Lichen Diamond Felted Crochet Crossbody Free Pattern

Introduction

The Lichen Diamond Felted Crochet Crossbody is a slim, envelope-shaped bag that looks like something straight out of a Nordic winter wardrobe. It's worked as one simple flat rectangle of single crochet, then seamed and felted so the wool transforms into a dense, fuzzy, matte fabric that holds its shape beautifully. The only colorwork is six alternating lichen-green and pale-lichen diamonds stacked down the center, which give it a quiet, handcrafted charm. If you can single crochet in rows, you can make this bag — the felting does most of the magic for you.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (4), 100% wool, non-superwash (superwash wool will not felt). 200 yards (183 m) per 100 g skein.
  • Color A (moss green): 200 yards
  • Color B (lichen green): 100 yards
  • Color C (pale lichen): 50 yards
• Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, sewing needle and thread, one snap closure, pillowcase (for felting)
• Finished size (after felting): Approximately 9 inches (23 cm) wide x 7 inches (18 cm) high x 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep; strap length 44 inches (112 cm)

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• rep — repeat

Gauge

16 sts and 16 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet before felting; after felting the fabric shrinks approximately 20–25%. Work a small swatch, measure it, then felt it alongside your bag to confirm the final fabric density.

Tips Before You Start

• Check your yarn label. It must be non-superwash 100% wool, or the bag will not felt. Blend in a little alpaca or mohair only if you don't mind a softer, less dense result.
• Work your single crochet a touch looser than usual. Felted fabric tightens considerably, and a slightly relaxed stitch felts more evenly.
• Plan your diamonds before you stitch. Count the center stitches (14–22) and mark them with stitch markers so your motifs stay perfectly centered.
• Keep a tape measure handy. You'll want to check the panel size before seaming so the finished bag lands at the right proportions.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Bag Panel (make 1 in Color A)

Worked flat in sc, turning at the end of each row.

Setup: With A, ch 37.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (36 sts).

Rows 2–72: sc in each st across (36 sts).

Fasten off.

Diamond Colorwork (Colors B and C)

Worked over the center 20 sts of the panel (sts 14–22) using duplicate stitch or surface crochet. Each diamond is centered on the row listed and spans sts 14–22.

• Diamond 1 (B): center at row 10, sts 14–22.
• Diamond 2 (C): center at row 20, sts 14–22.
• Diamond 3 (B): center at row 30, sts 14–22.
• Diamond 4 (C): center at row 40, sts 14–22.
• Diamond 5 (B): center at row 50, sts 14–22.
• Diamond 6 (C): center at row 60, sts 14–22.

Strap (make 1 in Color A)

Setup: With A, ch 6.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (5 sts).

Rows 2–176: sc in each st across (5 sts).

Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Seam the bag: Fold the panel in half with right sides together, matching the short ends. Seam both side edges with sc in A (or whipstitch), then turn right side out.

Attach the strap: Using A, sew each end of the strap to the side seams at your desired height, checking the 44-inch drop against your body before securing.

Felt the bag: Place the bag and strap in a pillowcase and tie it closed. Wash in hot water with detergent on a heavy-duty cycle, checking every 5 minutes until you reach the desired shrinkage (about 20–25%). Rinse in cold water, shape while damp, and air dry.

Add the snap: Sew the snap closure to the center of the flap (the folded top edge) and to the matching position on the bag front.

Weave in ends and block lightly to smooth the felted surface.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the palette: Try charcoal with cream diamonds for a monochrome look, or rust with ochre for a warmer autumn version.
• Add a lining: A simple cotton lining sewn in before the snap keeps small items from catching on the felted wool.
• Adjust the strap: Shorten the strap to 30 inches for a shoulder bag, or lengthen it to 50 inches for a longer crossbody fit.