This Crochet Cotton Rope Clutch Bag DIY Will Carry All Your Essentials
- Words by Peppermint
If you’re looking for a fun and funky weekend project, then look no further. Created by Emma Wright, a freelance knit and crochet designer based in the UK, this crochet bag is a great addition to your #MeMade wardrobe and can easily be adapted by changing the colours to ones that will match your favourite go-to outfit!
This project is an edited extract from CIY: Crochet-It-Yourself by Emma Wright, published by Quadrille / Hardie Grant. With 15 beautiful designs, this book takes you through all the steps and techniques needed to master and refine your crochet skills. Master the basics, build on your technique and enter the wonderful world of crochet, whether you are new to the craft or already have a couple of projects under your belt.
CIY: Crochet-It-Yourself is available in stores nationally or online at Hardie Grant. Grab your crochet hook and get making!
photos KIM LIGHTBODY
MAE Cotton Rope Clutch
Size
One size
Width 10 ⅝ in 27 cm
Height 10 ⅝ in 27 cm
Yarn
Super bulky (super chunky)
Sample made in:
Bobbiny Braided Cord 5 mm (100% recycled cotton, 109 yd/100 m per 17. oz/500 g skein/hank)
1 skein of Golden Natural (A)
1 skein of Black (B)
Hook and Equipment
US 15 (10 mm) crochet hook
Stitch marker
Yarn needle
Gauge (Tension)
6.5 sts x 8 rounds to 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm) working single crochet, using US 15 (10 mm) crochet hook or size to obtain stated gauge.
Bag Face (make 2)
Using A, ch 3, sl st into first ch to create ring.
Round 1: 5 sc into ring, Work in a continuous spiral.
Round 2: 2 sc in every st. 10 sts
Round 3: *1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * to end. 15 sts
Round 4: *1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * to end. 20 sts
Round 5: *1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * to end. 25 sts
Round 6: *1 sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * to end, turn. 30 sts
Beg working in rows.
Next row: Ch 1, [2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 5 sts] 4 times, 2 sc in last st, turn. 30 sts
Next row: Ch 1, [2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 6 sts] 4 times, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in last st, turn. 35 sts
Ch 5, 1 sc in first st after gap/handle, [2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 7 sts] 4 times, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of 5 ch, 1 sc in first st after gap.
Beg work in rounds again, PM to indicate beg/end of each round.
Next round: [2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 8 sts] 5 times, sl st in first sc of round to join.
Fasten off.
Side panel
Using B, ch 5.
Row 1: 1 sc in second ch from hook (skipped ch does not count as a st), 1 sc in next 3 ch, turn. 4 sts
Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), 1 sc in every st, turn.
Rep Row 2 until work measures approx. 18½in (47 cm), ending with RS facing.
Fasten off.
Making up
Using A and a single crochet seam, join the side panel to the first bag face then repeat to add the second bag face to the other side of side panel, leaving the top of bag open across the handles.
Weave in any loose ends. Press/block garment referring to ball band for instructions.
Enjoy!
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Brighten up your inbox with our not-too-frequent emails featuring Peppermint-related news, events, competitions and more!
explore
More articles
Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
Hang out with us on Instagram
🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
