Holy alligators! This is one cute purse! (Totally stealing from one of my readers right now who left a comment on my crocodile stitch tutorial with “holy alligators!” She’s the clever one, not me, sadly.) But seriously, or not, the crocodile stitch makes an adorable purse, and I’m in love with this one I just made. If you’ve never done the crocodile stitch, you might want to check out the crocodile stitch tutorial I posted first for a step-by-step photo tutorial of how to “get er done,” if you know what I mean. The stitch is quite tricky and I found myself using several expletives to figure it out, mostly because I couldn’t find a really good photo tutorial to follow online. Probably need to break down and buy a good crochet book soon, but I guess I’m too cheap!
So, here’s the pattern for this lovely accessory! For a print friendly version, simply click the green “print friendly” button at the bottom of this post.
Crochet Crocodile Clutch Purse
Written and designed by Sara McFall of My Merry Messy Life
Abbreviations
- ch = chain
- hdc = half double crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- st = stitch
- sk = skip
Materials
- Hook: H
- Yarn: Worsted, I used Red Heart Super Saver in Gray Heather for the body of the purse, Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Pale Yellow for the handle and outside of the rosette, and Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Aruba Sea
The Pattern
Ch 36
Row 1:
- In the third ch from the hook, work 2 hdc (in the same ch).
- Ch 1, sk 2 ch and work 1 hdc
- *Ch 1, sk 2 ch and work 2 hdc in the same ch
- Ch 1, skip 2 ch and work 1 hdc*
- Repeat from * all the way down, working 18 hdc total, ending with 1 hdc at the end.
Row 2 (crocodile stitch row):
- Ch 1, turn
- Work a crocodile stitch on the first set of hdc (using a front post technique, work 4 hdc on the first post from top to bottom, then 4 hdc on the second post from bottom to top)
- Sl st on the next hdc post
- Work a crocodile stitch on the next set of hdc
- *Sl st on the next hdc post
- Work a crocodile stitch on the next set of hdc*
- Repeat from * the length of your work, working 6 crocodile stitches total and ending with a crocodile stitch.
Row 3 (foundation hdc row):
- Ch 1, turn.
- (Repeating what we did on row 1)
- Work 2 hdc on the edge of the previous crocodile st.
- *Ch 1, work 1 hdc in the middle of the crocodile st.
- Ch 1, work 2 hdc at the top of the hdc.*
- Repeat from * the length of the work, working 20 hdc total and ending with 2 hdc on the end.
Row 4 (crocodile stitch row):
- Ch 1, turn
- (Repeating what we did on row 2)
- Work a crocodile stitch on the first set of hdc
- Sl st on the next hdc post
- Work a crocodile stitch on the next set of hdc
- *Sl st on the next hdc post
- Work a crocodile stitch on the next set of hdc*
- Repeat from * the length of your work, working 7 crocodile stitches total and ending with a crocodile stitch.
Row 5 (foundation hdc row):
- Ch 1, turn
- (similar to row 3, but it starts and ends with 1 hdc instead of 2)
- Work 1 hdc in the middle of the crocodile st
- *Ch 1, work 2 hdc at the top of the hdc
- Ch 1, work 1 hdc in the middle of the crocodile st*
- Repeat from * the length of the work, working 18 hdc total and ending with 1 hdc on the end.
Row 6 (crocodile stitch row):
- Ch 1, turn
- Work a sl st on the first hdc post
- *Work a crocodile stitch on the next pair of hdc
- Work a sl st on the next hdc post*
- Repeat from * the length of the work, working 6 crocodile stitches total and ending with a sl st
Then repeat rows 3-6 in that order like this until you make 18 rows:
- Row 7 (foundation hdc row) - Repeat row 3
- Row 8 (crocodile stitch row – 7 sts) – Repeat row 4
- Row 9 (foundation hdc row, decreasing) – Repeat row 5
- Row 10 (crocodile st row – 6 sts) – Repeat row 6
- Row 11(foundation hdc row) - Repeat row 3
- Row 12 (crocodile stitch row – 7 sts) – Repeat row 4
- Row 13 (foundation hdc row, decreasing) – Repeat row 5
- Row 14 (crocodile st row – 6 sts) – Repeat row 6
- Row 15 (foundation hdc row) - Repeat row 3
- Row 16 (crocodile stitch row – 7 sts) – Repeat row 4
- Row 17 (foundation hdc row, decreasing) – Repeat row 5
- Row 18 (crocodile st row – 6 sts) – Repeat row 6
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The Back
- Ch 33
- In the third ch from the hook, work 1 hdc.
- Work 1 hdc in each ch all the way down (30 chs total)
- *Ch 1, work 1 hdc in each ch all the way down*
- Repeat to make 15 rows (or if your tension, yarn or hook is different than mine, you might need more or less rows)
- Whip stitch the front of the purse to the back.
The Handle
- Using a contrasting color, join at the side of the purse with a sl st, ch 1.
- In the next space, work 1 hdc.
- Work 1 hdc in each space around (I did 1 hdc on each hdc of the crocodile stitch, 1 in the middle, and 1 at the top of the single hdc – see the arrows in the picture below)
- Join to the first ch 1 with a sl st and ch 1
Row 2 – work 1 hdc in each space around, join to the beginning ch 1 with a sl st and ch 1.
Row 3 – (the opening of the handle) work 1 hdc in each of the next 9 spaces, then ch 9 and skip 9 spaces.
Work 1 hdc in each of the next 18 spaces.
Chain 9 and skip 9 spaces, then work 1 hdc in each of the last 9 hdc.
(If your numbers don’t work out exactly like mine, don’t stress. Just make sure your handle is centered on the purse as best as possible.)
Row 4 - work 1 hdc in each sp around, working 9-11 (depending on your tension) on the ch of the handle. If you want your chain to be thicker, work another row, but I stopped at row 4.
Rosette - I crocheted a rosette and wrapped it in a rectangle of hdc. I have a rosette tutorial here.
This post was featured at Tip Junkie! Thank you!
Merry Crocheting!
This post is linking up at these parties.
What a cute pattern! And great tutorial on the crocodile stitch. I’m going to have to try it out. I have seen it around and think it is such a beautiful stitch. It’s amazing the things you can create with simple crochet stitches!
Thanks Christine! I know – with just 5 basic stitches you can make ANYTHING!
Oh so very cute – Love that your man modeled it for you
Aren’t you lucky to have such clever readers (wink, wink!)I’m so glad that you’re sharing the pattern with us! I want to try the stitch out with something small and manageable. For me there’s nothing worse than committing to a big project only to find it so difficult/frustrating/challenging that you would rather have a root canal than finish what you started! Thanks for making the pattern clear and easy to understand (the pics are an added bonus).
Cheers to your hubby for being a good sport and helping you out!
Haha! You are so funny, Robin! That is so true -there is nothing worse than committing to a large project only to have it fail miserably. We need hobbies that make us feel good, not inadequate! Thanks for visiting again, and for your wonderfully clever comments!
So cute! Linking up at Tangled Happy tomorrow… Wishing you a very happy Monday.
Thanks again, Sara! I really appreciate it. And we spell our names the SAME way! Amazing!
Very cute – thank you!
Thanks, Kim!
Hi Sara, Thank you so much for the pattern. Always wanted to try the crocodile stitch. I love the fact that the back of the purse is plain so that if I get the front right I’m done. Good colours and nice model too…..ha ha.
Regards
Hehe
thanks! Glad you like my model.
This is amazing!!! Thanks for linking this up to Fantabulous Friday at Little Becky Homecky!!
Thank you so much for posting this patten, I saw this purse in youtube and what coincidence you have it. Thank you , Thank you !!
Oh really? I didn’t know it was on YouTube! Glad you like it!
This is such a cute little bag, I might even try it myself. I have yarn coming out my ears, at least my mom thinks so, but I usually go for bigger rather than smaller. You can carry so much more in it. I love the pattern and will be trying it soon. I think it would be good in Fall colors of oranges, greens, golds and browns. The handle could be in brown and the rest in the other colors (so either Red Heart yarns or another bulky yarn could be used (by another manufacturer, maybe)). When I get some more time and I don’t feel so rushed, I’m going to take on this project. Thank you for publishing it.
Another Happy Hooker – Dragynl8y@gmail.com
Thank you for stopping by! Glad you like the purse. It’s a bit tricky at first, but so worth it. I like your idea of using fall colors!
I would love to see one larger, shoulder slings and with peacock feathers!! PLEASE make one like that! I’ll love you forever!! =)
Haha! That’s awesome! Never received a request like that before. Peacock feathers – you’re creative!
The pictures are broken. and when I go for the printer friendly version, they’re still broken. Please fix if you can.
Yeah, my website host moved my site to a new server this morning and all the pictures aren’t showing up yet. It’s supposed to be fixed by 11/13 12:30 pm EST.
Adorable. Will try this but prefer the crocodile stitch all the way around.
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Yes, that would be nice! The croc stitch is so time consuming, and I lost patience
. Perhaps you have more patience than me!
Hi Sara,
I just printed out the crocodile clutch…it is awesome. Can you tell me the size? Thanks, Anne
I just made this purse following the pattern, and mine measures about 8.5″ wide, by 7″ high.
Thanks for sharing, Allyson! I’d love for you to email me a picture, then I can feature you on Facebook!
Just made this purse! It came out so cute! I made mine with sparkly gray yarn, with a single crochet red stripe just below the handle. I am going to line it with heart print fabric and some Valentine-y beads/charms! Thank you so much for posting this pattern! Easy to do, and comes out adorable!!
This is my first time go to see at here and i am really happy to read all at alone place.
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I love this stitch, but have always called it ‘Dragon Scales stitch’. Whatever its called, I love this purse.
That’s a great name for this stitch! I like that better. Thanks!
Oh, I so love this! Can’t wait to start!
Gardenchef’s Needle and Pen recently posted..Bitter Melon and Cucumber Salad
Hi, you don’t know how happy I am that I was able to finish my CROC Purse! It’s featured in http://gardenchefsneedleandpen.blogspot.com/2013/03/crocodile-crochet-croc-het-purse.html. I’m so proud of it. Thanks to you and your pattern!
Gardenchef’s Needle and Pen recently posted..Crocodile Crochet (CROC-het) Purse
I love this pattern and would like to try to make it, but am wondering how much yarn does it take? I don’t see that in the directions. Please advise. Thank you.
I love this pattern and would love to try to make it, but am wondering how much yarn does it need? I didn’t see quantities in the directions. Please advise. Thank you.
Oh, good question. It took me almost 1 skein – so about 3 oz. I meant to put that in the post!
I end up with 19 hdc total on Row 5, not 18. No one else has mentioned this so what could I be doing wrong? All the other counts work out correctly.
Hello there! My best suggestion is to use my tutorial that I have linked in the post, as it has a step-by-step photo tutorial.
I went through the tutorial again. Row 4 had 7 croc sts, so that’s 7 single hdc. There are 6 spaces between, each has 2 hdc so that makes 12. 12+7=19. So where am I adding one that I shouldn’t be? This is driving me nuts. Thanks for your help.
Hi again! I’m sorry you’re having so much trouble. I will sit down and make it again tomorrow, as it’s late now, and get back to you. Doing it myself will ensure we get this figured out for you!