FREE PATTERN - Mermaid Games Clutch- Ravin Sekai Designs 1

For the free pattern for this clutch please continue on this page. Please consider supporting me by purchasing the 100% ad-free PDF download with full crochet charts for this pattern on my Ravelry or ETSY pages. Or consider joining my Patreon for member perks.

Spring is in the air!

So, I wanted to make something using a lot of color for this weeks pattern. What’s better than a super cute and flirty clutch bag?

I also wanted something I could use for a variety of different purposes. The Mermaid Games Clutch is what I came up with. This clutch bag has so many purposes, pretty much if you can think of it, it works. Use it as a makeup pouch, a book cover, a DS/Nintendo Switch case, or a cute clutch bag! And there’s a ton of ways you can customize it as well! I put snaps on mine, but you can add buttons, toggle closures, straps! The options are endless!

ABOUT THIS Clutch

I made this clutch with a front lace panel and then used hdc to work up the inner liner. I liked having the inner liner be hdc because it helped the clutch maintain shape and kept it nice and sturdy. However, if you prefer, you can alway use a fabric liner for this bag. Or, even make the hdc liner for sturdiness, then add a fabric liner as well! I can see that being really cute! (I can’t sew though, but if you do this, make sure to send me pictures! I’d love to see it!)

As for the yarn for this project, I used medium weight 4 yarn to make my clutch bags. For the rainbow (and especially mermaid-ish) clutch, I used Red Heart Super Saver in Polo Stripes and Soft White, and the purple clutch is crocheted in Big Twist Value Yarn, colorways Lilac and Damson Purple. Both of these yarns have very similar gauges, so there wasn’t a noticeable difference in gauge or size.

This bag can be worked up in just about any medium weight 4 yarn and would look absolutely fantastic. Gauge isn’t particularly important for this project (yay! you will rarely hear me say that!!)

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!!

Thank you!

to my awesome testers!

Chantel, Ally, Lisa, Ilyssa, Kat, Lizzy, and Thora.

click for larger image

I LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOU CREATE!

Please share your creations with the community on social media by tagging @ravinsekaidesigns and hashtag #mermaidgamesclutch

I can’t wait to see the beautiful things you come up with!

Facebook: Ravin Sekai Designs
Ravelry: RavinSekai
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Patreon: Ravin Sekai Designs

WHAT YOU NEED:

Needle Size: 4.5mm hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

Yarn: Medium weight 4 yarn. Samples crocheted in Red Heart Super Saver (rainbow) and Big Twist Value. 116yds C1, 144yds C2.

Gauge: 14.5-15st/11 rows= 4” in hdc

Finished Clutch Sizing: (before sewing) approx 16.5” long x 9” wide gently stretched.

Other: a set of snaps or buttons for fasteners. I used snaps, but buttons would look cute too!

FREE PATTERN - Mermaid Games Clutch - Ravin Sekai Designs 2

ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations in US terms
C1, C2: color 1 (lace color) color 2 (liner color)
Ch: chain
Sl st: slip stitch
Sc: single crochet
Hdc: half double crochet
Dc: double crochet
Rep: repeat
Sk: skip
Dctog: double crochet 2 stated sts together. Yo, insert hook in st, pull through st, yo, pull through first 2 loops on hook, yo, put hook through next st, yo, pull through st, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through last 3 loops.
FO: fasten off
WS: wrong side. The side you will not have facing outward.

Notes:

1. Ch1 at the beginning of the rows does not count as a stitch.

2. Ch2 and ch3 at beginning of row counts as a stitch when stated.

3. The inches stated are approximate. Depending on the weight 4 yarn you use, your measurements might be slightly off. With Red Heart, the final bag came out to about 16” x 8.75” and with Big Twist Value it was about 16.5” x 9.5”.

THE PATTERN:

For the free pattern for this clutch please continue on this page. Please consider supporting me by purchasing the 100% ad-free PDF download with full crochet charts for this pattern on my Ravelry or ETSY pages. Or consider joining my Patreon for member perks.

Front:

With C1 Ch 37

Row 1: sc in the 1st ch from hook, 35sc across. (36st)

Row 2: ch1, sc in 1st st, *ch1, sk3, [3dc, ch2, 3dc] in next st, ch1, sk3, sc in next 2 st*, rep * * twice more, ch1, sk3, [3dc, ch2, 3dc] in next st, ch1, sk3, sc in last st. Turn.

Row 3: ch3, sk2, dc in 2nd dc below, *ch3, [sc, ch3, sc] in ch2 between 3dc cluster, ch3, sk next dc, dctog the 2nd (center) dc and the 2nd dc in the next 3dc cluster (the center dc of the 3)* rep * * twice more, ch3, [sc, ch3, sc] in last ch2 between 3dc clusters, ch3, sk next dc, dctog next dc and last sc of row below. Turn.

Row 4: ch1, sc in 1st st, *ch1, [3dc, ch2, 3dc] in ch3 between sc, ch1, 1sc in ch3 on each side of the dctog st below (1 in each ch3 on either side)* rep * * twice more, ch1, [3dc, ch2, 3dc] in last ch3 between sc, ch1, sc in last st. Turn.

Rep Row 3 - Row 4 12 more times (approx 14” - 15.5”).

Switch to C2, rep Row 3 one final time.

FREE PATTERN - Mermaid Games Clutch - Ravin Sekai Designs 4

Border:

turn piece 90 degrees clockwise. Ch3 (counts as 1 dc), 56dc evenly down the side, [2dc, ch2, 2dc] in the first starting ch to round the corner, 28dc evenly along bottom (sk every 5th st or so), [2dc, ch2, 2dc] in the last ch to round the corner, and 57dc evenly back up the 2nd side.

FO

Weave in ends.

Liner:

(check out Finishing for directions on how to add a button hole if desired)

With C2 Ch 60

Row 1: hdc in the 3rd ch from hook (counts as 1 ch2 and 1hdc), 57hdc across. Turn. (59st approx 16” - 16.5” wide)

Row 2: ch2 (counts as 1 hdc), 58 hdc placing last st in turning ch2 below (59st)

Rep Row 2 24 more times (26 times total). (8.75” - 9”) If liner looks a little wide, remove 1 - 2 rows of hdc.

FO

Side Panels:

Ch19

Row 1: dc in the 3rd ch from hook (counts as 1 ch2 and 1dc), 16dc across. Turn. (18st)

Row 2: ch3 (counts as a dc), 17dc across. (18st)

FO

Make 2

Weave in ends

Assembly:

Front to Liner:

If needed, you can pin your front piece and liner with WS facing inside together. Liner may seem a little too big, but a slightly larger liner will keep the lace stretched. With the last row of the lace pattern to the right, starting in the upper right hand corner, put your hook through both panels and draw up a loop, sl st each stitch together down the side. When you get to the bottom, ch1, then sc the bottoms of the 2 panels together (you can continue sl st if you prefer, but I liked the look of sc at the bottom better). When you finish sc the bottoms together, continue up the last side and sl st the 2 panels together.

You should still have the top open. In order to sew this bit together, take a tapestry needle and sew this edge, being careful to sew the same colors together in order to hide the stitches.

Side Panels to Piece:

To sew in the sides, fold the clutch into 3rds with the pouch portion being about 5” long and 1” wide and pin side panels in. (see picture) With a tapestry needle, using your desired stitch (I used the whip stitch) sew the side panels in.

Weave in ends.

Finishing:

Finally, you will need some closures for your bag. I preferred sew-in snaps for my bag, but you can also put a double or single toggle style fastener with buttons on the clutch as well!!

Another way to finish is to incorporate a button hole into the liner. A simple way to do this is to use a ch1 in place of an hdc, approx 6-7 sts in from one side of the clutches lining on Row 13. This will create a gap perfect for a medium to large button.