When I started thinking about the design for this bag, I knew that I wanted to use Stenli Candy because I wanted it to be 100% cotton with beautiful colour changes. These colours remind me of the ever-changing colours of the sea. I also had in my head that the bag would be made up of different size circles and that they would look a bit like crop circles in the sea!
I know you are probably thinking Andrea you have lost it, there is no such thing, crop circles occur on land not in the ocean. So, I did a little research to see if such a thing actually exist and they do!!!
These sea circles are made by male pufferfish so they can attract a mate who will lay their eggs in the central circle. They even decorate the circles with bits of shell and coral!!!
These circles are so beautiful and intricate, and they were the perfect inspiration for my Sea Circles Bag!
A male pufferfish made this nest to lure females in Japan in 2012.
Photograph Kimiaki Ito via National Geographic.
Whilst the pattern is not as intricate as the sea circles created by these pufferfish, the yarn creates its own patterns that are a tribute to these beautiful designs.
One of the main reasons I had for using all of these circles in my pattern was the method used in making them. I was thinking of the meditative counting used in crocheting in the round and how the repetition would be lovely and soothing (I have a way that I count when I crochet in the round that sounds a little mantric in my head!).
Here's the pattern!
I used part of a Stenli Candy in colour way 876 for my Sea Circles bag. It is 100% Cotton and has the strength needed to pack all sorts of goodies into my bag!
I used a 3.5mm Clover Amour hook and had some trusty stitch markers and my scissors on hand!
Please note that I use UK terms throughout the pattern!
Extra Large Circle - make 1
Round 1: 6 double crochet into a magic ring
Round 2: 2 double crochet into every stitch
Round 3: 1 double crochet in the next stitch 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat till the end of the round
Round 4: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 5: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 6: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 7: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
We now start staggering our rounds
Round 8: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 6 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 9: 1 double crochet into the next 7 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 10: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 8 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) Repeat
Round 11: 1 double crochet into the next 9 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 12: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 10 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 13: 1 double crochet into the next 11 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 14: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 12 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 15: 1 double crochet into the next 13 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 16: 1 double crochet into the next 6 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 14 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 17: 1 double crochet into the next 15 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 18: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 1 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 16 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 19: 1 double crochet into the next 17 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 20: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 18 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 21: 1 double crochet into the next 19 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 22: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 20 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 23: 1 double crochet into the next 21 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 24: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches, 1 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 22 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 25: 1 double crochet into the next 23 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 26: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 24 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 27: 1 double crochet into the next 25 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 28: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 26 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 29: 1 double crochet into the next 27 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 30: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 28 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 31: 1 double crochet into the next 29 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 32: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 30 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 33: 1 double crochet into the next 31 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 34: 1 double crochet into the next 6 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 32 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 35: 1 double crochet into the next 33 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 36: 1 double crochet into the next 7 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 34 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 37: 1 double crochet into the next 35 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 38: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 36 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 39: 1 double crochet into the next 37 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 40: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 38 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 41: 1 double crochet into the next 39 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 42: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 40 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat. Fasten off.
Large Circle - make 2
Round 1: 6 double crochet into a magic ring
Round 2: 2 double crochet into every stitch
Round 3: 1 double crochet in the next stitch 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat till the end of the round
Round 4: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 5: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 6: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 7: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
We now start staggering our rounds
Round 8: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 6 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 9: 1 double crochet into the next 7 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 10: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 8 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) Repeat
Round 11: 1 double crochet into the next 9 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 12: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 10 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 13: 1 double crochet into the next 11 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 14: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 12 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 15: 1 double crochet into the next 13 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 16: 1 double crochet into the next 6 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 14 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 17: 1 double crochet into the next 15 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 18: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 1 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 16 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 19: 1 double crochet into the next 17 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 20: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 18 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 21: 1 double crochet into the next 19 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 22: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 20 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat. Fasten off.
Handle
Part 1 - Base Circle 1:
Round 1: 6 double crochet into a magic ring (alternatively chain 4 and close with a slip stitch to create a ring)
Round 2: 2 double crochet into every stitch
Round 3: 1double crochet in the next stitch, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat till the end of the round
Round 4: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 5: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat fasten off
Part Two Base Circle 2 and handle:
Round 1: 6 double crochet into a magic ring (alternatively chain 4 and close with a slip stitch to create a ring)
Round 2: 2 double crochet into every stitch
Round 3: 1 double crochet in the next stitch, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat till the end of the round
Round 4: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 5: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 6: chain 100
At this point we will join to the first base circle we made for the handle in part 1.
Round 7: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat around the circle.
At the end of the circle one double crochet into each of the 100 chains.
1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat around the circle
Round 8: 1 dc into each stitch (across the 100 Stitches and around both circles).
Fasten off.
My handle is 3 rows wide but if you would like a wider handle then add as many rows as you need to get the width that you are happy with remembering to increase the base circles!
At this stage I still had quite a bit of the blue left. I wound this into a ball to be used later and so I could access the next colour! I also decided to deconstruct the remainder of my Stenli Candy so I could use all of the colours in the bag. I was aware that I would have some leftover yarn and wanted to make sure all the gorgeous colour combinations were used in my bag!
Medium Circle - make 1
Round 1: 6 double crochet into a magic ring
Round 2: 2 double crochet into every stitch
Round 3: 1 double crochet in the next stitch 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat till the end of the round
Round 4: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 5: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 6: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 7: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
We now start staggering our rounds
Round 8: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 6 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 9: 1 double crochet into the next 7 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 10: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 8 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) Repeat
Round 11: 1 double crochet into the next 9 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 12: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 10 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 13: 1 double crochet into the next 11 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch repeat
Round 14: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 12 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 15: 1 double crochet into the next 13 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 16: 1 double crochet into the next 6 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next Stitch (1 double crochet into the next 14 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 17: 1 double crochet into the next 15 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat. Fasten off.
Small Circle - make 4
Round 1: 6 double crochet into a magic ring
Round 2: 2 double crochet into every stitch
Round 3: 1 double crochet in the next stitch 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat till the end of the round
Round 4: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 5: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 6: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 7: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
We now start staggering our rounds
Round 8: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 6 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat
Round 9: 1 double crochet into the next 7 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 10: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 8 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch) Repeat
Round 11: 1 double crochet into the next 9 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 12: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches, 2 double crochet into the next stitch (1 double crochet into the next 10 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch) repeat. Fasten off.
Extra Small Circle - make 2
Round 1: 6 double crochet into a magic ring
Round 2: 2 double crochet into every stitch
Round 3: 1 double crochet in the next stitch 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat till the end of the round
Round 4: 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 5: 1 double crochet into the next 3 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 6: 1 double crochet into the next 4 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat
Round 7: 1 double crochet into the next 5 stitches 2 double crochet into the next stitch repeat. Fasten off.
And now it's time to assemble!!!
I laid the extra large circle out first so I could place all my other circles on top of it. I spent some time pinning the large, medium, small and extra small circles to each other in a way that covered almost all of the extra large circle and that I was happy with. I placed the circles overlapping each other and spread the colours out.
Note that the back circle is slightly larger than the front piece allowing you to either fold it over the front of the bag for security (and place a button etc. for closure).
Once I was happy with the layout of my circles, I removed the pinned circles (keeping them all together) from the extra large circle. I then started to sew them all together using simple stitches. You can sew them together using any stitches you are happy with. You could even use a sewing machine to save you some work (I wish I had thought of that sooner!!!).
Once you have sewn all the circles together (excluding the extra large circle) place the two sections together with right sides facing out. I joined the front and back pieces together using a simple double crochet around the edges.
You will have some areas where there might be a little bit of a gap between the front and back piece, don't worry about this at all, you just extend the double crochet stitch to bridge the gap. You can see in the next picture how I have done this with the extended double crochet stitches. It gives the finished bag some interesting curves on the edges!
Once you have finished joining the front and back fasten off.
It's time to add the handle!
I attached the handle by sewing one of the base circles of the handle to the top left hand side of the front panel:
and the other base circle to the left hand side of the back panel:
Taking care not to twist the handle as you are sewing it on!
Lastly, I added the gorgeous heart shaped centre pull from my Stenli Candy as an embellishment on the handles base circle on the back panel!
You are welcome to share the pattern and sell your finished Sea Circles Bag, however, please acknowledge that the design belongs to Yarn Me Calm.
Please respect my rights as a designer, thank you!
If you have questions about this pattern, please contact me at
I hope you enjoyed making the Sea Circles bag as much I did!
Andrea x