How to Crochet a Vintage Lace Phone Bag

Create a floral crochet phone bag with a lace front, an olive-green back and flap, pink flowers, and a crossbody strap. A fabric lining keeps your phone from catching on the open stitches.

Skill level: Intermediate
Terms: US crochet terminology
Pattern status: Untested, photo-inspired design. Measure your phone with its case and check the fit throughout.

Materials

• Fine or sport-weight cotton yarn in olive green, cream and dusty pink

• A suitable crochet hook, approximately 2.5–3 mm

• Yarn needle, scissors and stitch markers

• Cotton lining fabric, sewing needle and thread

• One button

• Optional decorative beads

Use the same yarn weight for all crochet pieces.

Abbreviations

• ch: chain

• sl st: slip stitch

• sc: single crochet

• hdc: half double crochet

• dc: double crochet

• MR: magic ring

• ch-sp: chain space

1. Measure Your Phone

Measure its height, width and thickness, including the case.

For this flat pouch, use these starting dimensions:

• Panel width: phone width + phone thickness + approximately 1 cm ease.

• Body height: phone height + approximately 1 cm.

• Flap length: approximately 5–6 cm.

These measurements are starting points. Pin the panels together around your phone before sewing.

2. Make the Cream Lace Front

The front uses a simple mesh.

Make an even number of chains until your foundation is approximately the required panel width. Crochet the first few rows and measure again, because the foundation chain alone may give a misleading width.

Example: ch 22.

Row 1: Sc in the second chain from the hook and in each remaining chain. 21 sc

Row 2: Ch 3 and turn; this counts as the first dc. Skip the stitch directly beneath the turning chain. Repeat [ch 1, skip 1 stitch, dc in the next stitch] across.

For the example, you will have 11 dc posts, including the turning chain, and 10 ch-1 spaces.

Row 3: Ch 3 and turn; counts as the first dc. Repeat [ch 1, skip the next ch-sp, dc in the next dc] across. Work the final dc into the top of the previous turning chain.

Repeat Row 3 until the front is approximately 1 cm shorter than the required body height.

Top row: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 sc into each dc and 1 sc into each ch-sp. 21 sc in the example

Fasten off.

3. Make the Olive Back and Flap

The solid back supports the lace front.

With olive yarn, chain enough stitches to match the actual width of your finished front panel, then add one turning chain. You may need a different stitch count from the lace panel.

Row 1: Sc in the second chain from the hook and across.

Following rows: Ch 1, turn, sc in every stitch.

Continue until the back matches the front’s height. Place a marker on each side at this level.

Keep working for another 5–6 cm to form the flap. Fasten off.

4. Add a Cream Scalloped Flap Edge

Join cream yarn at one upper corner of the flap. Work sc evenly down one side, across the free end and up the other side, adding an extra stitch at a corner if needed to keep the edging flat.

Fasten off.

For the scallops, rejoin cream at the beginning of the flap’s free end:

Repeat: [sc in the next stitch, skip 1 stitch, 5 dc in the next stitch, skip 1 stitch].

Repeat as far as the stitch count allows, then finish with a sc in the final stitch. If a few stitches remain, work them in sc.

Keep the side edges plain so the flap folds comfortably.

5. Crochet the Flowers

Make several small flowers in dusty pink and cream.

Centre: Work 5 sc into a MR. Join with a sl st to the first sc.

Petals: In each of the 5 stitches, work:

[sl st, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st]

This creates 5 petals. Fasten off with a long sewing tail.

Sew a contrasting yarn centre into each flower, or securely attach a decorative bead.

Make one flower for the flap and several smaller-looking accents for the front. Using a finer yarn and matching hook will produce smaller flowers.

6. Make Small Olive Leaves

Ch 7.

Starting in the second chain from the hook, work:

1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, 3 sc in the last chain.

Rotate to work along the other side of the foundation chain. Work into the remaining five chains:

1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc.

Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off with a sewing tail.

7. Decorate and Join the Bag

Arrange the flowers and leaves on the lace front before sewing the pouch together.

Attach each decoration at several points, distributing the sewing stitches across the mesh posts. Avoid pulling the lace out of shape.

Place the front against the back, with the flap extending above the front. Pin the sides and bottom, check the fit around your phone, then remove the phone.

Using olive yarn, sew the two sides and bottom together. Leave the top open.

8. Add the Crossbody Strap

For a firm, narrow strap:

• Ch 6.

• Row 1: Sc in the second chain from the hook and across. 5 sc

• Following rows: Ch 1, turn, work 5 sc.

Continue to your preferred crossbody length. Check the length on your body and allow for some stretch under the phone’s weight.

Sew each end securely to a side seam near the opening, overlapping the bag by approximately 2–3 cm. Reinforce both attachments.

9. Add the Closure and Lining

Fold the flap over the filled pouch to find a comfortable button position.

Sew the button onto the front. At the centre of the flap edge, attach a chain loop just long enough to pass over the button. Secure both ends firmly.

Make a fabric pouch slightly smaller than the crochet body, allowing extra fabric for seams and a folded top hem. Check that the phone slides inside easily.

Place the lining inside, hide the raw edges and hand-sew it around the opening without blocking the flap or button loop.

10. Finish

Weave in all ends and inspect the strap attachments, seams and decorations. Test the bag with your phone over a soft surface.

Your vintage-inspired floral phone bag is ready to wear!