Mermaid Purse – Crochet Pattern

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Make your daily routine a little more magical with this mermaid purse! It’s the perfect accessory for any mermaid lover, and it’s also just in time for back to school! Kids and adults alike can appreciate the detail and sparkly beauty of this purse.

The body of the purse is made using the crocodile stitch, a favorite of mine when it comes to mermaid themed projects! (See my Mermaid Scarf and Hat for more mermaid fun!) Since I love functionality in my crochet projects, I decided to add some easy felt lining, as well. It really makes a difference in the shaping and sturdiness of the purse!

(Pin it for later!)

I discovered a gorgeous new yarn recently, Shawl in a Cake by Lion Brand! This color way, Prism, is a gorgeous blend of blues, greens, and purples – so it’s perfect for a mermaid project! To top it off, it features a glittery metallic thread running throughout. It’s very soft and not overly thick, so it works up wonderful for this small purse! You can find this yarn on Amazon HERE!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a real mermaid purse without a fin! So I designed the flap of the purse to include a fin for some added oceanic fun! The fin works up very easily and really makes the purse immediately identifiable. It’s those little extra touches that make all the difference in crochet sometimes!

I included instructions for a crocheted strap, but I also think this would be super cute as a clutch purse! It’s totally up to you – feel free to get creative and make it your own!

So who’s ready to jump into the deep end of this pattern? Let’s go!

Supplies
E/4 3.50 mm crochet hook
1 skein of Lion Brand Shawl in a Cake in Prism
2 pieces of felt in coordinating color
Small amounts of Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in color coordinated to felt
Magnetic purse clasp
Yarn Needle (with sharp point for sewing through felt)
Scissors

Abbreviations
*= indicates the beginning/end of a section to be repeated
[] = indicates a separate section of the pattern
Beg = beginning
Ch = chain
Croc St = crocodile stitch
Hdc = half double crochet
Dc = double crochet
Rem = remaining
Rep = repeat
Rnd = round
Sc = single crochet
Sk = skip
Sl St = slip stitch
St(s)

Gauge
Exact gauge is not essential to this project.

Size
Finished size is about 10.5 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall.

Notes
The purse is made using the crocodile stitch (5 dc around each post of a 2dc cluster).

Flap is worked from bottom tip upwards, in alternating rows of 2dc cluster rows, and croc st/sc rows. One increase occurs each row (either a 2dc cluster/dc increase, or croc st/sc increase). At the end of each crocodile stitch row, work will already be turned from creating last croc st. At the end of each 2dc cluster row, work will not be turned until after the first half of the croc in the following row is made. Therefore, instructions do not include a “turn” at the end of each row of Flap.

Here is a diagram of the order in which the double crochet stitches of the crocodile stitch are worked:

The Blanket Stitch is used to sew around the felt lining in this pattern. To make the Blanket Stitch, insert yarn needle into piece and insert back through loop before pulling all the way through (Lining section includes photos) to make a stitch along the edge of the piece.

Instructions

Flap
Row 1 – Ch 4, Dc in 4th ch from hook – counts as 2dc cluster. Ch 1 (1 dc)
Row 2 – Croc st around two posts (dc from last row, and ch from Ch 4 of last row), working up towards the top of second post while creating second half of croc st. Ch 4. (1 croc st)

Row 3 – Dc in same st – counts as 2dc cluster. Ch 1. [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of croc st below, (2dc cluster made) ch 1. In outer edge of last croc st, [dc, ch 1, dc]. Ch 1 (3 2dc clusters made)
Row 4 – Croc st around first 2dc cluster, turning work while creating second half of croc st. Sc in next 2dc cluster, croc st around last 2dc cluster. Ch 4 (2 croc sts, 1 sc)

Row 5 – Dc in same st, ch 1. [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc. Ch 1. In next sc, [dc, ch 1, dc]. Ch 1, [dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc, ch 1. In outer edge of last croc, [Dc, ch 1, dc]. Ch 1 (5 2dc clusters)
Row 6 – *Croc st around first 2dc cluster, turning work while creating second half of croc st. Sc in next 2dc cluster.* Rep from * to * once more. Croc st around last 2dc cluster. Ch 4 (3 croc sts, 2 sc)

Row 7 – Dc in same st. *Ch 1. [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc. Ch 1. In next sc, [dc, ch 1, dc].* Rep from * to * once more. Ch 1, [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc, ch 1. In outer edge of last croc st, [dc, ch 1, dc]. Ch 1 (7 2dc clusters)
Row 8 – *Croc st around first 2dc cluster, turning work while creating second half of croc st. Sc in next 2dc cluster.* Rep from * to * 2 more times. Croc st around last 2dc cluster. Ch 4 (4 croc sts, 3 sc)

Row 9 – Dc in same st. *Ch 1. [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc. Ch 1. In next sc, [dc, ch 1, dc].* Rep from * to * 2 more times. Ch 1. [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc, ch 1. In outer edge of last croc st, [dc, ch 1, dc]. Ch 1 (9 2dc clusters)
Row 10 – *Croc st around first 2dc cluster, turning work while creating second half of croc st. Sc in next 2dc cluster.* Rep from * to * 3 more times. Croc st around last 2dc cluster. Ch 4 (5 croc sts, 4 sc)

Row 11 – Dc in same st. *Ch 1. [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc. Ch 1. In next sc, [dc, ch 1, dc].* Rep from * to * 3 more times. Ch 1. [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc. Ch 1. In outer edge of last croc st, [dc, ch 1, dc]. Ch 1 (11 2dc clusters)
Row 12 – *Croc st around first 2dc cluster, turning work while creating second half of croc st. Sc in next 2dc cluster.* Rep from * to * 4 more times. Croc st around last 2dc cluster. Ch 4 (6 croc sts, 5 sc)

Row 13 – Dc in same st. *Ch 1. [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc. Ch 1. In next sc, [dc, ch 1, dc].* Rep from * to * 4 more times. Ch 1. [Dc, ch 1, dc] in center of next croc. Ch 1. In outer edge of last croc st, [dc, ch 1, dc]. Ch 1 (13 2dc clusters)
Row 14 – *Croc st around first 2dc cluster, turning work while creating second half of croc st. Sc in next 2dc cluster.* Rep from * to * 5 more times. Croc st around last 2dc cluster. (7 croc sts, 6 sc)

Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Fin
Ch 12.
Row 1 – hdc in 2nd ch from hook, and in each st across. Ch 1, turn (11 hdc)
Row 2 – hdc in next 10 sts. Leave rem st unworked. Ch 1, turn (10 hdc)

Row 3 – hdc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (10 hdc)
Row 4 – hdc in next 9 sts. Leave rem st unworked. Ch 1, turn (9 hdc)
Row 5 – hdc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (9 hdc)
Row 6 – hdc in next 8 sts. Leave rem st unworked. Ch 1, turn (8 hdc)
Row 7 – hdc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (8 hdc)
Row 8 – hdc in next 7 sts. In last st, 2 hdc. Ch 1, turn (9 hdc)

Row 9 – hdc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (9 hdc)
Row 10 – hdc in next 8 sts. In last st, 2 hdc. Ch 1, turn (10 hdc)
Row 11 – hdc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (10 hdc)
Row 12 – hdc in next 9 sts. In last st, 2 hdc. Ch 1, turn (11 hdc)
Row 13 – hdc in each st across. Ch 1 (11 hdc)

Working around top of Fin, make 3 sc evenly across top.
Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Purse
Ch 79.
Rnd 1- Sc in 2nd ch from hook, and in each st across. Join with sl st to first sc of rnd (78 sc)

Rnd 2- Ch 3, Dc in same st. *Sk 2 sts, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1] in next st*; rep from * to * 24 more times. Sk 2 sts, join to 2nd ch in beg ch 3 (26 2dc clusters)

Rnd 3- *Ch 1, croc st around first 2dc cluster, sc in next cluster;* rep 25 more times. Join to center of 1st croc st of rnd (13 croc sts, 13 sc)

Rnd 4- Ch 3, Dc back into center of croc, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1] in next sc. *In center of next croc, [dc, ch 1, dc]; in next sc, [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1].* Rep from * to * 11 more times. Join with sl st to 2nd ch in beg ch 3. (26 2dc clusters)
Rnd 5 – Ch 1, *sc in next cluster, croc st around next cluster.* Rep from * to * 12 more times. Join with sl st to first sc (13 sc, 13 croc)
Rnd 6 – Ch 3, Dc in same sc, *[dc, ch 1, Dc, ch 1] in center of next croc st, [dc, ch 1, Dc, ch 1] in next sc.* Rep from * to * 12 more times, join with sl st to 2nd ch in beg ch 3. (13 sc, 13 croc sts)
Rnds 7 – 26 – Rep Rnds 3 – 6 five more times
Rnd 27 – Rep Rnd 3 once more.
Fasten off.

Strap
Ch 13.
Row 1 – sc in 2nd ch from hook, and in each st across. Ch 1, turn (12 sc)
Row 2 – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn (12 sc)
Rows 3 – 142 – Rep Row 2. Do not ch 1 at end of row 142. (12 sc per row)

Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing. Fold in half and sew together. Leave rem tail for sewing Strap to Purse.

Finishing
Turn purse inside out. Trim pieces of felt so that both line up with each half of the inside of the purse. Sew Blanket Stitch around pieces of felt. Sew felt pieces to inside of Purse as lining. Sew Purse together along bottom edge while Purse is turned inside out.

Turn Purse right side out. Sew Fin to Flap, and sew entire Flap to top edge of Purse. Attach magnetic clasp. You may choose to sew over the part of clasp that is showing on the outside of the purse. Sew Strap to each edge of the Purse. Weave in all ends.

Here is the finished purse!

I hope you enjoyed crocheting this purse along with me! If you love fun, free patterns, please be sure to subscribe to my email list and follow me on social media. I have so many more crochet patterns coming soon – including mermaid patterns!

Happy Crocheting!

COPYRIGHT:
This pattern is owned by Crafty Kitty Crochet (Melissa Moore). Any reselling or distribution of this pattern is prohibited. Sale of items made using this pattern is welcomed, but I do ask that credit/a link be provided back to my site, craftykittycrochet.com.