This Mosaic Zig Zag Bag is a fun and practical little pouch to store items. You can use it for pencils, crochet hooks, make up, or just about anything!
The mosaic crochet technique gives this bag such an interesting look and texture, plus there are endless color possibilities. This bag looks great in two complementing solid colors or even a solid color mixed with a variegated yarn. Enjoy working up the Mosaic Zig Zag Bag!
After I made these little bags, I had fun using my Clover Tassel Maker to add a cute tassel to the zipper pull. I had so much fun with this tool and making perfect tassels every time! If you’d like to see how to make your own tassels using the tassel maker, I’ve included the link to the video tutorial below.
The Mosaic Zig Zag Bag crochet pattern is an intermediate-beginner project. If you’d like a visual on how it works up or need a little help or extra explanation along the way, I have also made a video tutorial to go along with the pattern.
If you are interested in other mosaic crochet patterns, be sure to check out the Mosaic Bricks Tote and the Mosaic Triangles Pillow patterns on the blog too!
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The Mosaic Zig Zag Bag crochet pattern is available for FREE on this website. If you’d like an ad-free, printable PDF version, you may purchase it for a small fee from my Etsy or Ravelry shops. Thank you so much for supporting Loops & Love Crochet!
The Mosaic Zig Zag Bag is featured in the Quick Makes for Summer Blog Hop event! On June 20th, you can download the PDF version of this pattern for FREE from my Ravelry shop! Here’s how:
- Head to the Quick Makes for Summer Blog Hop roundup post and scroll down to today’s date and take note of the coupon code.
- Come back here and click the “Download the Free PDF on Ravelry” button below. This will take you to the pattern page on Ravelry.
- Add the crochet pattern to your shopping cart, enter the coupon code, and checkout for free! Remember to head back to the blog hop each day to get the daily featured PDF pattern for free each day!
There are 30 great summer crochet patterns being featured this month in the Quick Makes for Summer Blog Hop! If you’ve missed some of the patterns or don’t love blog hopping, check out the option to purchase the whole bundle of all 30 patterns! There’s no waiting and no blog hopping required. Plus, it’s a great deal – at 90% off, it works out to the same price as buying just 3 or 4 of the patterns individually, but instead you’ll get all 30!
Click here to view the bundle!
Materials:
- Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn – You can use any worsted-weight yarn (cotton, acrylic, or blend). I used WeCrochet/KnitPicks Shine Worsted yarn for this project. Each skein of this yarn is 75yds/50g. To make one bag you’ll need approx. 120yds of yarn in total, split between the three colors almost evenly. The colorways pictured in this pattern are Robot, Cosmopolitan, Blush, Iris, and Wisteria.
- Crochet hook – 4mm size hook. If you crochet loosely, you may want to go down to a 3.5mm or 3.75mm hook if you to fit a specific size of zipper (more details in notes below).
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends.
- Sewing needle and thread to sew on the zipper.
- Zipper – I used a 7-inch zipper, but you could use any length depending on the size of bag. It’s easy to cut a longer zipper if you don’t need the whole length.
- Clover Tassel Maker – optional, if you’d like a tassel on your zipper pull.
- Fabric – Optional, if you’d like to line your bag, you’ll need some fabric (cotton works great).
Stitches Used:
- Ch – chain Sl St – slip stitch SC – single crochet
- MDC – mosaic double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, draw up a loop in front of the chains of the previous rows, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through last two loops on hook. *See the photo of the MDC stitch below, or watch it step by step in the video tutorial.
Gauge:
- Gauge is not that important for this bag, unless you need it to fit a specific zipper length. In the bags pictured, but 2 inches square is approx. 10 rows of 9 SC stitches.
Finished Size:
- When laying flat, this bag is approximately 7.5 inches wide and 5.25 inches tall. This bag was the perfect width to sew in a 7” zipper. If your bag is turning out wider, you can go down a hook size or two, depending on your crochet tension. Or you can use a longer length of zipper and easily cut it to the length required for your bag. Just sew a few loops over the zipper close to the end so that the zipper-pull doesn’t come right off the zipper.
Important Notes:
- Joined Rounds – This bag is worked in joined rounds. At the end of each round, you will be joining the last stitch of the round to the first stitch with a slip stitch. To prevent your seam from traveling diagonally across the bag, make sure you pull the slip stitch nice and tight, as well as the chain 1 that follows the slip stitch.
- Color Changes – All color changes are worked in the last stitch of the round. Complete last stitch of the round up until the last yarn over, yarn over in the new color and pull through. Join with a slip stitch to first stitch. For the mosaic crochet portion in the middle of the bag, each color is used for 2 rounds.
- Starting Each Round – Start the first stitch of each round in the same stitch as the chain 1. The chain 1 stitch at the start of each round does not count towards the stitch count of each round.
- Mosaic Crochet – The body of this bag is worked in mosaic crochet technique. Please read the notes below for working up this section of the bag. This pattern includes the written instructions, as well as the graphs for the mosaic crochet section.
- Bag Size –If you would like to make your own custom sized bag, here are some tips to help:
- If you are happy with the bag base size, but want to make your bag taller, just add extra rounds of the mosaic crochet section. Then, when you are happy with the bag height, move on to the rounds in the grey (or chosen color) at the top of the bag.
- If you would like to make a bag with a larger base, you can begin the pattern with a longer starting chain. However, for the mosaic crochet section to work as written, you might need to do a little math before your start. For the mosaic zig zag effect to work, your stitch count after the base is finished will need to be a multiple of 6. Other starting chains that will work to have a stitch count that is a multiple of 6 are starting chain of 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, etc.
- Video Tutorial – I have created a video tutorial to show you all of the steps in making this bag, from start to finish. There are also some other videos on my channel that might be helpful in making this bag:
Mosaic Crochet Graphs and Notes for Bag Body
Below, you will see the mosaic crochet graph for the middle section of the bag.
Here are some important Mosaic Crochet notes:
- Each row in the graph counts as two rows of crochet stitches.
- The color of the first stitch of the row indicates the color you are using for the next two rows of the graph. You will be changing color after each row in the graph or every two rows in your crocheted work.
- Each square of the graph shows 1 stitch or 1 skipped stitch. When squares of different colors appear in the row, they should be skipped. When you skip these stitches, replace them with chain stitches. Always chain one more chain than the number of stitches you are skipping. This will prevent your work from pulling and looking uneven. For example, if you are skipping 1 stitch, you will need to chain 2.
- Every box marked with an “X” indicates where you will be working a Mosaic Double Crochet (MDC) stitch. All MDC stitches will be worked in the main color and will be worked over top of the chain stitches that you worked in the previous 2 rows. Note that the first time you crochet the row (for example, 1a), you’ll work the MDC stitches where the X’s are. The second time you work the row (for example, 1b), you will work SC stitches where you placed the MDC stitches.
You may choose to follow the graph and/or the written instructions in the pattern. If you are new to mosaic crochet, it is recommended that check out the video tutorial to make sure your SC, MDC, and Ch stitches are placed properly.
- The graph shows 30 stitches, however, there are 66 stitches in each round. Continue the pattern for each row of the graph until you reach the end of the round of the bag.
- The pink boxes represent the main color, the white boxes represent the accent color.
- Alternate between your main color and accent color every 2 rows.
- Row 6 on the graph shows a white and pink box. This is because you will be working the row in the accent color, but the first stitch will be a chain 2 due to the MDC stitch that will be worked over those chain stitches when row 7 is worked in the main color.
Here is a photo tutorial showing how to work a MDC stitch. Note that the photo is from a different pattern, but still relevant because they are worked the same way.
Mosaic Zig Zag Bag – The Pattern
Bottom of Bag:
To make the bag as pictured, you’ll need three different colors. One for the base and top, and then two more for the mosaic crochet section in the middle. I’ll refer to the colors as base color, main color, and accent color.
Round 1: In base color (grey), Ch 32, 2 SC in 2nd chain from hook, SC in each chain across, make 4 SC in the last chain. Now continue around so you are working on the other side of the chain. SC in each stitch across, make 2 SC in last stitch. Join with a sl st to first SC, ch 1. (66)
Rounds 2-6: SC in each stitch around, change to main color (for the mosaic section), join, ch 1. (66)
You have finished with the bottom rounds of the bag, next you will be moving on to the mosaic crochet section in the middle of the bag.
Middle of Bag (Mosaic Crochet Section):
Round count will start back at 1 here so that if you choose to follow along with the graph the rows and rounds will match up. Rounds 1a and 1b in the written pattern below coordinates with row 1 on the graph. The written instructions go along with the graph above, but you can use either the graph or the written pattern for the mosaic crochet section.
Round 1a: SC first 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, *SC next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, repeat from * around, join, ch 1.
Round 1b: Repeat round 1a above, change to accent color, join, ch 1.
*Remember your chain 2 stitches should line up directly above your chain 2 stitches from the previous round.
Round 2a: SC first 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, *SC next 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, repeat from * around, join, ch 1.
*Remember to work all MDC stitches into the skipped stitches from 2 rows down. See the MDC photo tutorial above in the pattern info.
Round 2b: SC first 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, *SC next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, repeat from * around until 1 st left, SC in last st, change to main color, join, ch 1.
Round 3a: SC first 3 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, *SC next 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, repeat from * around until 1 st left, SC in last st, join, ch 1.
Round 3b: SC first 3 sts, ch 2, skip next st, *SC next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, repeat from * around until 2 sts left, SC in last 2 sts, change to accent color, join, ch 1.
Round 4a: SC first 2 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, *SC next 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, repeat from * around until 2 sts left, SC in last 2 sts, join, ch 1.
Round 4b: SC first 2 sts, ch 2, skip next st, *SC next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, repeat from * around until 3 sts left, SC in last 3 sts, change to main color, join, ch 1.
Round 5a: SC first st, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, *SC next 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, repeat from * around until 3 sts left, SC in last 3 sts, join, ch 1.
Round 5b: SC first st, ch 2, skip next st, *SC next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, repeat from * around until 4 sts left, SC in last 4 sts, change to accent color, join, ch 1.
Round 6a: Ch 2, skip first st, MDC, *SC next 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, repeat from * around until 4 sts left, SC in last 4 sts, join, ch 1.
Round 6b: Ch 2, skip first stitch, *SC next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, repeat from * around until 5 sts left, SC in last 5 sts, change to main color, join, ch 1.
Round 7a: MDC, *SC next 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, repeat from * around until 5 sts left, SC in next 4 sts, ch 2, skip last st, join, ch 1.
Round 7b: SC first 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, *SC next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, repeat from * around until 1 st left, ch 2, skip last st, change to accent color, join, ch 1.
Round 8a: SC first 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, *SC next 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, MDC, repeat from * around, join, ch 1.
Round 8b: SC first 4 sts, ch 2, skip next st, *SC next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next st, repeat from * around until 1 st left, SC in last st, change to main color, join, ch 1.
*Round 8 is the last round that the accent color will be worked. In round 9a and 9b, only the main color will be used to complete the last part of the mosaic crochet section.
Round 9a: SC first 4 sts, MDC, *SC next 5 sts, MDC, repeat from * around until 1 st left, SC in last st, join, ch 1.
Round 9b: SC in each stitch around, change to base color (to finish the top of the bag), join, ch 1. (66)
The mosaic crochet portion of the bag is complete, next you’ll move onto the instructions below to finish the top of the bag.
Top of Bag
In this top section of the bag, we will finish with 3 rounds of SC in the same color as you used for the base section. The round count will start at 1 and each round will be worked once (not twice as in the mosaic crochet section).
Rounds 1-3: SC in each stitch around, join, ch 1. (66)
*Do not chain 1 after round 3. Fasten off and weave in any ends.
Now you have made the crochet bag portion of this pattern. If you’d like to add a zipper and/or a liner to your bag, continue to the instructions below (or you can add the zipper and/or liner using any technique you prefer).
How to Sew the Zipper onto your Mosaic Zig Zag Bag
I have the video tutorial to show you how to sew your zipper on to your bag on my YouTube Channel HERE. There are also written instructions below, but the video tutorial would be the easiest option if you want a follow-along method.
First, you will need a zipper long enough for the bag you made. If the zipper is too long, you can measure how much you need and then cut off the remaining length. Leave enough left at the end so you still have some to tuck in the end bag and sew around. If you cut your zipper, be sure to put a couple stitches across the teeth closer to the end so that the zipper doesn’t fall off while you’re sewing.
I used a sewing needle and thread to match the zipper. You will see the stitches in the zipper a little on the inside of the bag; however, if you pull the thread tight between each stitch, you will not see any of the thread on the outside of the bag (even if the color doesn’t match the bag). Thread is thin enough that it hides well under the crochet stitches.
Start by overlapping the two fabric pieces at each end of the zipper and put a few stitches through it to keep them together. Line up the zipper at one end of the bag and make a few stitches to secure it. You’ll need to decide how high you want to sew your zipper, depending on how much of the zipper you want to see at the top of your bag or if you like a more hidden zipper.
Next, start making stitches along the zipper fabric to attach it to your bag. Insert your yarn needle in and out of each crochet stitch around the top of the bag, passing through the zipper fabric with each stitch. To keep the stitches invisible on the outside of the bag, work them right under the top loops of the last SC round at the top of the bag.
After you make a few stitches, it is easier if you open the zipper to make it easer to hold and line up your stitches. When you get to the end, add a few extra stitches around the end and then continue along the other side of the bag. Finish off by adding a few stitches at the end of the zipper where you started and then secure and cut the yarn tails.
If you’d like to add a lining to your bag, continue to the instructions below (photos from a different tapestry crochet pouch pattern on my blog).
How to Sew a Lining in your Mosaic Zig Zag Bag
I have a video on my YouTube Channel to help show you how to hand-sew a lining inside a crochet bag. You can access the video on YouTube here. There are also written instructions below with a few photos (from a different one of my zipper pouch patterns). If you need more detail than the photos provide, be sure to check out the video.
To sew the lining, you will need a sewing needle, thread (I used white), and fabric. First, you will be cutting the fabric and preparing the bag liner. To do this, start by measuring your bag. Add about 1.5-2 inches to the bag width and double your bag height and then add about 1.5 inches to this measurement. These are the dimensions of the piece of fabric that you’ll need to cut. For example, my bag measured about 6.25 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall. Therefore, I cut a piece of fabric that measured about 8 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall.
Start by folding the fabric in half, keeping the right side of the fabric on the inside. Then, using the bag width as a guide, fold in each side to the desired width and use your needle and thread to sew up the sides. The liner should be about the same width as your bag.
Next, fold the top of the lining down about half an inch to an inch and then fit the liner into the bag. You can adjust how much the top of folded down when it’s in the bag. I lined up the top of the liner just over the stitches I made from sewing on the zipper. You may want pin the liner in place for easier sewing.
Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end of your thread. I decided to keep my thread doubled so it was sturdier. Starting at one end of the bag, insert your needle in the lining and pull through to the knot. I hid the tail behind the lining, between the lining and the bag. Sew on the lining by sewing slip stitches passing through the liner and then in and out of the zipper fabric, and then back into the liner fabric. Make sure that your stitches through the zipper are below the crochet stitches on the other side. This is to ensure that they will be hidden and not visible on the outside of the bag. Continue making stitches around the whole bag before tying off and cutting your thread.
How to add a Tassel to your Mosaic Zig Zag Bag
Finally, it’s time to add the tassels for an extra fun bag! I used my Clover Tassel Maker and yarn in the same colors as the bag, but you can use any colors you like. I also added some beads to my tassel to make it extra cute. I made a step-by-step photo tutorial and video tutorial to show you how to use the tassel maker to make your tassel and add it to the zipper on your bag
That’s it! You’re all finished! Now you can find all kinds of things to store in your new zipper pouch! You might need to make more in all different colors! 😉
I hope you love your beautiful Mosaic Zig Zag Bag! I’d love to see it! If you share your finished projects on social media, tag @loopsandlovecrochet so I don’t miss it!
If you liked making your Mosaic Zig Zag Bag, check out the many other patterns you can find on the blog right HERE!
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*You may make and sell any items made from my patterns, but please link back to my blog or Loops & Love Crochet as the designer. Please do not copy this pattern or photos and share as your own, in part or in whole. Instead, link back to the Loops and Love Crochet blog (especially when selling items you make from my patterns). Thank you!