crochet shark bag free pattern

January 12, 2025

To make this pattern even more fun, I’ve designed the bags in both an adult and a child size. The pictures for this tutorial feature the child sized bag (the blue shark), but the construction techniques are the same for the adult sized bag (the gray shark) as well. The child instructions are written out first (illustrated with pictures), followed by the adult instructions. So follow along and make your own unique bag! It’s guaranteed to be a conversation piece.

Child Size
Materials:

Worsted weight yarn in main color (I used less than 1 skein of Loops & Threads Impeccable)
A small amount of worsted weight yarn in white for teeth and black for eyes
Size I (5.5mm) crochet hook and size H (5.0mm) crochet hook
Stitch marker (optional)
Tapestry needle

Stitch Glossary:
st(s) = stitch(es)
ss = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
inc = work 2 sc in the same st
hdc = half double crochet
hdc inc = work 2 hdc in the same st
dc = double crochet
dec = single crochet decrease

Body:
This section begins in the round (in a continuous spiral without turning or joining) in order to avoid a visible seam. I recommend using a stitch marker to help keep your place.

Begin with the size I (5.5mm) crochet hook.
Round 1: Make a magic circle, ch 2, and work 8 hdc into the circle (8)
Round 2: hdc around (8)
Round 3: hdc inc around (16)
Rounds 4-5: hdc around (16)
Round 6: [hdc inc, hdc in the next st] around (24)
Rounds 7-9: hdc around (24)
Round 10: [hdc inc, hdc in the next 2 sts] around (32)
Rounds 11-13: hdc around (32)
Round 14: [hdc inc, hdc in next 3 sts] around (40)
Rounds 15-16: hdc around (40)
Round 17: [hdc inc, hdc in next 4 sts] around (48)
Rounds 18-19: hdc around (48)
Round 20: [hdc inc, hdc in next 5 sts] around (56)
Rounds 21-22: hdc around (56)
Round 23: [hdc inc, hdc in next 6 sts] around (64)
Round 24: hdc around (64)
Sc then ss to even off the round. Turn.

Row 25: ch 1, sc 32, turn (32)
Row 26: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 28 sts, dec, turn (30)
Row 27: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 26 sts, dec, turn (28)
Row 28: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 24 sts, dec, turn (26)
Row 29: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 22 sts, dec, turn (24)
Row 30: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 20 sts, dec, turn (22)
Row 31: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 18 sts, dec, turn (20)
Row 32: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 16 sts, dec, turn (18)
Row 33: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 14 sts, dec, turn (16)
Row 34: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 12 sts, dec, turn (14)
Row 35: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 10 sts, dec, turn (12)
Row 36: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 8 sts, dec, turn (10)
Row 37: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 6 sts, dec, turn (8)
Row 38: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 4 sts, dec, turn (6)

Work 12 sc evenly down the side. Ss to join.

Rows 39-52: repeat rows 25-38
Row 53: ch 1, sc across, (6)
Evenly work 12 sc down one side, then another 12 sc up the other side
Row 54: ch 1, sc across, turn (6)

If you want to use a different color for the strap, change colors here. Otherwise continue with the main color.
Rows 55-105: ch 2, hdc across (6)
Making sure strap isn’t twisted, ss to join to the opposite side. Evenly work 12 sc down last side. Fasten off and weave in ends. Or, if you’re using a different color for the strap than the body, fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail and use the tail to sew the strap to the opposite side. Then evenly work 12 sc down the last side using the main body color. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Teeth:
Join white yarn.
Row 1: Working in back loop only, sc across, turn (24)

Row 2: [ch 4, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, then hdc and dc in remaining ch, skip 3 sc and ss to join in the 4th sc] 6 times.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat on opposite side of the shark.

Dorsal fin:
Ch 9
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from the hook and across, turn (8)
Row 2: ch 1, sc in the next 6 sts, dec, turn (7)
Rows 3: ch 1, sc across, turn (7)
Row 4: ch 1, sc in the next 5 sts, dec turn (6)
Rows 5: ch 1, sc across, turn (6)
Row 6: ch 1, sc in the next 4 sts, dec, turn (5)
Row 7: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 3 sts, turn (4)
Row 8: ch 1, sc in the next 2 sts, dec, turn (3)
Row 9: ch 1, dec, sc, turn (2)
Row 10: ch 1, dec (1)
Sc evenly around the entire fin, if desired. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Pectoral fins (make 2):
Ch 8
Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each st across, turn (7)
Row 2: ch 1, sc across, turn (7)
Row 3: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 3 sts, dec, turn (5)
Row 4: ch 1, sc across, turn (5)
Row 5: ch 1, dec, sc, dec, turn (3)
Row 6: ch 1, sc across, turn (3)
Row 7: ch 1, sc3tog (1)
Sc evenly around the entire fin, if desired (I left mine unfinished). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Attach yarn on the unworked side, starting on the far end.
Rows 15-21: repeat rows 8-14 in remaining sts,
Sc evenly around the entire tail, if desired. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Eye (make 2):
Switch to size H (5.0mm) crochet hook:
Round 1: Make a magic circle and work 6 sc into the circle. Pull taut to close.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly:
Using the long tails of yarn and the tapestry needle, stitch on fins and eyes and shown. Weave in any remaining ends.

Adult Size
Materials:

Worsted weight yarn in main color (I used less than 1 skein of I Love This Yarn!)
A small amount of worsted weight yarn for teeth and eyes
Size I (5.5mm) crochet hook
Stitch marker (optional)
Tapestry needle

Body:
This section begins in the round (in a continuous spiral without turning or joining) in order to avoid a visible seam. I recommend using a stitch marker to help keep your place.

Round 1: Make a magic circle, ch 2, work 8 hdc into the circle (8)
Round 2: hdc around (8)
Round 3: hdc inc around (16)
Rounds 4-5: hdc around (16)
Round 6: [hdc inc, hdc in the next st] around (24)
Rounds 7-9: hdc around (24)
Round 10: [hdc inc, hdc in the next 2 sts] around (32)
Rounds 11-13: hdc around (32)
Round 14: [hdc inc, hdc in next 3 sts] around (40)
Rounds 15-16: hdc around (40)
Round 17: [hdc inc, hdc in next 4 sts] around (48)
Rounds 18-19: hdc around (48)
Round 20: [hdc inc, hdc in next 5 sts] around (56)
Rounds 21-22: hdc around (56)
Round 23: [hdc inc, hdc in next 6 sts] around (64)
Round 24: hdc around (64)
Round 25: [hdc inc, hdc in next 7 sts] around (72)
Round 26: hdc around (72)
Round 27: [hdc inc, hdc in next 8 sts] around (80)
Round 28: hdc around (80)
Sc then ss to even off the round. Turn.
Row 29: ch 1, sc 40, turn (40)
Row 30: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 36 sts, dec, turn (38)
Row 31: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 34 sts, dec, turn (36)
Row 32: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 32 sts, dec, turn (34)
Row 33: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 30 sts, dec, turn (32)
Row 34: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 28 sts, dec, turn (30)
Row 35: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 26 sts, dec, turn (28)
Row 36: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 24 sts, dec, turn (26)
Row 37: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 22 sts, dec, turn (24)
Row 38: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 20 sts, dec, turn (22)
Row 39: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 18 sts, dec, turn (20)
Row 40: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 16 sts, dec, turn (18)
Row 41: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 14 sts, dec, turn (16)
Row 42: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 12 sts, dec, turn (14)
Row 43: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 10 sts, dec, turn (12)
Row 44: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 8 sts, dec, turn (10)
Row 45: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 6 sts, dec, turn (8)
Row 46: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 4 sts, dec (6)
Evenly work 20 sc down the side
Rows 47-64: repeat rows 29-46
Row 65: ch 1, sc across (6)
Evenly work 20 sc down one side, then another 20 sc up the other side
Row 66: ch 1, sc across, turn (6)
Rows 67-161: ch 2, hdc across (6)
Making sure strap isn’t twisted, ss to join to the opposite side. Evenly work 20 sc down last side. Fasten off and weave in ends. Or, if you’re using a different color for the strap than the body, fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail and use the tail to sew the strap to the opposite side. Then evenly work 20 sc down the last side using the main body color. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Teeth:
Join white yarn.
Row 1: Working in back loop only, sc across, turn (40)
Row 2: [ch 4, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, then hdc and dc in remaining ch, skip 3 sc and ss to join in the 4th sc] 10 times.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat on opposite side of the shark.

Dorsal fin:
Ch 11
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from the hook and across, turn (10)
Row 2: ch 1, sc in the next 8 sts, dec, turn (9)
Rows 3-4: ch 1, sc across, turn (9)
Row 5: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 7 sts, turn (8)
Rows 6-7: ch 1, sc across, turn (8)
Row 8: ch 1, sc in the next 6 sts, dec, turn (7)
Row 9: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 5 sts, turn (6)
Row 10: ch 1, sc in the next 4 sts, dec, turn (5)
Row 11: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 3 sts, turn (4)
Row 12: ch 1, sc in the next 2 sts, dec, turn (3)
Row 13: ch 1, dec, sc, turn (2)
Row 14: ch 1, dec (1)
Sc evenly around the entire fin, if desired. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Pectoral fins (make 2):
Ch 10
Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each st across, turn (9)
Row 2: ch 1, sc across, turn (9)
Row 3: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 5 sts, dec, turn (7)
Rows 4-5: ch 1, sc across, turn (7)
Row 6: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 3 sts, dec, turn (5)
Rows 7-8: ch 1, sc across, turn (5)
Row 9: ch 1, dec, sc, dec, turn (3)
Row 10: ch 1, sc across, turn (3)
Row 11: ch 1, sc3tog (1)
Sc evenly around the entire fin, if desired (I left mine unfinished). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Tail fin:
Ch 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from the hook and across, turn (4)
Row 2: ch 1, inc, sc in the next 2 sts, inc, turn (6)
Row 3: ch 1, sc across, turn (6)
Row 4: ch 1, inc, sc in the next 4 sts, inc, turn (8)
Row 5: ch 1, sc across, turn (8)
Row 6: ch 1, inc, sc in the next 6 sts, inc, turn (10)
Row 7: ch 1, sc across, turn (10)
Row 8: ch 1, inc, sc in the next 8 sts, inc, turn (12)
Row 9: ch 1, sc across, turn (12)
Row 10: ch 1, inc, sc in the next 5 sts, turn (7)
Row 11: ch 1, sc across, turn (7)
Row 12: ch 1, sc in the next 5 sts, dec, turn (6)
Row 13: ch 1, sc across, turn (6)
Row 14: ch 1, dec, sc in the next 2 sts, dec, turn (4)
Row 15: ch 1, sc across, turn (4)
Row 16: ch 1, dec twice, turn (2)
Row 17: ch 1, sc across, turn (2)
Row 18: ch 1, dec (1)
Attach yarn on the unworked side, starting on the far end.
Rows 19-27: repeat rows 10-18 in remaining sts,
Sc evenly around the entire tail, if desired. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Eye (make 2):
Round 1: Make a magic circle and work 6 sc into the circle. Pull taut to close.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly:
Using the long tails of yarn and the tapestry needle, stitch on fins and eyes and shown. Weave in any remaining ends.

I hope that you enjoy this pattern! If you make a shark bag of your own, I would love to see it. And, as always, if you have any questions or comments about this bag you can reach me in the comments section below or on social media. I do my best to make all my patterns error-free, but there was a lot of copy-pasting on this one because of the two sizes, so if you catch any typos please let me know; you’ll get a gold star in my book 😉

***You’re welcome to do whatever you’d like to with finished products made from this pattern but if you do sell them, I ask that you link back to my page. You may not copy this pattern, repost it anywhere (either altered or in its original form), or claim it as your own. You may not use any photos on this site for your own use. ***