A pop of color

Envelope bag in colors of a rainbow—crochet it with Molla Mills’s pattern

This shoulder bag, designed by craft influencer Molla Mills, is crocheted using basic stitches. The bag’s undulating pattern stands out beautifully in the striped flap. Once you’ve made one bag in rainbow colors, why not try making a black-and-white one?

Author Molla Mills

Images Lankava

November 12, 2025Lue suomeksi

Size: 27 cm (10.6 in) × 23 cm (9 in).

Crocheted rainbow bag—materials

12-ply Liina cotton twine (100% cotton, 500 g/roll): 100 g natural white (1), 15 g red (60), 15 g yellow (25), 15 g cobalt blue (74), and 15 g orchid (65)
12-ply Molla cotton twine (100% cotton, 500 g/roll): 15 g tomato (44) and 15 g jade (51)
crochet hook 1.75 mm (or size needed for gauge)
2 metal rings (15 mm (0.6 in))
2 trigger clips
2 leather straps (75 cm (29.5 in) long, 6 mm (0.24 in) wide)

Crocheted rainbow bag on model’s shoulder

Crocheted rainbow bag—pattern

First crochet three identical triangular pieces. Begin from the center of the triangle as follows: With the natural white yarn, ch 4 to start.

Row 1: Work 2 dc + 3 ch + 3 dc in the first ch of the foundation chain.
Row 2: Ch 3 + 2 dc in the same st, 3 dc + 3 ch + 3 dc in the ch-sp (= tip of the triangle), 3 dc in the third ch of the previous row. End every row in the same way.
Row 3: Ch 3 + 2 dc in the same st, 3 dc between the dc groups of the previous row, 3 dc + 3 ch + 3 dc in the ch-sp, 3 dc between dc groups, 3 dc in the third ch st.
Row 4: Ch 3 + 2 dc in the same st, *3 dc between dc groups*, repeat from * to * once more, then 3 dc + 3 ch + 3 dc in the ch-sp, repeat from * to * twice, and finally work 3 dc in the third ch. Mark the last dc (see chart). Fasten off and weave in ends. Crochet two more identical pieces.

The pattern moves in waves across the entire length of the bag. The changing colors create a fun effect.

Bag body

Begin crocheting from the dc on the triangular piece marked in black in the chart.

Row 1: Ch 3 + 2 dc in the marked dc, *3 dc between dc groups*, repeat from * to * 2 more times, then 3 dc + 3 ch + 3 dc in the ch-sp at the tip, 3 dc between dc groups, repeat from * to * 2 more times, then 3 dc in the third ch. Then bring in the second piece, starting again at the marked dc and repeat Row 1. Finally, take the third piece and do the same.

Row 2: Ch 3, *3 dc between all dc groups, 3 dc + 3 ch + 3 dc in the ch-sp at the tip, 3 dc between all dc groups, skip the last dc group of the piece you just crocheted and the first dc group of the next piece = 6 dc* (see chart). Continue crocheting the next pieces the same way, i.e., repeat from * to * 2 more times. Finish with dc in the third ch, then turn. Repeat Row 2 another 35 times = 36 rows in total. Fasten off and weave in the end.

Continue by crocheting the flap of the bag in different colors. Keep repeating Row 2 and create stripes as follows: 4 rows red, 4 rows tomato, 4 rows yellow, 4 rows jade, 4 rows cobalt blue, and 4 rows orchid. After each stripe, fasten off and weave in the ends as you go. Finally, crochet around the entire piece as follows. Begin at the right corner of the flap: with the natural white yarn, sc in each dc along the zigzag edge, and 3 sc in the ch-sp at each tip. Continue along the long side by crocheting 3 sc snugly at each row of dc. On the foundation edge, make 3 sc per dc (= 84 dc). At the end of the row, ch 1 and turn. Crochet 4 more rows as follows: *1 sc in each st, ch 1 to turn*, repeat from * to * 3 more times. Crochet along the remaining long side the same way as the other one. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Finishing

Place the work on a table with the right side facing down and the straight foundation edge closest to you. Fold the lower edge up by 23 cm (9 in) and pin the top corners to form a pocket, then crochet the long sides together as follows: starting from the bottom right corner on the back side, sl st the outer loops of the opposite stitches together. Continue by working a row of sl sts along the flap edges, and finally work along the other side, joining the opposite stitches. Fasten off. Hand-sew a metal ring to both sides of the bag, 23 cm (9 in) from the bottom edge.

Strap

Make two holes in one end of the leather strap: the first 0.5 cm (0.2 in) from the end, and the second 1 cm (0.4 in) from the first. Then slip the trigger clip onto the strap, fold up 3 cm (1.2 in) of the strap end, and mark the second set of holes through the previous ones. Sew through the matching holes with twine. Prepare the other strap in the same way. Attach the trigger clips to the rings on the bag and tie the open strap ends together.

Yarn and pattern inquiries: Lankava.