A free crossbody cell phone bag knitting pattern that’s stylish, simple, and seamless.
Looking for a hands-free way to carry your phone that’s both functional and fun to knit? This crossbody cell phone bag is compact, textured, and beginner-friendly—with no seaming, no stranded colourwork, and no fuss.
It fits devices around 8cm (3″) wide by 16.5cm (6.5″) high, and the I-cord strap measures 1.7m (42″), making it perfect for everyday wear. Gauge is 26 stitches and 26 rows = 10cm (4 inches) using the colour work pattern.
Why Broken Seed Stitch?
This stitch reminds me of mermaid scales—shimmery, rhythmic, and deceptively intricate. But here’s the secret: it’s just two yarns alternating each round. No fair isle, no intarsia, no tangled mess. Just clean, seamless colour work in the round.
Caption: Close up of the colour work pattern
What You’ll Need
- 8 ply acrylic yarn in two contrasting colours
- 3.75mm / US 5 circular needles (32″ / 76cm length)
- Stitch Markers
- Yarn needle
Techniques Used
Turkish Cast On
No bottom seam, no awkward joins—just a smooth start. Ideal for flat bags. If you are new to Turkish cast-on, New Leaf Podcast has a great tutorial:
Magic Loop Technique
I prefer this over double pointed needles because it divides stitches in half and avoid laddering. If you’re new to Magic Loop, Lovecrafts’ tutorial is a great intro:
Broken Seed Stitch
Main Colour (MC): Knit stockinette
Contrast Colour (CC): Knit seed stitch
Round 1: CC – K1, P1
Round 2: MC – Knit
Round 3: CC – P1, K1
Round 4: MC – Knit Repeat these 4 rounds until the bag reaches 14cm (5.5″).
Step-by-Step Instructions
Bag Body
Cast on 36 stitches in main colour yarn (MC) using Turkish cast on. (18 stitches per needle). Place a stitch marker to mark out the beginning.
Using MC, knit 5 rounds of single rib. That is, *Knit 1, Purl 1, repeat from * to the end.
Follow the 4-round sequence above for the colour work.
Note: Round 2 and Round 4 make up the seed stitch. If you are not sure if you are knitting round 2 or 4, do practice a bit first to help you recognize the stitches.
Continue until the bag measures 14cm (5.5″).
For the opening band, knit 5 rounds of K1, P1 in MC.
Cast off using Russian Bind Off.
Caption: Close up of opening band.
I-cord Handle
I love the infinity feel and sturdiness of a 4-stitch I-cord. You can knit it separately or pick up stitches directly from the bag.
If I-cord knitting is new to you, do watch Suzanne’s Bryan’s tutorial on it:
Cast on 4 stitches.
Knit the I-cord until it reaches 107cm (42″) or your preferred length. A knitted I-cord has some stretch, do take that into account when measuring the length.
Cast off.
Attach both ends to the bag using mattress stitch. Weave in the ends.
If you are not keen to knit the I-cord handle, it is possible to buy ready-made bag straps [Amazon affiliate link]. They come in all types of materials and length.
Optional
Add a lining for a polished interior.
Buy the PDF
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Yarn & Tools Shopping List
- Red Heart Soft Acrylic Yarn | Amazon
- 3.75mm / US 5 circular needles 32 inches (76 cm) | Amazon
- 100g 8 Ply Milk Cotton Yarn | Shopee.sg
- 3.75mm / US 5 circular needles
Share Your Knits
Have you tried this pattern? I’d love to hear how it turned out. Drop a comment below or tag me if you share it online.
HAPPY KNITTING!
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