Learn how to make an adorable crochet cactus purse by following this simple crochet bag pattern for beginners. Full video tutorial included.
I don’t think I’ll ever be tired of crochet cactus patterns. They are so cute and full of personality! This bag was designed by meshing the Crafty Cactus Pillow and the Bitty Boho Bag crochet patterns together. It’s the perfect cross-body bag for little girls who want to add some pazaz to their outfits!
You are more than welcome to sell your finished crochet cactus purse makes in your shops both online and in person, all I ask is you please credit A Crafty Concept for the design.
If you are like me and love all things cactus be sure to check out the other free crochet cactus patterns here on my blog. The Cactus Gift Card Holder, Crafty Cactus Pillow, or this cute Cactus Keychain.
Here is the full video tutorial for my visual learning friends.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission, at NO ADDITIONAL cost to you, from purchases made using the links provided.
If you prefer an ad-free experience, you can purchase the inexpensive PDF in my shop here.
Materials
3-4oz Green Worsted weight yarn
1oz Flower color Worsted weight yarn
4.00mm G Crochet Hook
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Stitch markers or scrap yarn
Click the pic to shop!
Stitch Key (US Terms)
SC- Single Crochet
HDC- Half Double Crochet
CH- Chain
INC- Increase (Put two stitches in the same space. In this case it will be two SC stitches.)
DEC- Decrease (Insert hook into stitch, pull up a loop, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops)
PC- Popcorn Stitch (explained below)
SL ST- Slip Stitch
*- To Be Repeated
Special Stitches
Back Bump: This is where you flip your starting chain over and insert your hook into the “back bump” of the chain and place your stitch there. If you are unfamiliar with this technique I would suggest watching the video that goes with this pattern.
Bobble stitch: *yarn over, insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook* Repeat 3 more times. Now you should have 5 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops on your hook. (Do not chain after this, just go straight into your next stitch)
Magic Circle: If you want to see the magic circle in action be sure to watch the video that goes with this pattern. If you don’t like the magic circle method you can use the CH 2 method instead.
Popcorn Stitch: Place 4 DC into a stitch, remove your hook from yarn and insert it into the top of your first DC, grab your working yarn and pull through the stitch. CH 1 to secure.
Foundation Single Crochet (FSC): Insert your hook into the side of your last SC. Grab yarn and pull up a loop. YO, pull through one. YO, pull through two. That is your first FSC stitch. Your second stitch will go in the space you made when you pulled through 1.
Finished Dimensions: 18 inches tall.
Crochet Cactus Purse Pattern
Front Piece: Starting with your green yarn
Ch 21
Row 1: Skip the chain closest to your hook, SC 19 going into the BACK BUMP of your chain, 6SC in the last CH st, SC 19 back up the other side of your starting chain. CH 1, turn. (44)
Row 2: SC 19, INC in the next 6 stitches, SC 19. CH 1, turn. (56)
Row 3: *SC, BOBBLE* around. End the row with a SC instead of a Bobble stitch. CH 1, turn. (50)
Row 4: SC 19, *INC, SC* 6 times, SC 19. CH 1, turn. (56)
Row 5: SC 56. CH 1, turn. (56) I call this a GROW ROW.
Row 6: SC 19, *SC, SC, INC* 6 times, SC 19. CH 1, turn. (62)
Row 7: SC in the next stitch, *SC, BOBBLE* around. CH 1, turn. (62)
Row 8: SC 19, *INC, SC, SC, SC* in the next 6 stitches, SC 19. Tie off. (68)
Back Piece: The back piece is made just like the front piece but we change out the Bobble Stitch rows for HDC stitches. Starting with your green yarn.
Ch 21
Row 1: Skip the chain closest to your hook, SC 19 going into the BACK BUMP of your chain, 6SC in the last CH st, SC 19 back up the other side of your starting chain. CH 1, turn. (44)
Row 2: SC 19, INC in the next 6 stitches, SC 19. CH 1, turn. (56)
Row 3: HDC around. CH 1, turn. (50)
Row 4: SC 19, *INC, SC* 6 times, SC 19. CH 1, turn. (56)
Row 5: SC 56. CH 1, turn. (56) I call this a GROW ROW.
Row 6: SC 19, *SC, SC, INC* 6 times, SC 19. CH 1, turn. (62)
Row 7: HDC around. CH 1, turn. (62)
Row 8: SC 19, *INC, SC, SC, SC* in the next 6 stitches, SC 19. Tie off. (68)
Crochet Cactus Purse Arms
The arms are made a little funky. If the instructions aren’t making sense refer to the video linked above. You will need to add the arms to both the front and back pieces of your crochet cactus purse.
Right Arm: Insert into the 13th SC from the bottom (right side facing), on the right side of the cactus.
CH 1 to secure.
Row 1: SC in the same chain where you just joined. SC 3. Now you have 4 SC. Turn work (do not CH up)
SC 4, CH 1 and turn, SC 4, now insert your hook back into the body of the cactus for your 5th SC and SC 2 more times for a total of 7 SC. CH 1, turn.
Row 2: SC 7. CH 1, turn.
Row 3: SC 4, Turn work (do not CH up), SC 4, CH 1 and turn, SC 7 (the 5th SC will go back down into row 2). CH 1, turn.
Row 4: SC 7. CH 1, turn.
Row 5: SC 4, Turn work (do not CH up), SC 4, CH 1 and turn, SC 7 (the 5th SC will go back down into row 4). CH 1, turn.
Row 6: SC 7. CH 1, turn.
Row 7: DEC, SC 3, DEC. CH 1, turn.
Row 8: DEC, SC 1, DEC. CH 1, turn.
Left Arm: The left arm is made just like the right but you join your new yarn by inserting your hook into the 7th st from the bottom (on the left side) with the back of your work facing up. CH 1 to secure then follow all the instructions from the right arm.
Tie off and sew in all your tails.
Crochet Cactus Purse Flower
Row 1: SC 6 into a magic circle. Join into the top of your first SC. CH 3. Do not turn your work.(6)
Row 2: PC into the same space where you just joined your yarn. The CH 3 DOES COUNT as your first DC in your PC.
PC in each stitch around. Join into the top of your CH 3. Do not turn your work. (6)
Row 3: SL ST till you get to the first CH 1 you made to secure your first PC in row 2. CH 3. (This DOES COUNT as your first DC in your PC).
PC 2 times in each CH 1 space from row 2. Join in the top of your CH 3. Tie off leaving a long tail for attaching. Do not sew in your tails.
Use your tails to attach your flower to the front piece of your crochet cactus bag. Secure it all the way around then tie off and sew in your tails.
Crochet Cactus Purse Assembly
Now that you have all the pieces made for your cactus bag, it’s time to assemble them all together! This is also the time we will create the strap.
Place your top piece onto your back piece making sure to line up the arms.
Join yarn in the bottom right corner.
Single crochet up the right side of your cactus body, around the right arm, and 7 more stitches past the right arm. Make sure you are going through both the fun and back pieces at the same time.
Place 2 SC in the “corners” of each arm. This will help them be nice and rounded.
Foundation Single Crochet 100 times to create the strap. I explain this in the special stitches section at the top of this post. I also show how to do it in the video that goes with this pattern.
Skip 17 stitches and join your FSC strap into the 18th stitch from the start of the strap. Make sure to go in both the front and back panels.
To join your strap, insert your hook into the side of your last FSC stitch (like you’re going to make another FSC stitch), insert into the 18th stitch on the front piece, and insert into the 18th stitch on the back piece. YO, pull through all the stitches. You now have 2 loops on your hook. YO, pull through both loops.
SC around the left side of the bag and arm, joining both the front and back panels together. Remember to put two SC in each arm “corner” so they’re rounded nicely.
Place 2 SC in the bottom left corner of your bag and SC across the bottom and end by placing another SC in the same stitch where you started. Tie off and sew in your tails.
Feel free to get festive and add fringe to the bottom of your back. If you need to see how this is done check out the Bitty Boho Bag pattern here.
Now you have a super cute crochet cactus purse! I hope you love this pattern and it becomes your new favorite kids-size crochet bag. If you post any pics of your bag on social media I would love to see them! You can tag me @ACraftyConcept everywhere.
Don’t forget to grab your freebie before you leave! Until next time.
Happy Crocheting
🩷 Ashley
