🧶 Beautiful ✨ Detailed 💝 Adorable

Leopard tote Pattern

Leopard tote Pattern
4.4★ Rating
12-15 Hours Time Needed
3.6K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Multi-Day Project

A rewarding 12+ hour journey—perfect for dedicated crafters who love detailed work.

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Stylish Touch

An elegant detail to elevate any look, combining traditional techniques with contemporary design sensibilities.

About This Leopard tote Pattern

This pattern guides you through crocheting a leopard-print tote using raffia yarn and a leather base. It covers attaching the leather bottom, crocheting the base and body with jacquard colorwork, adding fringe, sewing on handles and making a felt lining. Clear photos and practical tips for working with raffia yarn are included to help you get neat, even stitches.

Leopard tote Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Perfect for crafters who enjoy making wearables and accessories with texture and detail. The finished bag measures approximately 18 inches (45 cm) long and 9 1/2 inches (24 cm) high without fringe.

Why You'll Love This Leopard tote Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it transforms simple raffia yarn into a fashionable, textured tote with a striking leopard print. I enjoy the combination of hand-crocheted fabric with a leather base — it gives the bag structure and a high-end finish. The jacquard colorwork is satisfying to stitch and creates unique variations every time. I also love that the fringe adds playful movement and personality, and the lining makes the bag durable and practical.

Leopard tote Pattern step 1 - construction progress Leopard tote Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Leopard tote Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Leopard tote Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love how easy it is to customize this tote — change the accent colors to create your own palette and give the leopard print a fresh look.

You can lengthen or shorten the fringe to adjust the bag's personality: long fringe for boho vibes, short fringe for a cleaner look.

If you prefer a sleeker silhouette, skip the fringe and make a few extra body rows for a taller bag; the jacquard pattern still looks amazing without fringe.

Swap the leather handles for crocheted straps or a single long shoulder strap to transform the bag into a crossbody version.

Use metallic or contrasting color raffia for some spots to add a subtle sparkle or modern twist to the leopard motif.

Try different base materials — a different shaped leather base or a firmer synthetic bottom will alter structure and can be used for experimentations.

Change the lining material and color to add one more layer of customization: cotton for softness, felt for structure, or even a patterned fabric for surprise inside.

I sometimes add small crocheted pockets inside the lining for organization — stitch them to the felt before inserting the lining.

Want a smaller accessory? Use finer raffia or fewer skeins to make a mini version as a clutch or wristlet using the same base trimming steps.

I also recommend trying color placement variations in the jacquard chart — moving a few spots of color can give each bag a unique personality while keeping the same pattern structure.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Not straightening raffia before crocheting causes uneven stitches and tangles; always straighten or steam your skeins and fluff as recommended before you begin. ✗ Pulling jacquard floats too tight will warp the fabric and tighten the canvas; keep floats loose and pull the working loop to the hook level (15-17 mm) to maintain even tension. ✗ Forgetting to leave a long starting tail when attaching the base trim makes finishing tricky; leave about 8 inches (20 cm) to close rows and hide ends securely. ✗ Neglecting to steam and shape raffia rows will make the bag look floppy; steam the base after 10-12 rows and shape fringe with steam for a neat finish.

Leopard tote Pattern

Create a stylish leopard-print raffia tote with this detailed crochet pattern. You will learn how to attach a leather base, work jacquard color changes for the leopard motif, add a full fringe and sew in a felt lining. The pattern includes clear step-by-step instructions, helpful tips for working with raffia, and finishing guidance so your bag looks professional.

Intermediate 12-15 Hours

Materials Needed for Leopard tote Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Raffia yarn of 3 colors, 225 yards (200 m) each — example colors: Autumn (main), Black, Salt Lake (accent)
  • 02
    Leather bottom 12 x 4 inches (30 x 10 cm) with 60 holes
  • 03
    Sewing handles 75 x 1.5 cm (or similar measurements) for the bag
  • 04
    Felt for lining — 2 mm thick (cut to bottom shape and a 9 x 36 inch strip in example)
  • 05
    Fringe: 160 pieces, 8 inches (20 cm) long (approx 80 main / 60 green / 20 black)

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size 3 mm
  • 02
    Optional crochet hook 4-4.5 mm for edge SlSt (base trim)
  • 03
    Plastic needle with large eyelet for sewing handles
  • 04
    Sewing needle and thread for lining
  • 05
    Scissors
  • 06
    Stitch markers (2+)
  • 07
    PVA glue (for joining raffia ends and fixing knots)
  • 08
    Iron for steaming raffia and shaping
  • 09
    Pins for assembly and lining
  • 10
    Ruler or tape measure

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Recommendations for working with raffia yarn :

Info :

1.Before crocheting with raffia, it must be straightened. If you have Fibranatura, then you need to «fluff» the yarn with your hands. If you have Ispie, you can steam yarn with an iron.

Info :

2.When the thread runs out, you need to take a new skein and straighten the end of the thread. Put on the end of the working thread and the thread from a new skein with a clearance of 5 mm. Glue together with PVA glue. After drying, lightly wrap the thread.

Info :

3.If you had to rip out your work, steam thread with an iron. The yarn will return to its original shape.

— Base trim of the bottom :

Info :

Leave the end about 8 inches (20 cm) long to close the rows of the base trim.

Info :

Crochet around the bottom edge as shown in the picture.

Info :

Insert the hook in the side hole in the middle, pull the loop.

Round 1 :

Make CH, crochet 2 SC in the same hole.

Round 2 :

Next crochet 3 SC in each hole along the side part.

Round 3 :

Crochet 3 SC in 1 in the corner.

Round 4 :

Crochet 3 SC in 1, 2 SC in 1 along the long side of the bottom, repeat to the corner.

Round 5 :

Crochet 3 SC in 1 in the 2nd corner.

Round 6 :

Crochet 3 SC in each hole along the 2nd side part.

Round 7 :

Crochet 3 SC in 1 in the 3rd corner.

Round 8 :

Crochet 3 SC in 1, 2 SC in 1 along the 2nd long side of the bottom, repeat to the corner.

Round 9 :

Crochet 3 SC in 1 in the 4th corner.

Round 10 :

Crochet 3 SC in 1 in the hole, which are left on the 1st side part.

Round 11 :

Crochet the last SC with the end. Pull out the end. Pull the end under the 1st loop of the row. Pull back to the wrong side.

Info :

There are 160 loops now.

Round 12 :

Pull the working loop, crochet SlSt in each hole.

Round 13 :

Crochet the last SlSt with the end. Pull out the end. Pull the end under the 1st loop of the row. Pull back to the wrong side.

Info :

Cut the thread, tie the knot. Hide the ends.

— Crochet the base part :

Round 1 :

1 row. Take 3 skeins of the raffia yarn. Place it so that the thread unwinds counterclockwise.

Round 2 :

Take the thread of the base color. Insert the hook in the middle loop on the side part of the bottom on the back loop and the jumper only.

Round 3 :

Pull the loop. Take 2 more thread of 2 different colors, put on along the row, crochet CH.

Round 4 :

Crochet row with SC on the back loop and the jumper only. Crochet the leopard print following to the pattern provided in the attachment.

Info :

Pattern consists of 80 loops, that is, we crochet 2 halves with the same pattern (=160).

Info :

Place the markers in the 1st loops of the halves of the row.

Info :

Always pull the working loop to the level of the hook by 15-17 mm to make the canvas even and tight. After crocheting, pull the loop back.

Round 5 :

Crochet the last SC in the 1st loop of the row.

Info :

Next crochet a spiral.

Round 6 :

2 row. Crochet 80+80 SC following to the pattern (=160).

Round 7 :

3 row. Crochet 80+80 SC following to the pattern (=160).

Round 8 :

4 row. Crochet 80+80 SC following to the pattern (=160).

Info :

Now hide the ends at the beginning of crocheting, and cut off the excess.

Round 9 :

5 row. Crochet 80+80 SC following to the pattern (=160).

Round 10-34 :

6-30 rows. Crochet 80+80 SC following to the pattern (=160).

Info :

Steam the base of the bag with an iron after crocheting 10-12 rows.

Info :

You can crochet more rows in height following to the pattern as desired.

Round 35 :

In the last row, before 2 SC to the marker, cut off additional threads, leaving only the main thread. Crochet 2 SC with a gradual decrease in the height of the SC.

Info :

Remove the markers.

— Base Trim :

Round 1 :

Crochet SlSt in each SC of the last row. Pull the loop by 4-5 mm, so as not to tighten the edge. You can take a 4-4.5 mm hook.

Round 2 :

Cut the thread, pull out the end. Pull the end under the 1st SlSt of the row. Pull back to the wrong side. Strengthen and hide the end on the wrong side.

Info :

Steam the base of the bag with an iron.

— Fringe :

Info :

Cut 160 pieces of fringe 8 inches (20 cm) long, of the main, green and black colors (approximately 80/ 60/ 20, respectively).

Info :

Insert the hook from the wrong side under the braid and the loop of the base trim, grab the middle of the fringe, pull it out and pull the ends in the loop. Tighten the loop.

Round 1 :

Make the fringe in each loop of the edge (160 pieces). Choose the color of the fringe, which is the color of the braid of the last row.

Info :

Steam the fringe with an iron, shape with hands. Cut off the excess.

— Sew on the handles :

Step 1 :

Count 6 holes from the corners of the bottom. Put markers on the edge of the bag opposite the sixth holes.

Step 2 :

Put the handles near the markers.

Step 3 :

Sew on the handles with the plastic needle. Make a few stitches.

Step 4 :

Tie the knot and hide the ends. You can fix it with PVA glue.

— Lining :

Step 1 :

Take felt 2 mm thick for the lining. Cut the bottom according to the shape and size of the leather bottom without seam allowances. Make 4 notches on the bottom.

Step 2 :

Measure the perimeter of the edge of the bag (in my example, 36 inches (90 cm)).

Step 3 :

Measure the height of the bag (in my example, 9 inches (23 cm)).

Step 4 :

Cut a stripe from felt 9 inches (23 cm) high and 36 inches (90 cm) long.

Step 5 :

Sweep the stripe in a circle along the side seam.

Step 6 :

Make 4 notches.

Step 7 :

Match the notches of the bottom and the stripe, pin with a pins.

Step 8 :

Sweep both parts.

Step 9 :

Make 10 mm tucks at the corners.

Step 10 :

Sew the lining.

Info :

At this stage, you can give it to the atelier.

— Sew in the lining :

Step 1 :

Put in the lining in the bag. Pin with a pins.

Step 2 :

Sew neat stitches through one SC. Make a several fixing stitches along the seam. Strengthen and hide the end of the thread.

— Finishing :

Info :

Congratulations! Your cute tote with trends print is ready 👍

Info :

I hope you enjoy this pattern, and if you have questions about it, please convo me. I am always glad to help!!!

Assembly Instructions

  • Attach the leather bottom to the crocheted base by inserting the hook into the middle holes, pulling loops and making the base trim around all bottom holes (leave an 8 inch / 20 cm tail to close rows), finish and hide ends on the wrong side.
  • Sew the crocheted bag to the leather bottom by working SC into the back loop/jumper only and following the leopard jacquard pattern, placing stitch markers at the start of each half (pattern = 80 loops per half, total 160).
  • Make and attach 160 fringe pieces: cut 8 inch (20 cm) pieces (approx. 80 main / 60 green / 20 black), insert from the wrong side under the braid and base trim loop, pull middle of fringe through and tighten; steam and trim to shape.
  • Count 6 holes from each corner and mark handle placement, position handles near markers and sew on using a plastic needle with several stitches; knot and hide ends, fix with PVA glue if desired.
  • Cut felt lining: bottom to shape (2 mm felt) and a side strip (example 9 x 36 inches), make 4 notches, sew stripe to bottom, create corner tucks, sew lining and pin into bag, sew neat stitches through one SC to secure and hide thread ends.
  • Steam the base of the bag after 10-12 rows and again after finishing the base trim; steam and shape fringe for a professional look.

Important Notes

  • 💡Straighten or steam raffia yarn before crocheting to avoid tangles and ensure even stitches.
  • 💡When crocheting jacquard, change color on the last stitch before the color switch and keep floats loose to avoid tightening the canvas.
  • 💡Always pull the working loop to the level of the hook by 15-17 mm to keep the canvas even and tight, then pull the loop back after crocheting.
  • 💡Join new raffia skeins with a 5 mm overlap and PVA glue, let dry and wrap lightly to secure before continuing.

This leopard tote pattern brings playful chic to your handmade bag collection with a structured leather base and bold jacquard print. The full fringe and felt lining add charm and durability to a statement accessory you will love to carry. Finish with your favorite handles and steam the raffia for a polished result. 🧶✨👜

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished bag from the specified materials measures approximately 18 inches (45 cm) in length and 9 1/2 inches (24 cm) in height without the fringe; final size depends on yarn tension.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

This pattern is written for raffia yarn; using a different weight will change the finished size and structure — choose an appropriate hook and consider adjusting base dimensions if substituting yarn.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate, so basic knowledge of single crochet, back loop working and color changes (jacquard) is recommended for best results.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crafters complete this project over multiple days; estimated time is 12-15 hours depending on experience, jacquard work and finishing steps like lining and fringe.