This crochet black cat tote bag combines a simple cream everyday bag with a playful tapestry crochet cat stretched across a black brick wall. The graphic design gives the tote a pixel-art feel, while the cream body and matching long handles keep the finished bag clean and wearable.

This version is an original crochet pattern inspired by the general black-cat tote concept. The construction, stitch counts, cat placement, and written tapestry rows below are designed specifically for this pattern, so you can make the bag directly from the instructions without needing a separate paid chart.

Description

The finished crochet tote is a structured rectangular shoulder bag with a warm cream background, a solid black cat worked directly into the front using tapestry crochet, golden-yellow eyes, a tiny white mouth detail, and simple black brick lines across the lower section.

The cat stretches horizontally across the front with pointed ears, dangling front and back legs, a long body, and a raised curved tail. Two long cream crochet handles are attached securely to the front and back so the bag can be carried comfortably over the shoulder.

The back is kept plain cream for a cleaner finish.

Finished Size

Approximately:

• Width: 40 cm / 15.75 in
• Height: 34 cm / 13.5 in
• Bottom depth: 8 cm / 3 in
• Handle length: approximately 62–65 cm / 24–25.5 in above the bag
• Handle width: approximately 3 cm / 1.25 in

Materials

• Worsted or aran-weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn in warm cream
• Worsted or aran-weight yarn in black
• Small amount of golden-yellow yarn
• Tiny amount of white yarn
• 4 mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers
• Measuring tape
• Optional cotton fabric for lining
• Optional magnetic snap

Approximate yarn:

• Cream: 450–550 yards
• Black: 100–130 yards
• Yellow: less than 10 yards
• White: less than 5 yards

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• st – stitch
• sts – stitches
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side

Pattern Notes

US crochet terminology is used.

The tote is constructed from:

1. Front tapestry panel
2. Plain back panel
3. One long bottom-and-side gusset
4. Two cream handles
5. Optional lining

The front and back panels are worked flat.

The black cat is worked directly into the front panel using tapestry crochet.

The brick-wall lines are added afterward using surface crochet. This keeps the tapestry chart much easier to follow.

Beginning ch 1 does not count as a stitch.

Gauge

Approximately:

16 sc x 18 rows = 10 cm / 4 in

Gauge matters because the cat design depends on the stitch proportions.

Color Key

Throughout the tapestry section:

• C = Cream
• B = Black
• Y = Golden Yellow
• W = White

Carry unused yarn inside the stitches when changing colors.

Keep the carried yarn slightly relaxed so the fabric does not pucker.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Part 1 – Front Panel

Using cream yarn.

Foundation

Ch 65.

Row 1

Sc in second ch from hook and across.

64 sc

Ch 1 and turn.

Rows 2–18

Sc across.

64 sts

Ch 1 and turn after every row.

You now have the plain lower foundation where the brick pattern will later be added.

Black Cat Tapestry Section

Begin the cat on Row 19.

Every row below totals exactly 64 stitches.

Read each row from left to right as written.

Because you turn after every row, you do not need to reverse the written instructions. Simply follow the listed color counts in the order shown for each row.

Row 19

C18, B6, C15, B5, C20.

Row 20

C17, B8, C13, B7, C19.

Row 21

C16, B10, C11, B9, C18.

Row 22

C15, B12, C9, B11, C17.

These first rows create the two dangling leg areas.

Row 23

C12, B40, C12.

Row 24

C11, B42, C11.

Row 25

C10, B44, C10.

Row 26

C9, B46, C9.

Row 27

C8, B47, C9.

These rows create the long stretched body.

Row 28 – First Eye Row

C8, B6, Y2, B3, Y2, B28, C15.

Check:

8 + 6 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 28 + 15 = 64.

Row 29 – Eyes

C8, B5, Y3, B3, Y3, B27, C15.

Row 30 – Lower Eye Detail

C8, B6, Y2, B3, Y2, B28, C15.

Row 31 – Tiny Mouth

C8, B8, W2, B2, W1, B27, C16.

The white stitches create a tiny playful muzzle detail.

Row 32

C8, B39, C4, B5, C8.

This begins separating the raised tail from the main body.

Row 33

C8, B38, C5, B5, C8.

Row 34

C8, B36, C7, B5, C8.

Row 35

C9, B34, C8, B5, C8.

Row 36

C10, B32, C9, B5, C8.

The right-hand black section begins forming the upright tail.

Cat Ear and Tail Shaping

Row 37

C10, B5, C2, B5, C17, B8, C17.

This begins defining the two pointed ears while keeping the tail separate.

Row 38

C11, B4, C3, B4, C16, B8, C18.

Row 39

C12, B3, C4, B3, C15, B8, C19.

Row 40

C13, B2, C5, B2, C14, B8, C20.

These narrow black sections finish the ear tips.

Row 41

C38, B7, C19.

Tail only.

Row 42

C39, B7, C18.

Row 43

C40, B6, C18.

Row 44

C41, B5, C18.

Row 45

C42, B4, C18.

The raised tail now tapers toward the top.

Row 46

C43, B3, C18.

Fasten off the black, yellow, and white yarns.

Continue in cream only.

Finish Front Panel

Rows 47–60

Sc across in cream.

64 sts.

Fasten off after Row 60.

The front panel should measure approximately:

40 cm wide x 33–34 cm high

Part 2 – Black Brick Wall Detail

The wall is added using black surface crochet.

This gives the bag the graphic brick effect without forcing you to manage many tiny tapestry color changes.

Lay the front panel flat with the cat facing upward.

Horizontal Brick Line 1

Join black yarn near the left edge approximately between Rows 8 and 9.

Surface sl st horizontally across the full panel.

Keep every surface stitch relaxed.

Fasten off.

Horizontal Brick Line 2

Repeat approximately between Rows 16 and 17.

You now have two long black horizontal brick lines.

Vertical Brick Lines

Create short vertical surface-crochet lines between the horizontal rows.

For the lowest brick row, add vertical lines approximately at:

• 12 stitches from left edge
• 32 stitches from left edge
• 52 stitches from left edge

For the next brick row, stagger them approximately at:

• 22 stitches from left edge
• 42 stitches from left edge

Work each vertical line from the lower horizontal line toward the upper line.

This creates the classic staggered brick pattern.

Do not run the lines through the cat motif.

Where the cat overlaps the wall, stop the surface crochet at the black cat edge and resume on the other side.

Part 3 – Back Panel

Using cream yarn.

Ch 65.

Row 1

Sc in second ch from hook and across.

64 sts.

Rows 2–60

Sc across.

64 sts.

Fasten off.

The back panel is intentionally plain cream.

Part 4 – Bottom and Side Gusset

The gusset creates the bag’s depth.

Using cream yarn.

Foundation

Ch 14.

Row 1

Sc in second ch from hook.

Sc across.

13 sts.

Ch 1 and turn.

Continue

Sc across every row.

Continue until the strip is long enough to travel:

• down one side of the front panel
• across the bottom
• up the other side

For this bag, aim for approximately:

88–90 cm / 34.5–35.5 in

Do not stretch while measuring.

Fasten off, leaving a long sewing tail if desired.

Part 5 – Join Gusset to Front

Place the front panel and gusset with wrong sides together if you want the joining seam visible as a neat crochet ridge.

Start at the upper left corner.

Using cream yarn:

Sc through both layers evenly down the side.

Continue around the lower corner.

Sc across the bottom.

Continue around the next corner.

Sc upward along the opposite side.

Stop at the upper edge.

Fasten off.

Join Back Panel

Repeat the same process with the back panel.

You now have a structured rectangular tote body with an open top.

Top Edge

Join cream yarn at one side seam.

Round 1

Sc evenly around the entire top opening.

Join with sl st.

Round 2

Ch 1.

Sc around.

Join.

Round 3

Repeat Round 2.

Fasten off.

These extra rounds help strengthen the opening before adding the handles.

Part 6 – Crochet Handles

Make 2.

Using cream yarn.

The handles in this design are long, narrow, and sturdy.

Foundation

Ch 111.

This should produce a strip approximately 68–70 cm long before attachment.

Row 1

Sc in second ch from hook.

Sc across.

110 sts.

Ch 1 and turn.

Rows 2–5

Sc in every st across.

Ch 1 and turn.

Fasten off after Row 5.

The strap should measure approximately:

• 68–70 cm total length
• 2.5–3 cm wide

Make the second handle identically.

Optional Stronger Handle

If you expect to carry heavier items, work 6–7 rows instead of 5.

You can also slip stitch around the entire strap edge for extra structure.

Part 7 – Handle Placement

Lay the tote flat.

On the front panel, measure approximately:

9–10 cm / 3.5–4 in inward from each side seam.

Pin one end of the first handle at each marked position.

Approximately 5 cm / 2 in of each strap end should overlap the inside of the bag.

Repeat on the back with the second handle.

Check that all four handle ends are positioned equally.

Sew Handles Securely

Using cream yarn and a yarn needle:

Sew around all four sides of each handle end.

Then sew an X across the center of each attachment area.

Repeat for all four handle ends.

This reinforcement is important because tapestry tote bags become fairly heavy after use.

Part 8 – Optional Magnetic Snap

If adding a magnetic closure, install it at the center of the top opening before adding the lining.

Position one half approximately:

2 cm / 3/4 in below the top edge

on the front.

Place the second half directly opposite it on the back.

Part 9 – Optional Fabric Lining

A lining is highly recommended for this bag because it prevents stretching and hides the carried tapestry yarn.

Measure the finished interior.

Cut two cotton rectangles approximately:

1.5 cm / 5/8 in larger on all sides

than the front and back interior measurements.

Place the fabric right sides together.

Sew:

• both sides
• bottom

Leave the top open.

Box the lower corners approximately 4 cm / 1.5 in deep if you want the lining to match the crochet gusset.

Fold the upper raw edge inward.

Insert the lining into the bag.

Hand stitch around the upper edge using small hidden stitches.

Tapestry Crochet Technique

When switching colors:

Work the final yarn-over of the previous stitch with the new color.

Carry the unused color horizontally inside the stitches.

Keep the carried yarn:

• flat
• relaxed
• hidden inside the stitch body

Do not pull tightly.

When working yellow or white details inside a black section, carry black behind those stitches.

For very short color sections, you can use separate small bobbins instead of carrying yarn across a long distance.

Keeping the Cat Design Clean

Because tapestry crochet naturally leans slightly, keep your tension consistent.

If the cat looks compressed vertically:

• use a slightly taller sc
• loosen your row tension

If it looks stretched:

• tighten row tension slightly

Do not aggressively block the tapestry panel because this may distort the pixel design.

Design Consistency Lock

For this exact version, keep:

• warm cream bag body
• solid black stretched cat
• two golden-yellow eyes
• tiny white muzzle detail
• raised black tail
• dangling black legs
• black staggered brick wall
• plain cream back
• rectangular tote shape
• narrow bottom gusset
• two long cream handles
• no zipper
• no granny squares
• no appliqué cat
• no embroidered full cat outline
• no extra flowers
• no bows
• no tassels

The cat must be crocheted directly into the front panel using tapestry crochet rather than sewn on afterward.

Tips & Variations

Cotton yarn is the best choice for this crochet tote because it holds the pixel design and bag shape much better than very soft acrylic.

Wind small bobbins of black, yellow, and white before beginning the tapestry section.

Count every row carefully. One missed stitch can shift the entire cat design.

Place stitch markers every 8 or 16 stitches across the panel while working the tapestry section. This makes it much easier to check your totals.

Photograph the panel every few rows. Viewing it from a distance can help you spot a misplaced color section quickly.

For a smaller bag, use sport or DK yarn and a smaller hook while keeping the same stitch counts.

For a larger tote, do not simply enlarge the cat chart. Instead, work additional cream stitches around the existing motif so the cat proportions remain intact.

FAQ

Can I make this bag without reading a crochet chart?

Yes. The cat motif is written row by row using exact stitch counts, so you can follow the written color instructions directly.

Is the cat sewn onto the bag?

No. The black cat, yellow eyes, and white muzzle are worked directly into the front panel using tapestry crochet.

Why are the brick lines added afterward?

Surface crochet keeps the main tapestry section manageable and produces cleaner straight brick lines than changing between cream and black repeatedly across every row.

Conclusion

This crochet black cat tapestry tote combines a simple cream everyday bag with a playful graphic cat and brick-wall design. Once you work through the written color rows carefully, the cat gradually appears directly in the crochet fabric without needing a separate chart or appliqué. Finish it with the structured gusset and long cream handles, and you have a practical handmade tote with a bold, recognizable black-cat personality.