Cat lovers are carrying their obsession in style with bags that purr personality and they're as fun to make as they are to carry. We've rounded up our favorite crochet and knit cat bag patterns along with our yarn recommendation and how much you'll need. Grab the pattern from the designer on Ravelry, add the yarn to your cart, and you're ready to get stitching!
Project Ideas
1. Cat Lady Bag by Devine Debris - Crochet
Get the pattern on Ravelry here.
You will need: Color A (square background): 2 skeins, Color B (cat motif): 1 skein, Color C (seaming): 1 skein
Our yarn recommendation:
2. Herding Cats Bag by Lisa Hannan Fox - Knit
Get the pattern on Ravelry here.
You will need: 2 skeins each of 2 contrasting colors
Our yarn recommendation:
3. Cat Tapestry Tote Bag by CozierThanFiction - Crochet
Get the pattern on Ravelry here
You will need: Color A (background): 3 skeins, Color B (cat motif): 2 skeins, Color C (handles): 1 skein
Our yarn recommendation:
4. Holly Cat Project Bag by Trish Newberry - Knit
Get the pattern on Ravelry here.
You will need: 1 skein each of 2 contrasting colors
Our yarn recommendation:
How to Choose Yarn for a Bag
A handmade bag has to be extra durable - moreso than most handmade projects. A bag gets stuffed, hung from the shoulder, tossed around, and left on a number of surfaces, so the yarn you choose is just as important as the pattern. Keep these three things in mind.
Durability
Look for a yarn that holds its shape and resists wear. Tightly plied or cabled yarns stand up to friction better than loosely spun or brushed ones, which can pill and fuzz where the bag rubs against your hip.
Fiber
- Cotton is the go-to for bags. It's strong, holds stitch definition beautifully, and doesn't stretch much under weight. It's also machine washable, which is a plus for an everyday tote.
- Linen and hemp are even stronger than cotton and soften with use. They're great for market bags and summery totes, but can skew higher on the price range.
- Wool is lovely to work with, but it stretches over time when it carries a load. We recommend it for small pouches or for felted bags.
- Acrylic is affordable and comes in endless colors, but it can pill and sag, losing its shape. It's fine for a lightweight novelty bag, but less so for a daily carry.
Weight
Most bag patterns call for worsted or aran weight yarn, which gives you a sturdy, dense fabric that works up quickly. Whatever weight you decide to use though, crochet or knit a little tighter than you would for a garment (try going down a hook/needle size). A dense fabric keeps your belongings from poking through and helps the bag keep its shape!
