Tunisian Watermelon Bag – Free Tunisian Crochet Pattern

What is the Tunisian Watermelon Bag?

The Tunisian Watermelon Bag is a cheerful, fruity shoulder bag made using Tunisian crochet stitches, a technique that bridges the gap between crochet and knitting. It features a textured pink stitch body, a green top to mimic the watermelon rind, and fun black “seeds” made from buttons! The strap is a chunky twist of pink and green yarn for a sweet finishing touch.

This bag is the perfect stash-buster and a great introduction to Tunisian crochet if you’re new to the technique. It’s worked flat and seamed, so you don’t need to worry about anything too complicated.

Why You’ll Love This Project

• Beginner-friendly Tunisian crochet stitches
• Bright, summery colors that pop
• Great stash-busting project
• Functional and super cute
• Makes a fun handmade gift for kids, teens, or watermelon lovers

If you’re looking for a whimsical summer crochet pattern, this one checks all the boxes!

The Stitches You’ll Use

This project focuses on one of the most popular Tunisian stitches:

• Tunisian Simple Stitch – This is the foundation row of the bag. It gets the project started.
• Tunisian Crossed Simple Stitch – This is the top edge of the bag, giving it the fun mesh look.
• Tunisian Smock Stitch – This is the main stitch of the front of the bag.
• Tunisian Knit Stitch – This is the main stitch of the back of the bag.

If you’ve never done Tunisian crochet, don’t stress—it’s easier than it looks. You’ll be using a long crochet hook to pick up loops across a row (called the forward pass), then work them off (the return pass). That’s it!

There’s also some basic single crochet used for joining pieces and finishing edges.

Let’s Talk Yarn

This bag works great with acrylic or cotton yarn. Cotton gives it more structure, while acrylic makes it lighter and a bit stretchier. I used a bright pink and green combo that screams “Watermelon!” but feel free to play with colors. You could even do a yellow watermelon version with black seeds! Or choose any colors you like, it doesn’t have to look like a Watermelon at all!

Make It Your Own

There are so many fun ways to customize your Tunisian Watermelon Bag:

• Use yellow yarn for a yellow watermelon look.
• Add a fabric lining for a more finished bag interior.
• Add a sprinkle of glitter yarn or sequins for sparkle.
• Turn it into a strawberry bag by using red yarn, a green top, and yellow seed stitches.
  
  
  

Tips for Working with Tunisian Crochet

• Your fabric will curl—don’t worry! The curling relaxes a bit with blocking or edging.
• Use a Tunisian crochet hook with a longer shaft if possible. It makes handling the stitches easier.
• Keep your tension loose, especially on the return pass.
• Watch for twisted stitches—make sure you’re inserting your hook into the correct vertical bars.

If you’re a total newbie to Tunisian crochet, it’s worth watching a quick video tutorial on the Tunisian Simple Stitch. After a few rows, you’ll be hooked! (Pun absolutely intended.)

Where to Use This Bag

This little bag is super versatile! Here are some fun ways to use it:

• Small summer purse
• Candy or treat bag
• Library tote for kids
• Reusable gift bag
• Project bag for crochet supplies