Inside – Learn how to make a reusable gift bag for the holiday season with this Nordic Crochet Gift Bag free pattern.
Once upon a time on Instagram, I scrolled to a video about making your own gift wrap out of fabric. The purpose was to reuse the handmade gift wrap every Christmas. So clever! A different fabric design was assigned to each member of the family to avoid any mixups (or the use of gift tags).
In theory, it looked like a great idea! So, I thought of a way to create a reusable gift bag with crochet, a hook, and scrap yarn.
Inspiration for the Nordic Crochet Gift Bag
Often, I want to crochet something handmade for each person on my list. In reality, most people don’t want another crocheted scarf, blanket, ear warmer, or hat. So, crocheting a gift bag is a festive solution to add something handmade to a store bought gift. Scroll down for gift ideas to fill the Nordic Gift Bag!
Reasons to Love the Nordic Gift Bag
- Uses the intarsia crochet technique to create a non-see through bag.
- Needs less than 100yds per color – double win!
- Stitches up in a few hours – you can make a few in a week.
Yarn + Substitutes for the Nordic Crochet Gift Bag
Since this pattern is considered a stash buster – I went direct to my yarn stash to pick out the yarn for the Nordic Crochet Gift Bag. The pattern uses I Love This Cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby. It’s soft to work with, and won’t leave your hands aching like other cotton yarn. Feel free to use any worsted weight (category 4), 100% cotton yarn for best results.
Substitutes | However, you don’t have to use a cotton yarn. Try the Nordic Crochet Gift Bag in an acrylic, or an acrylic/wool blend. Changing to acrylic might make your gift bag bigger than the pattern. So, please check your gauge prior to starting this pattern! It tests the size and drape of the fabric.
What to Stuff Inside the Nordic Crochet Gift Bag
- COZY LOVER – Pair of fuzzy socks with hand cream. 🧦
- COFFEE FANATIC – Travel coffee cup with coffee shop gift card. ☕
- WATERCOLOR ARTIST – Small sketch pad with pens / travel watercolor set. 🎨
- FLY FISHERMAN – Fly reel with a small container of flies. 🎣
- HILLSIDE HIKER – Favorite trail mix and electrolyte drink packets. 🥾
Whatever you choose to but in the Nordic Crochet Gift Bag, be aware that it’s not too heavy. Heavy items may pull and stretch the the stitches that could leave gaps.
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2025 Holiday Stashdown Crochet Along
This is a free crochet event that encourages crocheters to use up their yarn stash for the Christmas season! New patterns are released on Mondays and Thursdays. Each pattern is small enough to be made within a few days, so you can move onto the next crochet pattern. Find out all the details at the event page here.
NOTE ABOUT THIS FREE CROCHET PATTERN :
Thank you for choosing this free pattern as part of your crochet journey! It’s an honor for you to be here, browsing the High Desert Yarn Blog. This pattern is 100% free for you to crochet from, but please, do not screenshot, or copy+paste this pattern. However, work directly from this webpage. The ad revenue from this website allows me to offer free crochet patterns. If you do not like the scrolling, or ads, then you may purchase the ad-free PDF in my Etsy Shop or Ravelry Store. Thank you for your cooperation. Happy creating! -Joanna (Owner + Creative)
Materials
- Worsted (category 4) weight yarn
- I used I Love This Cotton from Hobby Lobby, 180yd/100g, 100% Cotton
- You need 2 colors total.
- Red (MC) – 100yds
- White (CC) – 100yds
- Crochet Hook – 3.75mm, or hook to meet gauge
- Scissors
- Stitch Marker
Notes
- Experience Level – Advanced Beginner
- You will need to know how to create a Single Crochet, crochet in the back loop, change colors, and read a colorwork chart.
- CH 1 does not count as a stitch.
- This pattern is worked in two parts. The base is worked in turning rows, and the body is worked in a continuous round.
- Do not cut your yarn, but crochet over the non-working yarn.
Finished Size
Sizes measured before blocking.
- Width – 4”
- Height – 9”
Gauge
- 19 sts x 15 rounds = 4×4” worked in the round with BLO SC.
- Gauge is measured without blocking.
Stitch Abbreviations
US crochet terms used throughout.
- CH(s) – chain(s)
- SC – single crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- HDC – half double crochet
- ST(S) – stitch(es)
- Rep – repeat
- SM – stitch marker
- MC – main color (red)
- CC – contrasting color (white)
Written Instructions
Create the Base
In the MC, chain 16.
Row 1: In 2nd ch from hook, SC, SC in each ch across, ch 1, turn. (15 st)
Row 2: SC in each st across, ch 1, turn. (15 sts)
Rows 3 – 15: Repeat Row 2. After Row 15, ch 1, and turn, do not fasten off yarn. Then, continue to the body instructions with the MC.
Create the Body
Foundation Border: HDC in each “end” of a row, and in each st, around the base of the gift bag. Do not add an extra stitch in the corner. You must have 60 stitches to continue the body. Place a SM in the 1st st of the round. (60 sts)
Follow the colorwork chart, or the written instructions for the rest of the body.
Notes for the Body
- Every st is worked in BLO SC (except Round 1 where the SC is worked in the 3rd Loop).
- Do not turn your work.
- Pay attention to the color changes (marked as “MC” or “CC”).
- Place a SM in the 1st st of each round to keep track of the beginning/end.
Round 1: Place each SC in the 3rd Loop of the HDC st for this round only. [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 2: Place each SC in the BLO of each SC for the remaining rounds. [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 3: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 4: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 5: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 6: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 7: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 8: [MC x 7, CC x 1, MC x 7], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 9: [MC x 6, CC x 3, MC x 6], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 10: [MC x 3, CC x 2, MC x 2, CC x 1, MC x 2, CC x 2, MC x 3]. rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 11: [MC x 3, CC x 3, MC x 3, CC x 3, MC x 3], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 12: [MC x 1, CC x 2, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 2, MC x 1], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 13: [MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 5, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 14: [MC x 2, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 2], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 15: [MC x 3, CC x 3, MC x 3, CC x 3, MC x 3], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 16: [MC x 4, CC x 2, MC x 3, CC x 2, MC x 4], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 17: [MC x 3, CC x 3, MC x 3, CC x 3, MC x 3], rep […] 3 more times.(60 sts)
Round 18: [MC x 2, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 2], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 19: [MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 5, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 20: [MC x 1, CC x 2, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 3, MC x 1, CC x 2, MC x 1], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 21: [MC x 3, CC x 3, MC x 3, CC x 3, MC x 3], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 22: [MC x 3, CC x 2, MC x 2, CC x 1, MC x 2, CC x 2, MC x 3], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 23: [MC x 6, CC x 3, MC x 6], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 24: [MC x 7, CC x 1, MC x 7], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 25: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 26: [CC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 27: [CC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 28: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 29: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 30: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 31: [MC x 4, sk st, ch 1, MC x 4, sk st, ch 1, MC x 4, sk st, ch 1], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 32: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 33: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Round 34: [MC x 15], rep […] 3 more times. (60 sts)
Cut yarn and weave in ends.
Chain Ribbon: In any color, create a chain of 85-100 to make a “ribbon”. Weave the “ribbon” in the skipped stitches – take care to center your ties (bow) over the center of one of the X’s.
Colorwork Chart
- Read Right to Left, and Bottom to Top.
- Each square equals one stitch.
- Repeat the chart a total of 4 times to make the “four” sides of the gift bag.
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