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This book shows you how to turn yarn scraps into beautiful home décor, thoughtful gifts, or something just for you. For a full look at all the patterns in Little Crochet Projects, read my book review at the end of this post. In the meantime, enjoy this free crochet pattern for the Granny Squares Purse, featured in the book!
Crocheted patches make a pretty lined purse to complement your summer wardrobe. Tension is important here so make sure you crochet a swatch before embarking on this project.
Approx 16 x 8in (40 x 20cm) each of plain and patterned fabric
Sewing thread to match fabric
Sewing machine
Sewing needle
Tapestry needle
Approx 6in (15cm) purse frame
Fabric glue
Tension
6 sets of 3 tr and 1ch and 10 rows of treble stitches to 4in (10cm) on 2.5mm hook.
Use larger or smaller hook if necessary to obtain correct tension.
Special Abbreviation
3trcl (3 treble cluster): Yarn round hook, insert hook into next st, catch yarn and draw back through st (3 loops on hook), catch yarn again and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), *yrh, insert hook into same st, catch yarn and draw back through st (4 loops on hook), catch yarn and draw through 2 loops* (3 loops on hook), repeat from * to * once more (4 loops on hook), yrh, draw through all 4 loops.
CIRCLE IN A SQUARE PATCH
With 2.5mm hook and A, make 6 ch and sl st to first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: 3 ch to count as first tr, 1 tr into the ring, 1 ch, (2 tr into ring, 1 ch) 5 times, sl st to the third of 3 ch (6 sets of 2 tr).
Round 2: Sl st into next st, sl st into next 1 ch sp, 3 ch to count as first tr, (1 tr, 1 ch, 2 tr, 1 ch) into the same 1 ch sp, (2 tr, 1 ch) twice into each of the next five 1 ch sps, sl st to third of 3 ch (12 sets of 2 tr).
Round 3: Sl st into next st, sl st into next 1 ch sp, 3 ch to count as first tr, 2 tr into the same 1 ch sp, 1 ch, (3 tr into next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 11 times, sl st to third of 3 ch (12 sets of 3 tr).
Round 4: Sl st into next st, work as for Round 3. Fasten off.
Join in B to the first 1 ch sp with a sl st (image 1).
Circle in a Square Granny Square – Image 1
Round 5: 3 ch to count as first tr, (2 tr, 1 ch, 3 tr) into the same 1 ch sp, 1 ch, (3 tr, 1 ch) twice into each of the next eleven 1 ch sps, sl st to third of 3 ch (24 sets of 3 tr). Fasten off.
Join in C to the first 1 ch sp with a sl st.
Round 6: 3 ch to count as first tr, 2 tr into the same 1 ch sp, 1 ch, (3 tr into next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 23 times (24 sets of 3 tr). Sl st to third of 3 ch. Fasten off.
Join in D to the first 1 ch sp with a sl st.
Round 7: 3 ch to count as first tr, 2 tr in same 1 ch sp, *1 ch, 3 htr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch (2 dc in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 3 times, 3 htr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch, (3 tr, 2 ch, 3 tr) in next 1 ch sp to create corner (image 2); rep from * twice more, 1 ch, 3 htr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch (2 dc in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 3 times, 3 htr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch, 3 tr into same 1 ch sp as beginning of round, 2 ch, sl st into third of 3 ch.
Circle in a Square Patch – Granny Squares Purse – Image 2
Round 8: Sl st into the 2 ch sp at the corner, 3 ch to count as first tr, 2 tr in same 2 ch sp, *1 ch, (3 tr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 6 times, (3 tr, 2 ch, 3 tr) in next 2 ch sp; rep from * twice more, 1 ch, (3 tr, in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 6 times, 3 tr into same 2 ch sp as beginning of round, 2 ch, sl st to third of 3 ch (32 sets of 3 tr).
Round 9: Sl st into the 2 ch sp at the corner, 3 ch to count as first tr, 2 tr in same 2 ch sp, *1 ch, (3 tr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 7 times, (3 tr, 2 ch, 3 tr) in next 2 ch sp; rep from * twice more, 1 ch, (3 tr, in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 7 times, 3 tr into same 2 ch sp as beginning of round, 2 ch, sl st to third of 3 ch (36 sets of 3 tr). Fasten off.
Make one more patch to match the first.
SMALL MULTI PATCHWORK
With 2.5mm hook and A, B, C, D or F, make 6 ch and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Work as for the Circle in a Square Patch (6 sets of 2 tr). Fasten off.
Join E to the first 1 ch sp with a sl st.
Round 2: 3 ch to count as first tr, (1 tr, 1 ch, 2 tr, 1 ch) into the same 1 ch sp, (2 tr, 1 ch) twice into each of the next five 1 ch sps, sl st to third of 3 ch (12 sets of 2 tr).
Round 3: Sl st to next st, sl st into next 1 ch sp, 3 ch to count as first tr, 1 tr in the same 1 ch sp, * 1 ch, (2 htr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) twice, (2 tr, 2 ch, 2 tr) in next 1 ch sp to form a corner; rep from * twice more, 1 ch, (2 htr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) twice, 2 tr into same 1 ch sp as beginning of round, 2 ch, sl st to the third of 3 ch. Fasten off.
Make 17 more patches.
Weave in the yarn ends.
Lay the 9 patches out for each side of the purse in the order you would like them.
Join C to corner of first patch with a sl st.
Next: With WS together, 2.5mm hook and C, work 1 dc into back loops only of the 13 stitches along one edge of both pieces at the same time to join.
Do not fasten off, but continue working down the next two sets of patches in the same way to join two rows of patches. Fasten off.
Next: Repeat to join the remaining three patches.
Next: Rejoin C to the corner of a row to be joined across the patch with a sl st.
Work 1 dc into the back loops only of the 39 stitches along the edges of both pieces of each patch at the same time to join. Fasten off.
Next: Repeat to join the remaining row of one side of the purse (image 3).
Small Multi Patchwork – Granny Squares Purse – Image 3
Next: Rejoin C to a corner with a sl st, 1 dc into the back loop only of each st, sl st to first dc (156 sts).
Fasten off. Repeat to finish the other side.
Weave in the ends.
FLOWER PATCH
With 2.5mm hook and F, make 6 ch and sl st to first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: 1 ch, work 16 dc into the ring, sl st to the first dc (16 sts).
Round 2: 6 ch, miss 1 dc, (1 tr in next dc, 3 ch, miss 1 dc) 7 times, sl st to third of 6 ch (8 sps). Fasten off.
Join in C to the first 3 ch sp with a sl st.
Round 3: (In the next 3 ch sp work 1 dc, 1 htr, 3 tr, 1 htr, 1 dc) 8 times, sl st to first dc (8 petals). Fasten off.
Join in D between the first and the last dc with a sl st.
Round 4: Work 1 dc in the same sp, 6 ch, (1 dc between the next 2 dc, 6 ch) 7 times, sl st to first dc (8 spaces).
Round 5: 1 ch, (in the next 6 ch sp work 1 dc, 1 htr, 6 tr, 1 htr, 1 dc) 8 times, sl st to first dc (8 petals).
Fasten off.
Join in E to the middle of the first petal with a sl st (image 4).
Flower Patch – Granny Squares Purse – Image 4
Round 6: 1 dc in same st, *6 ch, (3trcl, 4 ch, 3trcl) into the middle of the next petal (image 5), 6 ch, 1 dc in middle of next petal; rep from * 2 more times, 6 ch, (3trcl, 4 ch, 3trcl) into the middle of the next petal, 6 ch, sl st into first dc.
Fasten off.
Join B into a 4 ch corner sp with a sl st.
Round 7: 3 ch to count as first tr, 2 tr in same 4 ch sp, 1 ch, *(3 tr, 1 ch) twice into each of next two 6 ch sps, (3 tr, 2 ch, 3 tr) into next 4 ch corner sp, 1 ch; rep from * twice more, (3 tr, 1 ch) twice into each of next two 6 ch sps, 3 tr into same 4 ch sp as beginning of round, 2 ch, sl st to third of 3 ch (24 sets of 3 tr). Fasten off.
Join A into a 2 ch corner sp with a sl st.
Flower Patch – Granny Squares Purse – Image 5
Round 8: 3 ch to count as first tr, 2 tr in same 2 ch sp, 1 ch, *(3 tr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 5 times, (3 tr, 2 ch, 3 tr) in next 2 ch sp, 1 ch; rep from * twice more, (3 tr in next 1 ch sp, 1 ch) 5 times, 3 tr into same 2 ch sp as beginning of round, 2 ch, sl st to third of 3 ch (28 sets of 3 tr).
Round 9: Work as for Round 8 of the Circle in a Square patch.
Round 10: Work as for Round 9 of the Circle in a Square patch. Fasten off.
Make one more patch to match the first.
TO FINISH
Weave in the ends and press the patches with a warm iron under a damp cloth.
To join the circle in a square and flower patches
With RS together, miss the 2 ch sp and 3 tr at the corner, miss next 2 sets of 3 tr and rejoin yarn last used to back loop of next tr with a sl st. Working into back loops only on both sides at the same time to join, 1 dc in the same tr, 1 dc in next 2 tr, (1 dc in next ch, 1 dc in next 3 tr) 5 times, 2 dc in each of next 2 ch at corner, (1 dc in next 3 tr, 1 dc in next ch) 8 times, 1 dc in next 3 tr, 2 dc in each of next 2 ch at corner, (1 dc in next 3 tr, 1 dc in next ch) 5 times, 1 dc in the next 3 tr, fasten off (image 6).
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Flower Patch – Granny Squares Purse – Image 6
To join the multi patchwork pieces
With RS together, rejoin C to the side edge with a sl st in the first dc of the second patch. Working into both sides at the same time to join, 1 dc into back loops of the first and the next 24 dc, 2 dc in each of next 2 dc at the corner, 1 dc in the next 37 dc along lower edge, 2 dc in each of next 2 dc at the corner, 1 dc in next 25 dc (image 7). Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Flower Patch – Granny Squares Purse – Image 7
To make the lining
Cut two pieces of fabric each in printed and plain from the lining pattern. Stitch a 3⁄8in (1cm) seam between the dots to join lower and side edges. Cut diagonally across the corners.
With RS together, slip one piece of fabric inside the other, aligning the raw edges at the top and sides. Working on one side at a time, stitch the two pieces of the lining together around the curved top edges between the dots, allowing a 3⁄8in (1cm) seam. Leave an opening of around 5cm on one top edge to turn the piece right side out. Notch the curves (image 8).
Turn the lining RS out and press. Sew the opening together by hand or machine. This way, the raw edges are inside the lining and won’t show through the open work of the crocheted patches.
With the patterned side on the inside, insert the lining into the crocheted purse. Line up the curved edges and pin in place. Sew by hand or machine around the open edges to attach the crocheted piece to the lining (image 9).
Working on one side at a time, apply the glue to the channel of one side of the purse frame, coating the base and sides. Carefully insert the top of the lined crochet and allow the glue to dry. Repeat to attach the other side of the purse frame.
To make the lining – Granny Squares Purse – Image 8To make the lining – Granny Squares Purse – Image 9
This book is the ultimate guide to small and portable crochet projects, featuring clear instructions, photographs and diagrams, an illustrated techniques section and a range of fabulous handmade items to choose from. You’re sure to find something to inspire you in this book!
Extracts supplied with permission by GMC Publications, Little Crochet Projectsby GMC Editors, RRP $9.95, available online and from all good bookshops.
I received a copy of this book to review from GMC Books. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. If you purchase this book after you click on one of my affiliate links in the post, I will receive a small commission for referring you, at no additional cost to you.
Little Crochet Projects are the perfect way to be creative on the go. Whether you want to make something for yourself, a friend or to give as a gift, this book has got you covered. Inside this book, you’ll find thirteen detailed, easy to follow patterns written in UK crochet terms with diagrams and images to help along the way.
The Granny Squares Purse includes instructions for 3 different granny squares, as well as a template from which you can cut out a lining for the purse. The images include how the curves are notched for the fabric to make it sit flap once sewn in place inside the purse.
Crochet Techniques and Stitches
All of the projects are written in UK crochet terms.
If you are used to following US crochet patterns, don’t let the fact that these are written in UK terms hold you back! You can find the US equivalent terms on page 48 and since each stitch is explained in the Crochet Stitches section, with helpful diagrams, it is easy to double check how a stitch is being made.
Getting Started: Hooks, needles, yarn, holding the hook, making a slip knot and holding the yarn.
Crochet Know-How:
Step-by-step written instructions and diagrams are provided for the following stitches:
Chain (ch)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Double Crochet (dc)
Half Treble (htr)
Treble Crochet (tr)
Double Treble (dtr)
Magic Circle
Techniques and finishing instructions also included detailed instructions and diagrams. The following techniques are addressed: Changing colors, fastening off, weaving in ends, sewing up (whip stitch, slip-stitch seam) and double crochet seam.
The Yarns Used:
The yarns used for the some of the projects include (in case you have some in your stash!):
Rowan Kid Classic
Rowan Wool Cotton
Rowan Panama
Rowan Handknit
The other projects listed “oddments of” the yarn I specified in the Little Crochet Project Patterns list above.
Which Little Crochet Project is your favorite?
My favorite Little Crochet Projects are:
The Granny Squares Purse ( I love how there are lining instructions included!!).
The Easy Crochet Belts (I can see myself making one of these for my teen daughter).
The Votive Covers (when I first looked at them with the light shining through I thought they were beaded – it was a trick of the eye and it made me want some for my shelf at home).
I also really love the hanger covers and if we ever start using hangers again (we have only a few in our closet) this would be something I would love to make! The hangers we have on hand have covers on them from my husband’s Grandma and the cover really helps the clothes stay on the hooks! Definitely recommend covers for your hangers if you use them!
If you want to make something special with your yarn stash but don’t have the time for big projects, these portable, little crochet projects are for you! With this collection of clever crochet projects, you can create a range of beautiful, useful items for your home or stunning handmade gifts for friends and family.
Little Crochet Projects – Patterns for 13 Fun, Portable Crochet Projects with bonus pattern excerpt for the Granny Squares Purse! @gmcbooks @gmcpublications
Hooked on crochet? 🧶 This book’s your new BFF! 👫 Dive into a world of portable projects with clear instructions and pics 📖 From beginners to pros, it’s sure to inspire. Psst…check my review for a bonus free pattern! 💖 You’ll ‘knot’ be disappointed! 😉 #CrochetLife #CraftyHands
Dive into a world of creativity with this ultimate guide for small & portable crochet projects! This book is bursting with clarity, inspiration, and a multitude of stunning patterns to choose from 🧶. Photos, diagrams, & a handy techniques section await – creating has never been easier! Want a sneak peek? Head over to my latest book review for a bonus free crochet pattern. Try before you buy! Your next masterpiece is just a stitch away. #CrochetGuide #CraftInspiration
Curated Crochet Essentials Visit my Amazon shop for a handpicked selection of crochet tools, books, and kits.
Love Furls Crochet? Use my discount code OOMBAWKA2025 to receive 15% off the Furls Crochet Collection. Limit 1 use per customer. Expires December 31, 2025.
This is my favorite of your current book reviews. Small project ideas are a must have. I would like to try the spring garland!
What a lovely book! This looks like fun!
I love those belts! I definitely would make at least one of them.
these are so cute!
These are very cute and I was also drawn to the granny change purse.
I was immediately drawn to the granny square purses! I crochet a lot when I am on the go in waiting rooms etc. so bringing a bulky blanket just doesn’t work out for me. So I love the idea of crocheting small projects when I’m out and about. I will put this book on my Christmas list! Thank you! (Sorry if this posted twice, the screen went blank and I wasn’t sure it uploaded correctly.)
This is my favorite of your current book reviews. Small project ideas are a must have. I would like to try the Boho Chic Shopper.
Such cute squares and I love the simplicity of it with a great finished project that’s useable for any age.
I like this book the best!
The book looks like there are many items I would make. I love the hanging baskets and the granny square bag sounds cute. I would especially like to see the part about lining the bag.
What a lovely book. I also like the belts and votive candle covers but also like the hanging baskets. What fun 😀
This is my favorite of your current book reviews. Small project ideas are a must have. I would like to try the spring garland!
What a lovely book! This looks like fun!
I love those belts! I definitely would make at least one of them.
these are so cute!
These are very cute and I was also drawn to the granny change purse.
I was immediately drawn to the granny square purses! I crochet a lot when I am on the go in waiting rooms etc. so bringing a bulky blanket just doesn’t work out for me. So I love the idea of crocheting small projects when I’m out and about. I will put this book on my Christmas list! Thank you! (Sorry if this posted twice, the screen went blank and I wasn’t sure it uploaded correctly.)
This is my favorite of your current book reviews. Small project ideas are a must have. I would like to try the Boho Chic Shopper.
Such cute squares and I love the simplicity of it with a great finished project that’s useable for any age.
I like this book the best!
The book looks like there are many items I would make. I love the hanging baskets and the granny square bag sounds cute. I would especially like to see the part about lining the bag.
What a lovely book. I also like the belts and votive candle covers but also like the hanging baskets. What fun 😀