Puffy Square Bag

The Puffy Square Bag is an interesting one because it’s made with double sided padded crochet squares that give the bag its puffed texture. It was inspired by my Blush Blizzard Puffer Purse that I designed for I Like Crochet Magazine November 2023 issue. The cozy soft shape of the bag almost makes it look like a pillow, in case you need to rest your head while out and about.

The bag is made of 8 puffy squares, and each puffy square is in turn made of two stained glass crochet motifs – colored motif for the front made with 3 different colors, and solid motif for the inside of the bag. Puffy squares are filled with fiber fill stuffing and attached to each other with slip stitches. The solid squares inside the bag double as lining, so there is no need to add fabric lining.

VIDEO TUTORIAL OF PUFFY SQUARE BAG

WRITTEN PATTERN OF PUFFY SQUARE BAG

Here are the materials I use to crochet my Puffy Square Bag:

The first yarn is called Estako Royal Cotton, it is light size 3. One ball has 50g/1.76oz 125m/137yds and my colors are:
- white (color A) – 1 ball
- pink (color C) – 1 ball
- off-white (color D) – 2 balls
The second yarn is from Lucky Ball – Handknitting Fancy Yarn gold (color B). One ball has 40g/1.4oz 288m/314yds and one ball is enough.
Crochet hook 3 mm.
Sewing needle.
1-inch button for closure.
Crossbody bag strap.

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
tr = triple crochet
yo = yarn over
beg = beginning

Special stitch:
Drop dc = insert hook in space below previous row, pull up a loop to height of working row, yo and pull through first 2 loops, yo and pull through last 2 loops.

Pattern notes:
- The pattern is worked in squares: 8 colored and 8 solid.
- Don't cut off yarn at the end of rounds after switching colors.
- After finishing each puffy square, it is attached to the other squares.

1. COLORED MOTIF

With color A make a magic ring:

Round 1 = ch 4 (counts as 1st tr), dc 3 in the ring, (tr + dc3) three times in the ring, pull the ring tight, make a slip knot with color B, then take hook out of it, insert hook back in color A loop, then insert it in 4th beg ch, then insert through color B slip knot and pull it through the loops on hook, don’t cut off color A.
Round 2 = with color B ch, sc 2 in same st, sc in each next 3 dc, (sc 3 in tr, sc in each next 3 dc) three times, sc in 1st st, make a slip knot with color C, take hook out of it, with working loop on hook insert it through 1st sc, then insert through color C slip knot and pull it through the loops on hook, don’t cut off color B.
Round 3 = with color C ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), dc 2 in same st, dc in each next 5 st, (dc 5 in next sc for corner, dc in each next 5 st) three times, dc 2 in 1st st, insert hook through 3rd beg ch, yo with color B and pull it through the loops on hook, don’t cut off color C.
Round 4 = with color B ch, sc 2 in same st, sc in each next 4 dc, drop dc in next st, sc in each next 4 dc, (sc 3 for corner, sc in each next 4 dc, drop dc in next st, sc in each next 4 dc) three times, sc in 1st st, insert hook through 1st sc, yo with color A and pull it through the loops on hook.
Round 5 = with color A ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), holding color C inside stitches dc 2 in same st, *dc in each next 3 st BUT finish the 3rd dc with color C (=start dc with color A, when you have last 2 loops on hook, yo with color C and pull through), holding color A inside stitches dc in each next 5 st BUT finish the 5th dc with color A, holding color C inside stitches dc in each next 3 dc, dc 5 in next sc for corner, repeat from*, after last corner 5dc, make 3dc with color A, 5dc with color C, 3dc with color A and end the round with 2dc in 1st st, insert hook through 3rd beg ch, yo with color B and pull it through the loops on hook.
Round 6 = with color B ch, sc 2 in same st, sc in each next 4 dc, drop dc in next st, sc in each next 5 dc, drop dc in next st, sc in each next 4 dc, (sc 3 for corner, sc in each next 4 dc, drop dc in next st, sc in each next 5 dc, drop dc in next st, sc in each next 4 dc) three times, sc in 1st st, insert hook through 1st sc, yo with color C and pull it through the loops on hook.
Round 7 = with color C ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), holding color A inside stitches dc 2 in same st, *dc in each next 3 st and with 3rd dc change to color A, holding color C inside stitches dc in each next 11 and with 11th dc change to color C, holding color A inside stitches dc in each next 3 dc, dc 5 in next sc for corner, repeat from*, after last corner 5dc, make 3dc with color C, 11dc with color A, 3dc with color C and end the round with 2dc in 1st st, insert hook through 3rd beg ch, yo with color B and pull it through the loops on hook. Cut off color A and C.
Round 8 = with color B ch, sc 2 in same st, sc in each next 4 dc, (drop dc in next st, sc in each next 5 dc) twice, drop dc in next st, sc in each next 4 dc, [sc 3 for corner, sc in each next 4 dc, (drop dc in next st, sc in each next 5 dc) twice, drop dc in next st, sc in each next 4 dc] three times, sc in 1st st, sl st in 1st sc, don’t cut off color B.

2. SOLID MOTIF

With color D repeat rounds 1-3.
Round 4 = sc 2 in same st, sc in each next 9 dc, (sc 3 for corner, sc in each next 9 dc) three times, sc in 1st st, sl st in 1st sc.
Round 5 = ch 3, dc 2 in same st, dc in each next 11 sc, (dc 5 for corner, dc in each next 11 sc) three times, dc 2 in 1st st, sl st in 3rd beg ch.
Round 6 = sc 2 in same st, sc in each next 15 dc, (sc 3 for corner, sc in each next 15 dc) three times, sc in 1st st, sl st in 1st sc.
Round 7 = ch 3, dc 2 in same st, dc in each next 17 sc, (dc 5 for corner, dc in each next 17 sc) three times, dc 2 in 1st st, sl st in 3rd beg ch.
Round 8 = sc 2 in same st, sc in each next 21 dc, (sc 3 for corner, sc in each next 21 dc) three times, sc in 1st st, sl st in 1st sc, cut off, fasten off color D.

3. ATTACH TWO MOTIFS

Hold 1 solid and 1 colored square together, right side out on both squares.
Insert hook in color B working loop, ch, sc in each st inserting hook through both squares and complete 3 sides.
Tuck the yarn tails inside as you stitch along the edge.
Insert stuffing.
Sc along the 4th side.
On the first puffy square finish with sl st in 1st sc, cut off and fasten off color B.
On each next puffy square don’t make sl st or cut off yarn.

4. ATTACH PUFFY SQUARES

Hold 2 puffy squares together with solid motifs facing each other, sl st in each stitch inserting hook through both squares.
Attach first 4 puffy squares:

Attach 5th and 6th puffy square:

Attach 7th and 8th square:

Don’t cut off yarn, but fasten off.

5. EDGE

Round 1 = insert hook through stitch before fasten-off, yo and pull yarn through, insert in connection point of 2 squares, yo and pull through, insert in next st, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 3 loops on hook (=beg sc3tog), sc in same st as last (3rd part of beg sc3tog), *sc in each next st until 1 st before next connection, sc in last st, sc3tog inserting hook in same st as last sc, pull up loop, insert in connection point, pull up loop, insert in next st, pull up loop, yo and pull through 4 loops on hook, sc in same st as last, repeat from*, end the round with sc in each st, sc in same st where beg sc3tog started, sl st in 1st st.
Round 2 = ch, sc in each st around, sl st in 1st st.
Round 3 = ch sc in each st until 3st in first connection of squares, ch 16 for button loop, skip next 3 sc, sc in next st, turn, sc in each 16 ch, sl st in sc below, turn, sc in each sc of loop, sl st in sc below, sc in each next st, sl st in 1st st.
Cut off, fasten off color B.
Sew on the button on opposite side of edge from the loop.
Weave in all ends.

Check out all my crochet bag tutorials & patterns here.

HAPPY CROCHETING!

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