Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern: 7 Easy Steps to a Stunning Striped Bag
This crochet accordion bag pattern is a beautiful way to turn simple crochet stitches into a distinctive striped shoulder bag with plenty of personality.
Instead of crocheting the body as one ordinary rectangle, the design is constructed from 12 long crochet bands. Those bands are joined together and folded into an accordion-inspired shape, creating the dimensional look that makes this bag stand out.
The project uses worsted-weight 100% cotton yarn, a 3.5 mm crochet hook, and basic crochet techniques including the foundation cord, chains, and single crochet.
Another feature I love about this crochet accordion bag pattern is that the outer bands continue into the shoulder straps. Once the body is assembled, the strap ends are joined and a drawstring is added to finish the bag.
The downloadable PDF at the end of this article includes the original visual instructions, so you can keep it nearby while working through the tutorial.
Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern at a Glance
The construction is what makes this bag interesting.
The large version begins with an extra-long Band 01, continues with shorter body bands, and finishes with another long Band 12. Those two outside bands provide both the edges of the bag and the material needed to form the straps.
The center section is created by joining the crochet bands one by one. The PDF specifically instructs you to alternate the Band 02 and Band 03 construction methods for the even- and odd-numbered bands.
This creates the repeated folds that give the finished crochet accordion bag pattern its characteristic shape.
Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern Materials
The original pattern uses the following supplies.
You can keep the colorful striped look shown in the original design or create your own palette.
For a softer modern version, try warm cream, sage, dusty rose, muted mustard, caramel, teal, and navy. For a minimalist crochet accordion bag pattern, you could also alternate only two or three colors throughout the twelve bands.
Skills Needed
You do not need a long list of advanced stitches. The pattern calls for a foundation cord, chain stitches, and single crochet.
The abbreviations used are:
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
If you want a refresher on standard U.S. crochet terminology, the Craft Yarn Council maintains a crochet abbreviation reference covering ch, sc, and other common pattern terms. Craft Yarn Council Crochet Abbreviations
Step 1: Start the Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern with a Foundation Cord
Every band begins with a foundation cord.
Make a slip knot while leaving a tail approximately three times longer than the desired foundation length.
Bring the tail over your hook from front to back, yarn over with the working yarn, and draw the yarn through the tail loop. Continue working the foundation cord as shown in the PDF diagram.
For the large bag, place stitch markers on the 60th stitch from both ends of Band 01 and Band 12. These markers separate the body section from the portions that will become the straps.
This step is worth taking slowly because the long outer bands determine both the bag body and handle placement.
Step 2: Crochet Band 01
Band 01 uses the main color and forms one outside edge of the large crochet accordion bag pattern.
Leave approximately 4 m / 158 in of yarn tail.
Crochet a foundation cord of 251 stitches, then turn.
For Row 1, ch 1 and work sc beginning from the second chain from the hook, following the foundation cord as illustrated in the pattern.
For Rows 2 through 5, ch 1 and work one sc in every sc across, then turn.
For Row 6, ch 1 and sc across all 251 stitches. Fasten off.
You now have the first long strip of the bag.
Step 3: Add Band 02
Band 02 begins the accordion construction.
Using your contrast or highlight color, leave approximately 2 m / 79 in of yarn tail and make a foundation cord of 131 stitches.
Work Row 1 in single crochet through the foundation cord. Continue Rows 2–5 with single crochet across.
Row 6 is where the construction becomes interesting.
Place Band 01 in front of Band 02 with its foundation row facing upward. Align the 61st stitch of Band 01 with the first stitch of Band 02.
Crochet 60 sc while joining the pieces. Draw up a long loop at the 60th stitch, remove the hook, unfold the bands, and bring the loop toward the front.
Fold the bands inside out and work 11 sc through the center section.
Draw up another long loop, unfold the bands again, bring the loop forward, and return the bands to their original orientation.
Finish with another 60 sc, then fasten off, leaving approximately 5 cm / 2.5 in of tail.
This joining technique creates the fold that gives the crochet accordion bag pattern its dimensional structure.
Step 4: Crochet and Join Bands 03–11
Band 03 uses the main color.
Leave about 2 m / 79 in of tail and crochet a foundation cord of 131 stitches.
For Row 1, work single crochet from the second chain from the hook, working through the back loop of the foundation cord.
Rows 2–5 are worked in single crochet.
On Row 6, position Band 02 in front of Band 03 and single crochet the two bands together across the row, then fasten off.
Continue building the bag through Band 11.
The PDF simplifies this stage nicely: repeat the Band 02 method for even-numbered bands and the Band 03 method for odd-numbered bands.
That repeating structure makes the project much easier once you understand the first few joins.
Crochet Tip
Lay the work flat every few bands and check that the folds are forming consistently. Keeping your single-crochet tension even will help all twelve bands sit neatly together.
Step 5: Finish the Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern with Band 12
Band 12 mirrors the long outer construction of Band 01.
Leave approximately 4 m / 158 in of yarn tail and crochet a foundation cord of 251 stitches.
Work Row 1 through the foundation cord and Rows 2–5 in single crochet.
On Row 6, work 60 sc before positioning Band 11 against Band 12. Align the first sc of Band 11 with the 61st sc of Band 12.
Continue joining according to the same folding sequence: work 60 sc, fold inside out and crochet 11 sc, return the work to its original position, then work another 60 sc and fasten off.
For Row 7, work across the top row of Band 12. Skip the first 60 sc, which form the strap section, then crochet 131 sc across the bag body.
Fasten off while leaving an approximately 80 cm / 32 in tail for assembly.
At this stage, the flat striped structure of your crochet accordion bag pattern is complete.
Step 6: Seam and Shape the Bag
Turn the work so the inside faces outward and fold the bag in half.
Using approximately 80 cm / 32 in of yarn matching Band 01, seam the body edge along Band 01.
Use the long tail left on Band 12 to seam the opposite body edge.
Weave in all remaining yarn ends, then fold and shape the bands into the accordion formation shown in the pattern photos.
For each strap, overlap the strap ends by 20 sc and seam along both edges.
Finally, thread the leather drawstring through the bag as shown in the PDF, tie it, and finish.
Your large crochet accordion bag pattern is now transformed from a flat collection of bands into a structured shoulder bag.
Step 7: Make the Small Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern
The PDF also includes a small version, which follows the same overall construction with reduced stitch counts.
For Band 01, begin with a foundation cord of 169 stitches and place markers at the 40th stitch from each end.
The small center bands use foundation cords of 89 stitches rather than 131.
The small version works fewer rows as well: Band 01 is completed through Row 5, and Band 02 uses the same folded joining principle with 40 sc + 9 sc + 40 sc rather than the larger bag’s 60 + 11 + 60 structure.
Bands 04–11 continue by alternating the same even- and odd-band methods.
Use 60 cm / 24 in leather string for the small bag, as specified in the materials list.
The downloadable PDF contains the complete small-size row instructions, so keep it open while making this version.
Choosing Colors for Your Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern
Color is one of the easiest ways to make this design your own.
Because the construction naturally creates twelve vertical sections, you can treat each band almost like an individual color block.
For a cheerful statement bag, choose several contrasting colors. For a softer everyday version, combine cream with muted green, terracotta, dusty pink, caramel, and warm gold.
You can also make the crochet accordion bag pattern with only two alternating shades for a more graphic look.
The important part is maintaining clear band definition so that the accordion structure remains visually noticeable.
Why This Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern Is Worth Making
The finished design looks much more complicated than the stitch vocabulary suggests.
Most of the fabric is created using single crochet. The visual interest comes from construction: separately crocheted bands, deliberate joins, folded sections, and integrated straps.
That combination makes the project useful if you want to practice accurate stitch counts and assembly without needing a large collection of decorative stitches.
The result is also highly customizable. Change the cotton colors and the same crochet accordion bag pattern can look playful, minimalist, earthy, bold, or neutral.
Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern FAQ
Is the crochet accordion bag pattern beginner-friendly?
It is best suited to someone who already knows chain and single crochet and is comfortable following stitch counts. The PDF lists foundation cord, chain, and single crochet as the required skills.
What yarn is used for the crochet accordion bag pattern?
The pattern specifies worsted-weight 100% cotton yarn.
What hook size do I need?
Use a 3.5 mm crochet hook for this crochet accordion bag pattern.
How many bands does the bag use?
The construction uses 12 crochet bands, with Band 01 and Band 12 forming the outer sections and strap areas. The intermediate bands create the accordion body.
Can I make a smaller bag?
Yes. The PDF includes a separate small-size version using shorter foundation cords and reduced stitch counts.
Can I change the colors?
Yes. Changing the yarn colors does not change the basic construction of the crochet accordion bag pattern. Keep the stitch counts and joining sequence the same while choosing a palette that fits your style.
More Crochet Patterns to Try
If you enjoyed making this bag, continue with our Hello Kitty crochet pattern, try the adorable panda crochet pattern, or make a tiny wearable project with our crochet baby sneakers pattern guide.
Download the Crochet Accordion Bag Pattern PDF
Ready to start?
Use the button below to download the complete crochet accordion bag pattern with the original diagrams, band-joining photos, large-size instructions, and small-size instructions.
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