Crochet a Cozy Pigeon Purse: A Free Whimsical Crossbody Bag Pattern

The Eyes (Make 2!)

Round 1: With Black, start with a magic loop. Ch 1 (counts as first sc), work 5 more sc into the loop. Pull the loop tight, sl st to join. (6 sts) Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

The Beak

Round 1: With Light Gray, Ch14, sl st to first ch to form a ring.
Round 2: Ch1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (14 sts)
Round 3: Ch1, twice, sl st to join. (12 sts)
Round 4: Ch1, twice, sl st to join. (10 sts)
Round 5: Ch1, twice, sl st to join. (8 sts)
Round 6: Ch1, twice, sl st to join. (6 sts)
Round 7: Ch1, twice, sl st to join. (4 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Use your tapestry needle to stitch the pointed end of the beak closed.

The Feet (Make 2!)

Rounds 1-5: With Orange, Ch 6, sl st to first ch to form a ring. Ch 1, work 1 sc in each st around, sl st to join. (5 rounds of 6 sc)
Round 6: *Ch 6, work 5 sc back along the chain you just made, sl st into the next sc of the main ring. Repeat from * three more times to create four toes. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Use the tail to sew the toes together a bit to form a more connected foot shape.

Assembly & Finishing

Attaching the Eyes and Wings

1. Use the long Orange tail on each eye to sew them onto the Right Side of each body piece.
2. Use the long Light Gray tail on each wing to sew them onto the Right Side of each body piece. Before you finish sewing, add a little bit of stuffing to each wing to give them some gentle shape, then close the gap. Weave in all ends on the Wrong Side.

Adding the Lining and Zipper

1. Place one body piece on a folded piece of lining fabric. Trace around it, adding a 1.5 cm (½ inch) seam allowance. Cut out the shape through both layers of fabric so you have two lining pieces.
2. Using light gray thread, hand-sew the zipper to the top edges of the crochet body pieces (along the Teal neck section). The zipper should run from the end of the neck to just before the wings begin.
3. Now, sew the rest of the two body pieces together along the edges using a tapestry needle and yarn, switching colors to match the body sections. Add a small bit of stuffing to the head before you close it completely.
4. Place your two lining pieces together with their wrong sides facing out. Sew around the edges with a sewing machine, using a straight stitch, but leave the zipper section open. Finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch.
5. Turn the lining right side out and insert it into the crochet purse. Pin the open lining edges to the zipper tape with safety pins, folding the raw fabric edge under to hide it.
6. Hand-sew the lining to the zipper tape using a regular needle and light gray thread.

Attaching the Beak and Feet

1. With your scrap of White yarn, embroider a little white patch on the top of the beak.
2. Using the long Light Gray tail, sew the beak onto the head. Before finishing, add a tiny bit of stuffing to the beak, then close the gap.
3. Sew the Orange feet onto the bottom of the body purse using their long tails.

Adding the Strap

1. Sew one D-ring to the end of the tail and the other to the top of the head.
2. Attach one end of the strap to the first D-ring by sewing it securely.
3. Try the purse on! Thread the other end of the strap through the second D-ring, adjust it to a comfortable crossbody length, and pin it in place.
4. Cut off any excess strap material and sew the end securely where you pinned it.