subtle ridge that will serve as the fold line for the top edge of the bag.

Rounds 31 through 34: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Creating the Handles

The handles are worked flat and then folded and sewn into tubes, which gives them excellent strength and structure.

With your choice of scrap yarn — consider using a color that appears elsewhere in the bag for cohesion — chain 9.

Row 1: Sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. (8 sc) Turn.

Continue in rows of single crochet until the handle strip measures 20 inches. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Fold the strip in half lengthwise so the wrong sides face each other and the long edges meet. Using your yarn needle, whipstitch the long edges together to form a flat tube. Make two handles.

To attach the handles, fold down the top edge of the bag along the ridge created by the BLO rounds. Pin or hold the folded edge in place. Position each handle on the front and back of the bag so the handle ends are about 3 inches in from each side seam. The ends of the handle should tuck inside the folded top edge of the bag by about 1 inch. Using a yarn needle and a length of matching yarn, sew the handles firmly in place, stitching through all layers several times for security.

Lining the Bag

Adding a fabric lining is optional but strongly recommended. It protects the contents of the bag, keeps small items from slipping through any gaps in the crochet, and gives the finished purse a professional, polished look. It also adds structure that helps the bag hold its shape over time.

Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 12 by 10.5 inches for the front and back panels, and two rectangles measuring 4 by 10.5 inches for the side panels. All measurements include a half-inch seam allowance on all sides.

With right sides together, sew the front panel to one side panel along the short edge. Attach the back panel to the other side of that same side panel. Attach the remaining side panel to connect the front and back. Sew the bottom seam. Press all seams open.

To create a flat bottom in the lining, pinch each bottom corner so the side seam and the bottom seam align, forming a triangle of fabric. Sew across this triangle 1.5 inches from the point. Trim the excess fabric. This gusseted corner technique is the same one used for paper lunch bags, and it creates a satisfyingly sturdy flat bottom.

Fold the top edge of the lining down by half an inch and press. Place the lining inside the bag with wrong sides together. Using a sewing needle and thread, hand stitch the lining to the interior of the bag just below the top folded edge, catching the crochet fabric as you go. Take your time here — neat stitching at this stage makes a big difference in the final appearance.

If you are adding a magnetic snap closure, install it on the lining before placing the lining inside the bag. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, positioning the snap halves centered on the front and back top edges.

Tips for Managing Lots of Yarn Ends

The biggest challenge in any scrap yarn project is the sheer volume of ends to weave in. Here are a few strategies to keep this manageable.

Weave in ends as you go rather than saving them all for the end. After each color change, take a moment to thread the tail onto your yarn needle and weave it through the back of several stitches before trimming. This keeps the project from becoming an overwhelming tangle of loose tails.

For very short tails — anything under about 4 inches — consider using a crochet hook to pull the tail to the inside of the work before trimming close to the fabric. A tiny dot of fabric glue or fray check applied with a toothpick can secure very short ends that you cannot weave in properly. This is not the tidiest solution, but it is practical for scraps that simply do not have enough length to work with.

On the interior of a lined bag, you do not need to be as precious about the weaving-in process because the lining will cover it. Still, aim to secure ends well enough that they will not unravel with use.

Making This Pattern Your Own

One of the best things about this pattern is how much room there is for personalization. Here are a few variations to consider.

If you prefer a more structured bag, insert a piece of plastic canvas or a stiff interfacing panel into the bottom of the lining before sewing it closed. This gives the bag a rigid base that prevents sagging.

For a bag with more visual texture, try alternating between single crochet and half double crochet rounds as you work up the sides. The slight height difference between the two stitches creates a subtle textured stripe effect that plays beautifully with color changes.

If you have a particularly beautiful scrap of yarn that you want to feature, consider working the final three or four rounds of the body and the handles all in that one yarn for a cohesive, finished look at the top of the bag.

You can also add pockets. A simple flat rectangle of crochet, sewn to the lining fabric before it is inserted into the bag, gives you a slip pocket for your phone or a pen. An exterior pocket can be worked directly onto the bag by creating a rectangle of single crochet and joining it to the outside of the bag along three edges.

Caring for Your Scrap Yarn Purse

Because this bag is made from mixed fibers, care instructions will vary. The safest approach is to spot clean as needed using a damp cloth and mild soap. If the bag needs a deeper clean, hand washing in cool water with a gentle detergent is usually safe for most wool, cotton, and acrylic blends. Avoid wringing the bag; instead, roll it in a towel to press out excess water, then reshape and allow it to air dry flat.

The fabric lining can typically be spot cleaned from the inside without removing it. If the lining becomes heavily soiled, you can carefully cut the stitches holding it in place, launder the lining, and resew it once dry.

The Joy of Making Something From Nothing

There is a particular kind of satisfaction that comes from completing a project like this one. It is not just the satisfaction of finishing a bag or of learning new skills, though both of those are real and worth celebrating. It is the deeper satisfaction of having taken something that might have been discarded and turned it into something useful and beautiful.

Every scrap of yarn in this bag has a history. Maybe it is the last bit of the skein from your niece’s baby blanket, or the leftover from a sweater you knitted yourself through a long winter. When you carry this bag, you carry a little bit of all those stories. That is what zero waste crafting is really about — not just reducing waste, but honoring the materials and the time and the love that went into them.

We hope this pattern becomes a go-to for your leftover yarn, and that every time your scrap bin starts to overflow, you think of it. Happy crocheting.

If you make this bag, we would love to see it. Share your version in the Make and Do Crew Ravelry group or tag us on Instagram so we can admire your color choices and celebrate your zero waste win with you.