May Day Purse Free Crochet Pattern

Let's bring back May Day, shall we? I still vividly recall those elementary school days when we'd craft sweet little woven paper baskets, fill them with flowers, and hang them on a neighbor’s doorknob to celebrate the arrival of spring. Now imagine how adorable it would be to use the May Day Purse crochet pattern to create a similar basket, perfect for filling with flowers and gifting on May Day!

This pattern is perfect for beginners – it's super quick and easy, meaning you can whip up a May Day basket for all your friends in no time! And the best part? Once May Day is over, this adorable creation transforms into the cutest retro purse for your little one. It's like getting two charming accessories in one!

Are you someone who does crochet markets? These little flower purses are a quick make that would fly off the shelves at any spring or summer craft market. Add a cute button or clasp closure at the top of the purse and you have a best seller at an affordable price point due to its minimal material requirements.

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Video Tutorial

For those who prefer visual demonstrations, I've created a video tutorial on YouTube before we dive into the written instructions.

Finished Measurements

The purse is 14 cm (5.5”) wide. The purse strap length is customizable. The sample has a strap length of 90 cm (35.5").

Yarn

You will need the following amounts of a worsted weight (4) yarn:

• Color A

  • Meters: 15

  • Yards: 16.5

• Color B

  • Meters: 40

  • Yards: 44

The sample was made using Lily Sugar’n Cream yarn. Lily Sugar’n Cream is a 100% cotton, worsted weight (4) yarn that contains 184 meters (200 yards) per 113 grams (4 oz).

Here are some other yarn options I would recommend:

Cascade Yarns Nifty Cotton Yarn

• a soft and sturdy 100% cotton yarn that’s perfect for home décor, washcloths, and everyday accessories. It’s smooth to work with, easy to care for, and comes in a beautiful range of colors.

Comfy Worsted Yarn

• a soft, sturdy cotton-acrylic blend that’s perfect for making durable yet drapey crochet purses. Its smooth texture makes it easy to work with, while still holding shape nicely for structured or slouchy designs. Comes in a variety of colors to match any style.

Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton

• a mercerized, 100% cotton yarn with a subtle sheen that’s perfect for crochet purses and other accessories that need structure and durability. Its smooth texture makes stitching a breeze, and it holds up beautifully with everyday use. Available in a wide range of vibrant colors, it’s ideal for both casual totes and polished handbags.

Hook Size and Notions

5 mm crochet hook

4.5 mm crochet hook

Tapestry needle

2 stitch markers

Scissors

Gauge

First 4 rounds should measure 5 cm (2”) in diameter

I have a great tutorial on crochet gauge here.

Pattern Abbreviations

BLO - back loop(s) only

ch(s) – chain(s)

dc - double crochet

PM - place marker

rep – repeat

rnd(s) - round(s)

sc – single crochet

sk - skip

sl st – slip stitch

st(s) – stitch(es)

yo – yarn over

( ) - work a group of stitches all in the same stitch or space

** – repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed

These are US crochet terms from the Craft Yarn Council standards.

Special Stitches and Techniques

Invisible Join

Cut the working end of your yarn and pull it up and through the last stitch that was worked

• Thread the tail of yarn through a tapestry needle.

• Skip the first stitch (the beginning stitch of the round), insert your tapestry needle into the second stitch from front to back through both loops of the stitch, pull yarn through.

• Insert your tapestry needle from front to back into the back loop only of the stitch the yarn is originating from, pull yarn through.

• Done! Don’t forget to securely weave in your ends.

I have a video on YouTube demonstrating how to do a crochet invisible join here.

Notes

• This is an easy level pattern.

• This pattern is worked in un-joined rounds for rounds 1 - 5, and joined rounds for rounds 6 - 7.

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Pattern

Flowers (make 2)

Using a 5mm crochet hook and color A

Rnd 1 make a magic circle, ch 1, sc 6 times in magic circle, pull to close magic circle (6 sts)

Rnd 2 sc 2 times in each st around (12 sts)

Rnd 3 *sc, sc 2 times in next st* rep around (18 sts)

Rnd 4 *sc in next 2 sts, sc 2 times in next st, rep around (24 sts)

Fasten off using invisible join. Using a 5mm crochet hook join color B in any stitch, ch 1

Rnd 5 *sc in next 3 sts, sc 2 times in next st, rep around (30 sts)

Rnd 6 sc in 1st st, *dc, (dc 2 times) in next 2 sts, dc, sc* rep 5 times total, dc, (dc 2 times) in next 2 sts, dc, sl st to 1st sc st (42 sts)

Rnd 7 ch 1, sc in same st *dc, (dc 2 times) in next 4 sts, dc, sc* rep 5 times total, dc, (dc 2 times) in next 4 sts, dc, sl st to 1st sc st, sk next 5 sts, PM in next st, sk next 42 sts, PM in next st (66 sts)

Fasten off, weave in all ends.

Assembly

Line both flower motifs up with wrong sides together and the stitch markers matched.

With a 4.5mm crochet hook, join color B in the stitches containing the stitch markers on the left side. Chain 1 and single crochet through the stitches containing the stitch markers of both flower motifs.

sc through the back loops only of the stitches of each flower motif around until you reach the stitches containing the stitch markers on the right.

Note: “Back loops” refer to the loops situated at the back of the flower motif when viewed from its front side, rather than the loops at the back relative to your position.

Create the strap as follows:

1. Insert hook back into both of the stitches containing the stitch markers and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook).

2. Yo, pull up a loop through first loop on hook only (2 loops on hook).

3. Drop the first loop off of the hook. Hold this loop with your non-dominant hand so it does not unravel (1 loop on hook)

4. Yo, pull up a loop through the second loop on hook, which should be the only loop on your hook (1 loop on hook).

5. Return the first loop onto your hook (2 loops on hook)

6. Repeat steps 2 - 5 until your purse strap has reached your desired length. (Keep in mind that if you are working with 100% cotton yarn, or a yarn with a high cotton content, your purse strap will stretch out a lot, make is smaller than you think.)

7. Yo, pull up a loop through first loop on hook only

8. slip stitch into the stitches of both flower motifs where the border around the purse began (the stitches that contained the left side stitch markers)

9. Fasten off and use an invisible join

Weave in all ends

Share Your Work!

You’ve put in a lot of effort to create your May Day Flower Purse, and you should be proud of your achievement! Share your pictures using #stitchandhoundcrochet to connect with the community and receive support and feedback. Don’t forget to check out the social links below!

Pattern Support

If you have any questions or need a little extra help with your May Day Flower Purse, don’t hesitate to reach out! Join the Stitch and Hound Facebook group! for pattern support, tips, and a wonderful community of fellow crocheters. It’s the perfect place to ask questions, share your progress, and connect with others who are crafting along with you. I’m there to offer help and support every step of the way!