💖 The Easy "Serpentine Wave" Shoulder Bag Pattern

Welcome to a comprehensive guide for crocheting the stylish and sturdy “Serpentine Wave” Shoulder Bag! Inspired by the elegant, alternating texture and clear instructions from SANG DEWI CRAFT, this pattern uses a combination of Double Crochet (DC) rows, a textured Puff Stitch row, and Single Crochet (SC) transition rows to create a unique, wavy, and durable fabric.

This is a detailed, long pattern guide for an intermediate-level project worked in turned rounds, resulting in a firm rectangular base and a finished bag approximately 26 cm wide by 17 cm high.

🧶 Materials & Key Tools

The structure of this bag relies on using a durable, non-stretchy cord yarn to maintain its shape and defined lines.

Icon	Item	Details
Hook	Crochet Hook	4.0 mm (or size needed to achieve very firm tension).
Yarn	Main Color (MC)	Approximately 150g of sturdy cord yarn (Nylon or Polyester cord).
Hardware	Shoulder Strap	A separate crocheted cord or thin strap (approx. 90 cm long).
Notions	Markers & Needle	Stitch Markers (especially for the base and strap placement), Scissors, and a Yarn Needle.
Size	Finished Bag	Approx. 26 cm (Length) x 17 cm (Height) x 6 cm (Depth).
Weight	Finished Weight	Approx. 175 grams.

📝 Abbreviations & Special Stitches (U.S. Terms)

Familiarize yourself with these terms. Note that all body rounds are turned to eliminate a noticeable seam line.

Abbreviation	U.S. Terminology	Description
ch	Chain
sl st	Slip Stitch
sc	Single Crochet
dc	Double Crochet
st(s)	Stitch(es)
rep	Repeat

Special Stitch: 3-Loop Puff Stitch (Puff)

A puff stitch made by drawing up three yarn-overs in the same space.

Yo, insert hook into st/space, pu a lp (pull up a loop to the height of a DC).
[ Yo, insert hook into the same st/space, pu a lp ] Repeat two more times (7 loops on hook).
Yo, pull through all 7 loops to close the puff. No chain to secure is used in this pattern’s puff round.

📐 Part 1: The Rigid Foundation Base

We start with a flat, rigid base worked in rows of Single Crochet, then edged in the round. The final stitch count must be a multiple of 6 for the motif pattern.

Initial Chain (MC):

Make a slip knot and ch 45. Chain 1 more for turning.

Rows 1 – 12 (Base Core):

Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, and sc in each ch across. (45 sc).
Ch 1 (does not count as st), turn. Sc in the first st and in each st across. (45 sc).
Repeat Row 2 until you have completed a total of 12 rows.

Edging (SC in the Round):

After Row 12, do not turn. We work SC around the entire perimeter.

Corners: Work 3 sc into the four corner stitches.
Long Sides (Row Ends): Sc evenly down the side edge, placing 1 sc per row end. (12 sc total per side).
Top/Bottom Edges: Sc across the 45 SC of the top and bottom rows.
Count & Adjust: Count your total stitches (e.g., approximately 114 sts). If necessary, evenly distribute increases on the long straight sides to ensure your final count is a multiple of 6 (e.g., 114 or 120 sts).
Sl st to the first sc to join.

🌟 Part 2: The Serpentine Wave Body Motif

The main body motif is built upon a 4-round repeat that alternates between solid DC, Puff Stitch texture, and SC transition rounds. The body is worked in turned rounds throughout.

Round 1 (DC Foundation):

Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), turn the work. Dc in the next st.
Dc in each st around.
Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join.

Round 2 (Puff Stitch Texture):

Ch 1 (does not count as st), turn. Sc in the same st.
Dc in the next st.
Puff in the next st.
Dc in the next st.
Sc in the next st.
*Dc in the next st, Puff in the next st, Dc in the next st, Sc in the next st*. (This sequence is a multiple of 4).
Repeat from * to * around. (The video pattern has a slightly different count for the puff section, which we adjust to fit the multiple of 6).
- ADJUSTED PATTERN (Multiple of 6): Ch 1, turn. Dc in the same st.
- *Dc in the next 4 sts, Puff in the next st, Sc in the next st*.
- Repeat from * to * around.
Sl st to the first DC to join.

Round 3 (SC Transition):

Ch 1 (does not count as st), turn. Sc in each st around.
Sl st to the first sc to join.

Round 4 (DC Transition/Setup):

Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), turn. Dc in each st around.
Sl st to the top of the starting ch-3 to join.

Motif Repetition:

Repeat the sequence of Rounds 2, 3, and 4 for a total of 11 Puff rows (approx. 33 rounds total) or until the bag reaches the desired height of 17 cm.

⛓️ Part 3: Top Border and Strap Placement

We now finish the top with a smooth Single Crochet border and mark the areas for strap attachment.

SC Border Rounds (MC):

Ch 1 (does not count as st), turn. Sc in the same st and in each st around. Sl st to join.
Repeat for a total of 2 rounds of SC border. This creates a dense, sturdy rim.

Strap Placement Marking:

Lay the bag flat. Locate the two side edges (the narrowest part).
From the center of each side, measure 3.5 cm out toward the corners on the top edge. Place a marker at the 3.5 cm points. You will have two markers on each side, defining the area where the strap will be attached.

✂️ Part 4: The Shoulder Strap (Optional Technique)

The pattern video uses a simple flat cord technique for the strap.

Strap Foundation (MC): Make a slip knot and ch 2. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook.
Strap Rows: Ch 1, turn. Sc in the stitch.
Repeat Row 2 until the desired length of 90 cm is reached.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Strap Assembly:

Using the long tail, position one end of the strap onto the top of the bag at the marked area on one side.
Sewing: Using a yarn needle, securely sew the strap to the bag for approximately 3-4 SC stitches across the marked area. Sew the entire width of the strap securely to the bag’s body.
Repeat the sewing process for the other end of the strap on the opposite side of the bag.

Video Tu t orial:

✅ Final Touches & Dimensions

Weave in Ends: Ensure all yarn tails are neatly and securely woven into the dense fabric.
Lining & Zipper (Recommended): To ensure stability, prevent stretching, and for a professional finish, it is highly recommended to sew a custom fabric lining and a zipper into the purse.

Your finished “Serpentine Wave” Shoulder Bag should measure: