Crochet Pattern: Prospector’s Change Purse
By Emilee Gettle – 13 Comments| My daughter and I both love purses. It seems from dawn to dark my little lady has some kind of handmade purse on with all her goodies inside. So, she keeps me busy repairing and making her a new purse just about once a month. We have lots of fun designing them together and she is quite honest about how she thinks they should look. So, this week’s pattern is inspired by the leather pouches prospectors stored their gold in. So our little pennies might not be gold, but it’s fun for little ones to pretend. This purse can also be modified to look like a teddy bear. |  |
| Skill Level: |  |
Finished Size: 4 1/2″ (11 cm) long and 3 1/2″ (9 cm) wide
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Materials: Light Tan Medium Worsted Weight Yarn (approximately 50 yards) Dark Tan Medium Worsted Weight Yarn (approximately 10 yards) Crochet Hook H (5 mm) Sewing Needle Sewing Thread 1 Buttons (1/2″ in diameter) |
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Gauge:
Round 1 in pattern measures 1/2†(1 cm) in diameter.
Need help understanding the crochet abbreviations and symbols? Check out the crochet abbreviation chart.
Crochet Pattern: Prospector’s Change Purse (Make 2)
Note: if you find it difficult to see where one round ends and the next begins, feel free to place a stitch marker (or scarp of contrasting yarn) at the end of each round.
Round 1: with light tan, ch 3, sl st in first chain made to form a ring, ch 1, 10 sc in ring, sl st in top of beginning ch-1:10 sc


Round 2-3: ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around, sl st in top of beginning ch-1

Round 4: ch 3, 6 tr in next sc, sc in next 5 sc across, 6 tr in next sc, sl st in next sc, finish off.
Assembly
Place wrong sides together. Sl st the perimeter of the purse to join the two pieces. I recommend joining at least ½ of each lobe of the purse to keep it looking neat.
Closure
Row 1: with dark tan, on the back of the purse join at the right-inside lobe with a sl st and sc in each of the 5 sc across: 5 sc
Row 2: ch 2, turn, dc in each sc across: 5 dc
Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across: 5 sc
Row 4: Repeat row 2, and finish off.
Finishing
Using needle and thread sew a button between the two lobes on the front of the purse.
Need help with this project? Jot your question below and I’ll get back with you!
Very cute! At first glance I thought “this could also be altered just a little to become an OWL!”
Dars, I thought the same thing!
What does the tr in the prospectors purse pattern stand for? Is it triple crochet? I’m new to crochet and appreciate all these easy patterns you have for all the beginner crocheters like myself!
April,
Yes, tr does stand for triple crochet or treble crochet. 🙂
Where’s the “like” button? So cute!
Sweet Pursefection…love it. I have to admit I thought that would alter to an adorable owl too!!
This is so cute, Emmilee. I can see the owl, too, but I love that it’s a little change purse–I love tiny bags and boxes. You have a great name, too. I have a grand-neice (or great-neice? she’s my neice’s daughter) with a similar name. Hers is Emma Lee.
To April; Rachael and co. have a great archive of how to crochet – all the stitches and abbreviations and other info are there, as well. Good luck!
Thanks! ~ Dawn ~
That’s great!! I would loved one of these when I was learning about the gold rush in school!!
So cute! But I’m seeing a koala rather than an owl! My daughter loves koalas, so I’ll have to make her one.
thank you for sharing this delighful bag but do you realise that the minute I saw it, it looks like a koala which is a native animal to australia – so thank you for my koala purse – oh just need 2 little eyes
If I want to make it larger how would I do it? I’m confused about the instructions that say round 4 . . .
in next 5 across, what does across mean? all the way around until you reach the end of the row?
Hi Donna,
You can make it bigger by using a larger hook and/or thicker yarn.
For round 4, you can ignore the “across” if it is confusing. You will sc in the next 5 sc.
OMG!!!!! I am so so so in love with this design,, crochet bag,,,,how I so wish I know how to crochet a bag for myself,,I am really impressed