New Crochet Patterns Inspired by the Sea

I am dreaming of the sea… Here in the Czech Republic, we are heading into another wave of extreme heat, and I cannot wait for the beginning of autumn, when I will have vacations with a relaxing week by the sea. There is something incredibly calming about being by the water. Although I love the mountains too, the sea will always be my favourite, whether it is warm or cold.

The "sea style" returns to the spotlight every summer, with shapes inspired by marine flora and fauna and a colour palette dominated by blue, white, red, and gold. And a little bird whispered in my ear that shell shapes have become especially popular lately, particularly in bag designs.

Handmade bags are also in high demand every year.

I'm probably a little late to the party, but better late than never, right? Please welcome my newest design—the Shell Bag!

You can find the Shell Bag pattern on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.

When I started thinking about how to create the shell shape, I felt that crochet short rows would be the perfect technique. I used the simplest version of short rows, working only single crochet stitches into the back loops.

There are no tricky slip stitches or complicated techniques involved, making the pattern easy to follow and enjoyable to crochet. The Shell Bag is worked as a single piece, with no sewing or joining required. You can adjust the shape as you go by making the top opening either straight or more angled, depending on your preference.

You can also crochet your own strap or attach a ready-made one if you prefer.

The pattern includes instructions for two sizes: a smaller crossbody bag and a large shopper.

I used Scheepjes Mighty yarn, a beautiful natural blend of cotton and jute fibres, but you can easily substitute it with any yarn you have on hand. Finer yarn will create a smaller bag, while thicker yarn will result in a wonderfully oversized and chunky accessory.

I lined my bag with linen fabric, although this step is entirely optional. However, adding a lining helps prevent the crochet fabric from stretching and losing its rounded shape over time.

After finishing both bags, I started thinking about how lovely it would be to use a similar stitch pattern to create a flat, round design that could serve as a trivet, potholder, or even a chair pad.

I still had some Scheepjes Mighty yarn left in my stash, so I decided to give the idea a try. The mandala turned out to be about 30 cm across, which felt a little too small for my taste, so I added a slim wavy border using the same short-row technique.