My latest blog post is all about making a small bag out of raffia, a sustainable palm fiber. This versatile bag is perfect for storing small accessories or as a cell phone case. With a crochet hook and the high-quality DMC raffia, which is available in different sizes and colors in my shop, you can easily make this bag yourself.

Get inspired by my DIY tutorial and create your own individual shoulder bag!

You will need: 60 g DMC Raffia Bast, crochet hook in size 3.5 or adapted to your needs, blunt needle, scissors, glass large-hole wheel e.g. from Rayher in size 8.7.

Start with the DMC Eco Vita Raffia yarn and a NS 3.5. In total you will need about 70 g for this bag size.

For the bag, start with a chain of 25 stitches or until you have reached a length of approx. 13 cm. Now crochet 24 sc into the 2nd ch from the hook, each back into the ribs.

It is crocheted in rounds until the end.

1. div., 22 sc, 4 sc in the last st on this side, 22 sc, div. (=52)

2. 2x dil., 22 dc, 4x dil., 22 dc, 2x dil. (=60)

Sew your starting thread or crochet it at the same time, so you have already sewn it.

Now crochet 41 rounds of sc or until you have reached a total height of approx. 17 cm.

To finish the bag with a nice waistband, crochet the last round with twisted crab stitches*.

*Pull the yarn through the single crochet stitch so that there are 2 loops on the hook. Pull the stitch a little loosely, twist the crochet hook 360 degrees, yarn over and pull the yarn over through both loops of the crochet hook.*

Cut the thread and sew it well inside the bag.

Your shoulder bag now has a size of approx. 12 x 17 cm.

For the crossover band you need a total length of approx. 106 cm.

Start crocheting the ribbon by laying the bag flat in front of you (you can also iron it at a low temperature to help) and marking the sides where the ribbon should be.

Leave a starting thread of about 15 cm. Pick up the yarn again and crochet it with a sc. Crochet a chain of chain stitches until the total length is about 106 cm and finish the band on the other side that you previously marked with a sl st. Cut the end thread to the same length (about 15 cm) and pull both threads outwards. These will be knotted at a later date and used for decoration.

Decorate your small shoulder bag with beads or ribbons as you like.

Complete!

I'd love to see your little shoulder bag too. Tag me at @_ma_lea_ or @malea.boutique.