Black Cat Intarsia Crochet Bag: Two 80-Row Colorwork Panels

A black cat face turns a simple two-panel tote into a Halloween accessory. This related pattern uses cream and black intarsia, with a separate color chart for each side and long narrow handles.

Project at a glance

Detail	What to expect
Skill level	Intermediate to experienced
Finished size	Approximately 31 cm high × 33 cm wide; handles about 60 cm
Pattern language	English; stitch terms explained below
Construction	See the component and assembly sections

Materials and tools

• DK #3 Alize Cotton Gold Pratica, 100 g/220 m: cream 62 and black 60
• 2.75 mm hook, bobbins for separate color areas
• Tapestry needle, stitch markers and pins

Stitches and pattern notes

Unless stated otherwise, this article uses US crochet terms. ch = chain; sl st = slip stitch; sc = single crochet; hdc = half double crochet; dc = double crochet; inc = 2 stitches in one stitch; dec = work 2 stitches together; MR = magic ring; BLO/FLO = back/front loop only. Numbers in the final column are the finished stitch counts.

Use US single crochet in turned rows. Each panel has 80 stitches and 80 rows. Ch 1 to turn and do not count it. C = cream and B = black. Each number below is a run of sc in that color, read in working order. Odd rows are RS and even rows WS. The charts were reconstructed from the source’s written color runs; all 160 row totals were checked to equal 80. This checks the transcription, not physical gauge.

Prepare the intarsia yarn

Use a separate bobbin for each disconnected area of color rather than carrying a strand across the full width. On the last stitch before a color change, draw the new color through the final two loops. Cross the old and new strands at the back to avoid a hole, keeping the join loose enough for the panel to lie flat. The source’s copied pearl/rose wording refers to cream and black in this photographed version.

Front panel

Ch 81 in cream. Begin in the second chain and work the 80 stitches of front row 1: 24 C, 32 B, 24 C. Ch 1 and turn after each row. Follow the front chart and the complete written runs below through row 80. Count at each edge so color changes do not become accidental increases.

Front written color runs

Row / side	Single-crochet color runs	Count
1 RS	24C, 32B, 24C	80
2 WS	24C, 32B, 24C	80
3 RS	25C, 30B, 25C	80
4 WS	25C, 30B, 25C	80
5 RS	26C, 28B, 26C	80
6 WS	26C, 28B, 26C	80
7 RS	26C, 28B, 26C	80
8 WS	27C, 26B, 27C	80
9 RS	27C, 26B, 27C	80
10 WS	24C, 32B, 24C	80
11 RS	21C, 38B, 21C	80
12 WS	19C, 42B, 19C	80
13 RS	17C, 46B, 17C	80
14 WS	16C, 48B, 16C	80
15 RS	15C, 50B, 15C	80
16 WS	14C, 52B, 14C	80
17 RS	13C, 54B, 13C	80
18 WS	12C, 56B, 12C	80
19 RS	11C, 58B, 11C	80
20 WS	11C, 58B, 11C	80
21 RS	10C, 60B, 10C	80
22 WS	10C, 60B, 10C	80
23 RS	9C, 62B, 9C	80
24 WS	9C, 29B, 4C, 29B, 9C	80
25 RS	8C, 29B, 6C, 29B, 8C	80
26 WS	8C, 11B, 11C, 7B, 6C, 7B, 11C, 11B, 8C	80
27 RS	8C, 10B, 14C, 16B, 14C, 10B, 8C	80
28 WS	8C, 9B, 16C, 14B, 16C, 9B, 8C	80
29 RS	8C, 8B, 10C, 3B, 5C, 12B, 5C, 3B, 10C, 8B, 8C	80
30 WS	8C, 8B, 9C, 5B, 4C, 12B, 4C, 5B, 9C, 8B, 8C	80
31 RS	8C, 8B, 9C, 3B, 6C, 12B, 4C, 3B, 11C, 8B, 8C	80
32 WS	8C, 8B, 11C, 3B, 4C, 12B, 6C, 3B, 9C, 8B, 8C	80
33 RS	8C, 8B, 9C, 5B, 4C, 12B, 4C, 5B, 9C, 8B, 8C	80
34 WS	8C, 8B, 9C, 5B, 4C, 12B, 4C, 5B, 9C, 8B, 8C	80
35 RS	8C, 8B, 10C, 3B, 4C, 14B, 4C, 3B, 10C, 8B, 8C	80
36 WS	8C, 9B, 16C, 14B, 16C, 9B, 8C	80
37 RS	8C, 9B, 15C, 16B, 15C, 9B, 8C	80
38 WS	8C, 10B, 14C, 16B, 14C, 10B, 8C	80
39 RS	9C, 10B, 12C, 18B, 12C, 10B, 9C	80
40 WS	9C, 11B, 10C, 20B, 10C, 11B, 9C	80
41 RS	9C, 13B, 7C, 22B, 7C, 13B, 9C	80
42 WS	8C, 5B, 2C, 50B, 2C, 5B, 8C	80
43 RS	8C, 4B, 4C, 48B, 4C, 4B, 8C	80
44 WS	7C, 5B, 5C, 46B, 5C, 5B, 7C	80
45 RS	7C, 4B, 7C, 44B, 7C, 4B, 7C	80
46 WS	7C, 4B, 8C, 42B, 8C, 4B, 7C	80
47 RS	7C, 3B, 10C, 40B, 10C, 3B, 7C	80
48 WS	7C, 3B, 11C, 38B, 11C, 3B, 7C	80
49 RS	7C, 3B, 12C, 36B, 12C, 3B, 7C	80
50 WS	7C, 3B, 14C, 32B, 14C, 3B, 7C	80
51 RS	7C, 3B, 16C, 28B, 16C, 3B, 7C	80
52 WS	7C, 3B, 17C, 26B, 17C, 3B, 7C	80
53 RS	7C, 3B, 17C, 26B, 17C, 3B, 7C	80
54 WS	7C, 3B, 16C, 5B, 18C, 5B, 16C, 3B, 7C	80
55 RS	7C, 3B, 16C, 4B, 20C, 4B, 16C, 3B, 7C	80
56 WS	7C, 3B, 15C, 4B, 22C, 4B, 15C, 3B, 7C	80
57 RS	7C, 3B, 15C, 3B, 24C, 3B, 15C, 3B, 7C	80
58 WS	7C, 3B, 14C, 4B, 24C, 4B, 14C, 3B, 7C	80
59 RS	7C, 3B, 14C, 3B, 26C, 3B, 14C, 3B, 7C	80
60 WS	7C, 3B, 13C, 4B, 26C, 4B, 13C, 3B, 7C	80
61 RS	7C, 3B, 13C, 3B, 28C, 3B, 13C, 3B, 7C	80
62 WS	7C, 3B, 12C, 4B, 28C, 4B, 12C, 3B, 7C	80
63 RS	7C, 3B, 12C, 3B, 30C, 3B, 12C, 3B, 7C	80
64 WS	8C, 3B, 10C, 4B, 30C, 4B, 10C, 3B, 8C	80
65 RS	8C, 3B, 9C, 4B, 32C, 4B, 9C, 3B, 8C	80
66 WS	8C, 3B, 8C, 4B, 34C, 4B, 8C, 3B, 8C	80
67 RS	8C, 3B, 7C, 4B, 36C, 4B, 7C, 3B, 8C	80
68 WS	8C, 3B, 6C, 4B, 38C, 4B, 6C, 3B, 8C	80
69 RS	9C, 3B, 4C, 4B, 40C, 4B, 4C, 3B, 9C	80
70 WS	9C, 3B, 3C, 4B, 42C, 4B, 3C, 3B, 9C	80
71 RS	9C, 3B, 2C, 4B, 44C, 4B, 2C, 3B, 9C	80
72 WS	9C, 8B, 46C, 8B, 9C	80
73 RS	9C, 7B, 48C, 7B, 9C	80
74 WS	10C, 4B, 52C, 4B, 10C	80
75 RS	80C	80
76 WS	80C	80
77 RS	80C	80
78 WS	80C	80
79 RS	80C	80
80 WS	80C	80

Back panel

Start a separate panel with ch 81. Work from the second chain and follow the back chart for 80 rows of 80 sc. Keep the same tension as the front so the side and bottom seams line up.

Back written color runs

Row / side	Single-crochet color runs	Count
1 RS	80B	80
2 WS	80B	80
3 RS	80B	80
4 WS	80B	80
5 RS	80B	80
6 WS	80B	80
7 RS	80B	80
8 WS	80B	80
9 RS	80B	80
10 WS	80B	80
11 RS	80B	80
12 WS	80B	80
13 RS	80B	80
14 WS	80B	80
15 RS	80B	80
16 WS	80B	80
17 RS	80B	80
18 WS	80B	80
19 RS	80B	80
20 WS	80B	80
21 RS	80B	80
22 WS	80B	80
23 RS	80B	80
24 WS	38B, 4C, 38B	80
25 RS	37B, 6C, 37B	80
26 WS	19B, 11C, 7B, 6C, 7B, 11C, 19B	80
27 RS	18B, 14C, 16B, 14C, 18B	80
28 WS	17B, 16C, 14B, 16C, 17B	80
29 RS	16B, 10C, 3B, 5C, 12B, 5C, 3B, 10C, 16B	80
30 WS	16B, 9C, 5B, 4C, 12B, 4C, 5B, 9C, 16B	80
31 RS	16B, 9C, 3B, 6C, 12B, 4C, 3B, 11C, 16B	80
32 WS	16B, 11C, 3B, 4C, 12B, 6C, 3B, 9C, 16B	80
33 RS	16B, 9C, 5B, 4C, 12B, 4C, 5B, 9C, 16B	80
34 WS	16B, 9C, 5B, 4C, 12B, 4C, 5B, 9C, 16B	80
35 RS	16B, 10C, 3B, 4C, 14B, 4C, 3B, 10C, 16B	80
36 WS	17B, 16C, 14B, 16C, 17B	80
37 RS	17B, 15C, 16B, 15C, 17B	80
38 WS	18B, 14C, 16B, 14C, 18B	80
39 RS	19B, 12C, 18B, 12C, 19B	80
40 WS	20B, 10C, 20B, 10C, 20B	80
41 RS	22B, 7C, 22B, 7C, 22B	80
42 WS	13B, 2C, 50B, 2C, 13B	80
43 RS	12B, 4C, 48B, 4C, 12B	80
44 WS	12B, 5C, 46B, 5C, 12B	80
45 RS	11B, 7C, 44B, 7C, 11B	80
46 WS	11B, 8C, 42B, 8C, 11B	80
47 RS	10B, 10C, 40B, 10C, 10B	80
48 WS	10B, 11C, 38B, 11C, 10B	80
49 RS	10B, 12C, 36B, 12C, 10B	80
50 WS	10B, 14C, 32B, 14C, 10B	80
51 RS	10B, 16C, 28B, 16C, 10B	80
52 WS	10B, 17C, 26B, 17C, 10B	80
53 RS	10B, 17C, 26B, 17C, 10B	80
54 WS	10B, 16C, 28B, 16C, 10B	80
55 RS	10B, 16C, 28B, 16C, 10B	80
56 WS	10B, 15C, 30B, 15C, 10B	80
57 RS	10B, 15C, 30B, 15C, 10B	80
58 WS	10B, 14C, 32B, 14C, 10B	80
59 RS	10B, 14C, 32B, 14C, 10B	80
60 WS	10B, 13C, 34B, 13C, 10B	80
61 RS	10B, 13C, 34B, 13C, 10B	80
62 WS	10B, 12C, 36B, 12C, 10B	80
63 RS	10B, 12C, 36B, 12C, 10B	80
64 WS	11B, 10C, 38B, 10C, 11B	80
65 RS	11B, 9C, 40B, 9C, 11B	80
66 WS	11B, 8C, 42B, 8C, 11B	80
67 RS	11B, 7C, 44B, 7C, 11B	80
68 WS	11B, 6C, 46B, 6C, 11B	80
69 RS	12B, 4C, 48B, 4C, 12B	80
70 WS	12B, 3C, 50B, 3C, 12B	80
71 RS	12B, 2C, 52B, 2C, 12B	80
72 WS	80B	80
73 RS	80B	80
74 WS	80B	80
75 RS	80B	80
76 WS	80B	80
77 RS	80B	80
78 WS	80B	80
79 RS	80B	80
80 WS	80B	80

Make two handles

For each handle, ch 6. Work 5 sc from the second chain, ch 1 and turn. Continue for 136 rows total, keeping five sc on every row. Edge all around with sc, easing the corners so the strip lies flat. The source gives one handle instruction while showing a two-handle tote; repeat it twice to match the photographed front and back handles. The stated length is about 60 cm, so check your own tension before sewing.

Seam the tote

Lay the panels with right sides together, matching the foundation edges and row ends. Sew the two side edges and bottom with a running stitch, leaving the top open. Turn the bag right side out and gently shape the corners. Do not cut bobbin ends too close: weave them firmly into their own color areas before closing the seams.

Pin one handle to each panel, matching its two ends symmetrically around the top center. Confirm that the front and back handles are equal in height and are not twisted. Sew each end firmly with repeated passes through the panel and handle; secure tails inside. A lining is optional, but no lining template or zipper instructions are supplied by this source.

Check the cat motif

Lay each panel flat before assembly and compare the ears, eyes and mouth to the original photograph. In the charts, each square is one sc; the bottom line is row 1. Use the written working-order runs if you find reading the reversed WS rows difficult. Mark off each completed row to avoid repeating a narrow face stripe.

Tips for a neat finish

• Keep all 80 stitches visible and count after every color-change row.
• Untangle bobbins at the end of each turned row.
• Compare both panel dimensions before sewing.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a Halloween-only design?

It is a related black-cat accessory and can be used all year.

Do I carry black behind the whole cream row?

The intended method is intarsia with separate bobbins for disconnected areas, keeping long floats off the back.

Are the charts and written tables the same pattern?

Yes. Both were generated from the source’s written runs; each front and back row totals 80 stitches.

More Halloween crochet ideas

Build a coordinated seasonal display with our Halloween crochet collection. For another small project, explore the crochet ghost tutorial or browse these Halloween coaster ideas.

Pattern source and credit

This article is based on Cat black bag.pdf. Designer not named in the readable source text. The project photographs come from that source and show its original samples. The text has been organized into an article with additional explanations; any editorial clarification is identified where it matters. This is a document-based adaptation, without a claim that we physically tested the finished project.

Open the original pattern reference for the source photographs and original layout.