The Perfect Crochet Project: Oval Bottom Bag

Ovals are a staple in crochet, forming the base of everything from bags to baby booties. There are many ways to crochet an oval shape, and a popular method is to use foundation single crochet stitches (FSCs) to form an oval base. This is because FSCs are stretchier, sturdier, and less fiddly than starting a project with a plain set of chain stitches. The oval is constructed around a foundation chain, starting with a round of SC stitches, and DC stitches added for the remaining rounds. The size of the oval will depend on the yarn weight and tension.

How to crochet an oval base for a bag

Materials

To crochet an oval base for a bag, you will need 8-ply yarn and a 4mm crochet hook. The overall size of your oval will depend on your yarn weight and tension. It is best to do some samples to know how wide you would like your base.

Basic Steps

There are many ways to crochet an oval shape, but here is a basic pattern that you can use to make an oval base for a bag:

• The base is worked in rounds, starting with a round of single crochet (SC) stitches and double crochet (DC) stitches added for the remaining rounds.
• Make a slip stitch at the end of each round.
• You can adjust the number of starting stitches to suit your crochet project.
• The oval starts with a half arch, turned to side A (flat with no increases), an arch at the other end, turned to side B (flat with no increases), and finished with the other half of the arch.
• Use stitch markers to mark the first and last stitches of the DC rows on sides A and B. This will help you see where to add increases on your arches and half arches.

Oval Sizes

The number of DC rounds you make will depend on the size of the bag you want to make:

• An oval with 2 DC rounds is good for a narrower or small-sized bag, great for books or a tablet.
• An oval with 3 DC rounds is good for a standard-sized handbag.
• An oval with 4 DC rounds is good for a wider bag.
• You can also create straps using an oval with 1 or 2 DC rounds.

How to crochet a bag bottom from rows to rounds

To crochet a bag bottom from rows to rounds, you can follow the steps below. This method is a great way to create a rectangular bag bottom with the exact stitch count you need to set up your pattern repeat for the rest of the bag.

First, you will need to work back and forth in rows until you have reached your desired size for the bag bottom. This will form a rectangular shape. Then, you will crochet a border all around the edge of the rectangle. This will create a seamless transition from the bag bottom to the sides of the bag.

When crocheting the border, you generally won't increase the number of stitches in the corners, and stitch count is important to maintain the shape of the bag bottom. This technique is relatively easy to execute but can be challenging to describe in words, so you may find it helpful to refer to video tutorials or step-by-step images.

Additionally, you can adjust the size of your bag bottom by changing the number of starting stitches to suit your specific crochet project. For example, if you are using a 4mm crochet hook and medium weight yarn, you can start with a foundation chain of 24 stitches and then follow the pattern for the number of stitches in each row to create your desired size.

To make your bag bottom stiffer, you can create two bag bottoms and cut a piece of plastic canvas to fit between them. Sandwich the plastic canvas between the two crochet pieces to add structure to your bag.

How to crochet a perfect oval shape

To crochet a perfect oval shape, you need to understand the basic construction of an oval. Each crochet oval consists of three different parts: a rectangle in the middle and two semicircles on either side. The rectangle in the middle determines the overall size of the oval, with the length of the foundation chain dictating the rectangle's length. The finished size of the crochet oval will be bigger than the foundation chain because you will be increasing stitches at either end of the oval in each round.

To begin, start with a foundation chain. The number of chains you start with will depend on how long you want your oval to be. For example, you can start with 5 chains for a small oval or more for a longer oval. Then, single crochet into each chain, adding extra stitches (2-3) in the first and last chains to round the ends. Now rotate your work and single crochet into the bottom of the foundation chain, increasing at the ends. In the following rounds, continue to single crochet and increase at the ends to maintain the oval shape. Repeat this process until you reach your desired size.

To create a perfect oval, your increases will only happen at the rounded ends. You will need to distribute 3 increases evenly across each end. The number of single crochet stitches will increase with each increase, and the straight parts of the oval will also get bigger as you go around. You can also choose to work your oval in double crochet, following the same increasing rules.

Additionally, you can use stitch markers to mark out the stitches of each semicircle, making it easier to know where to make the increases. The stitch count for each semicircle will increase by three stitches each round, so your total stitch count for each round will increase by six stitches.

By understanding the basic construction of an oval and following these steps, you can crochet a perfect oval shape every time.

How to start crocheting an oval

To start crocheting an oval, you need to form rounded edges with straight middle sections. The number of stitches you start with will depend on the size of the oval you want to make. For a longer oval, start with a longer foundation chain.

Foundation chain

Start with a foundation chain of 5 or 6 stitches. For a longer oval, you can add more stitches.

Round 1

Single crochet (sc) into the second chain from the hook. Sc in every stitch until the end.

Single crochet

Single crochet twice more in the final stitch (3 stitches total in the final stitch).

Mark the centre

Pause and mark the centre of these three stitches with a locking stitch marker. This is your ACTION STITCH, which will be important later.

Turn and sc

Turn the work and sc back into every chain on the other side of the chain. You may notice your chain is a little 'gap-y'. If this bothers you, rip out and go down a hook size for the chain. Or, just darn it shut when you're finished. Single crochet three times in the final stitch.

Mark the centre again

Mark the centre of these three stitches with a locking stitch marker. This is your second ACTION STITCH.

Round 2

Sc in every stitch until one stitch before the first marked ACTION STITCH. 2 sc in the next stitch, remove the marker, 3 sc in the marked action stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch. Replace the marker in the centre of the three-stitch increase. Repeat to finish the other side of the oval.

Repeat

Repeat Round 2 until your oval is the desired size.

Adapt

Once you have the basic idea of the crochet oval pattern, you can adapt it to any size or thickness you desire. You can also choose to work your oval in double crochet, where the increasing rules remain the same.

Oval base for a bag

If you want to make an oval-bottomed bag, you can start with an oval base. This will 'round out' your bag so that you can fit more into it. Once the base is made, simply crochet rectangular sides to fit around the base and then stitch them all together.

Stiff base

For a stiff base, crochet two ovals the same size, then join them together around some stiff cardboard or plastic. You can then crochet slip stitch around the sides to enclose the stiff centre or stitch them together with the cardboard/plastic in the middle.

How to crochet a bag with a stiff bottom

To crochet a bag with a stiff bottom, you can follow these steps:

Firstly, choose your yarn. For a stiff bottom, a super bulky weight yarn is recommended, such as T-shirt yarn, which is thicker than most super bulky weight yarns and is durable and less likely to get fuzzy.

Next, choose your crochet hook. It is recommended to use a smaller hook than usual to create tighter stitches.

Then, you can start crocheting your bag. You can follow a pattern for the specific type of bag you want to make, such as an envelope-style bag, a tote bag, or an oval-based bag. For a basic bag, you will be creating either a rectangle or a square shape. You will need to chain the amount of stitches you want the width of the bag to be and then single crochet back along your chain. You will then continue to crochet rows until you reach the desired height.

Once you have crocheted your bag, you can stiffen the bottom by making two identical bag bottoms and cutting a piece of plastic canvas to fit between them. This will create a stiff and lightweight bottom for your bag.

Finally, assemble your bag by sewing the sides together and adding straps if desired.

Frequently asked questions