There can never be too many cute bags in the world, so I invite you to crochet the easy Jambo Bag with me. And how did I come with this fun name for the bag? While designing the bag, I joined this wonderful meditation journey to learn and practice the wonderful technique of mindfulness. The teachers started each lesson with the greeting “Jambo” and explained that it means “Hello” in Swahili. And there was no other reason to use this greeting than because it sounded like the most joyful hello in the world. And I agree!
This is exactly how I describe the bohemian style of my Jambo bag – cheerful, care-free and zen!
And you will be glad to know that this one is easy to make. Just need to crochet two granny squares and one long piece for the strap and side panel, then attach them and you’re done!
In my video tutorial I will show you how to crochet the long strap and attach it to both squares without cutting off the yarn. So you’ll have less ends to weave in!
VIDEO TUTORIAL OF JAMBO BAG
WRITTEN PATTERN OF JAMBO BAG
If you prefer ad-free printable PDF pattern, you can get it on:
I use Lion Brand Just Hemp yarn, colors Reed (color A), Ocean (color B) and Clay (color C). It is bulky yarn size 5. It is 100% hemp and the ball size is 93yds/85m, 3.5oz/100g. You’ll need 3 balls of color A (if you don’t want to make a long strap, 2 balls may be enough) and 1 ball of colors B/C. Crochet hook is 6 mm. My bag measures about 11.5 inches from top to bottom and side to side, and the strap is about 18.5 inches long.
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Abbreviations: ch = chain dc = double crochet sl st = slip stitch beg = beginning sc = single crochet
- 2 GRANNY SQUARES: with color A make a magic ring.
- Round 1 = ch 4 (counts as 1st dc and 1-ch throughout), dc3 +ch1 + dc4 + ch1 + dc3 + ch1 + dc3 in the ring, sl st in 3rd beg ch.
- Round 2 = sl st in ch1-space, ch4 + dc2 in same space, dc 1 in each next 3 dc, *in next ch1-space dc2 + ch1 + dc2, dc1 in each next dc, repeat from*, end the round with 1 dc in beg ch1-space, sl st in 3rd beg ch, fasten off, cut off color A.
- Round 3 = make a slip knot with color B, take the hook out and insert it through the beg ch1-space and pull slip knot through from back to front, ch4 + dc2 in same space, dc 1 in each next dc, *in next ch1-space dc2 + ch1 + dc2, dc1 in each next dc, repeat from*, end the round with 1 dc in beg ch1-space, sl st in 3rd beg ch.
- Round 4 = sl st in ch1-space, ch4 + dc2 in same space, dc 1 in each next dc, *in next ch1-space dc2 + ch1 + dc2, dc1 in each next dc, repeat from*, end the round with 1 dc in beg ch1-space, sl st in 3rd beg ch, fasten off, cut off color B.
- Round 5 = make a slip knot with color A, join it the same way as on round 3, ch4 + dc2 in same space, dc 1 in each next dc, *in next ch1-space dc2 + ch1 + dc2, dc1 in each next dc, repeat from*, end the round with 1 dc in beg ch1-space, sl st in 3rd beg ch, fasten off, cut off color A.
- Round 6 = make a slip knot with color C, join it the same way as on round 3, ch4 + dc2 in same space, dc 1 in each next dc, *in next ch1-space dc2 + ch1 + dc2, dc1 in each next dc, repeat from*, end the round with 1 dc in beg ch1-space, sl st in 3rd beg ch.
- Round 7 = sl st in ch1-space, ch4 + dc2 in same space, dc 1 in each next dc, *in next ch1-space dc2 + ch1 + dc2, dc1 in each next dc, repeat from*, end the round with 1 dc in beg ch1-space, sl st in 3rd beg ch, fasten off, cut off color C.
- Round 8 = make a slip knot with color A, join it the same way as on round 3, ch4 + dc2 in same space, dc 1 in each next dc, *in next ch1-space dc2 + ch1 + dc2, dc1 in each next dc, repeat from*, end the round with 1 dc in beg ch1-space, sl st in 3rd beg ch, fasten off, cut off color A.
- STRAP: with color A ch 8.
- Row 1 = sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each next ch (7 sc).
- Row 2 = ch1 and turn, sc 1 in each sc.
- Rows 3-150 = repeat row 2, don’t cut off yarn.
- FINISHING: place the first square wrong side facing and 3dc on 1st round are facing up/down and 4dc are facing right/left.
- Place the strap on the square with working loop on upper left corner:
- Ch1, make 1st sc inserting hook through end space of last row of the strap and also through ch1-space on square.
- Sc in each next end space of strap rows, also inserting hook though corresponding dc or ch1-space on square, total 98 sc on three sides of square.
- Continue sc in each end space on strap rows (51 sc) until last row.
- Place ends of strap together so that you can stitch through 7sc on last row and 7 foundation chains:
- But before attaching both ends, insert hook (with working loop on it) through beg ch on square (it’s the same ch you did when starting to attach strap to square) and also through end space of last row on strap (the one you left unworked when you did 51 sc), make sl st.
- Sl st inserting hook through each sc on last row of strap and foundation ch (7 sl st).
- Ch1, turn the piece so that the sl stiches just made will remain inside (wrong side) the bag, continue on the second edge of strap and sc in each end space of rows (52 sc).
- Place second square right side facing on top of side panel, starting from upper right corner insert hook through next end space on strap row and also through ch1-space on square.
- Sc in each next end space of strap rows, also inserting hook though corresponding dc or ch1-space on square, total 98 sc on three sides of square, sl st in 1st sc on strap, fasten off, cut off yarn.
- Weave in all ends.
Check out all my crochet bag tutorials & patterns here.
HAPPY CROCHETING!
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