18 October 2026 · 5 min read · by Léa
Bag charm: the trend, and how to attach it
The bag charm dresses up a bag in one gesture. What it is, why it is everywhere, and how to attach it to the handle, the closure or the keys.
A bag charm is a small piece that you hang from your bag to give it a personal touch. It is also called a bag charm, charm or lucky charm. I crochet them by hand in Antibes, and this is a question I am often asked: how to attach it, and where. Here is what I know, straightforwardly.
What is a bag charm?
It is a bag accessory, not a handbag accessory in the strict sense: it can be worn on a tote bag, a backpack, a pouch, a case. It is held by a clip, a ring or a carabiner, and it hangs freely.
They exist in metal, leather, beads, plush. Mine are crocheted: a yarn, a crochet hook, and the piece takes shape stitch by stitch. Some are padded to have volume, like a small fruit or a small character. Others are flat, like a flower.
In the shop, they are stored with the charms and lucky charms. A lucky charm, originally, is a good luck token that you keep with you. I like the word for that.
Why the bag charm is everywhere at the moment
You see them on bags in the street, in fashion magazines, in shop windows. The trend is based on a simple idea: you keep the same bag for a long time, and you change it with a detail.
A charm does not require buying anything else. You add it, you remove it, you put one on in the summer and another one in the winter. This is also why it is often given as a gift: there is no size to guess.
The current fashion is towards accumulation: several charms together, of different materials and sizes. But one alone is enough, especially on a bag that is already loaded.
A charm does not change the bag. It changes the way you look at it.
It all depends on what your bag offers. Before buying, take a closer look.
- The handle ring. This is the most common place. Many bags have a metal ring, round or D-shaped, where the handle meets the bag. You can pass the carabiner or the charm ring through it.
- The handle itself. If your bag does not have a ring, a clip that opens, such as a carabiner, can be closed around a thin handle.
- The zip pull. On a pouch or backpack, this is very practical. A handmade crochet piece is lightweight, it does not hinder the opening.
- The keyring. If you keep your keys hanging in the bag, the charm can simply live there, and come out with them.
A practical tip: a clip that opens, carabiner or clasp, allows you to change charms whenever you want. A closed ring holds well but requires a bit more patience to pass through.
My keyrings FLORE have a metal keyring ring. The charms in the Automne series have a clip and a ring made of stainless steel. For the other pieces, the detail is on each product card.
Which bag charm to choose
I think a charm is chosen like a small piece of jewellery: we choose it because it tells something about ourselves.
Fruits, for the colour
CLÉMENTINE, these are seven fruits in a mini format: Strawberry, Cherry, Banana, Lemon, watermelon, Apple, Peach. I like small charms that can be attached to a bag, keys, the zip of a pouch, and I wanted to make a series of them. They are made from certified OEKO-TEX® mercerised cotton yarn, and stuffed.
A small ufo, to smile
NOVA, this is the name of a star that appears suddenly in the sky. I crocheted it one Christmas, and I spent a lot of time looking for the right green. It is now available in four colours. It is the charm that stands out on a sober bag.
A flower, for every day
FLORE is the Roman goddess of flowers and spring. This is one of the very first pieces I created, in memory of the flower fields of my childhood in the south of France. It is available in many colours, from pinks to blues including Teal and Bordeaux. It is made from 100% acrylic yarn certified OEKO-TEX®.
The season, for autumn
The Autumn series brings together the small symbols that come to mind when I think of this period: yellow or Red pumpkins, Mushroom, Ghost. This is the one to hang at the moment.
How to care for a crocheted charm
A charm lives outside, against the bag, in hands. It gets a bit dirty, that is normal.
Mine do not machine wash: they are padded or hold with textile glue, and a lot of water does not do them good. In case of a stain, gently dab with a barely damp cloth, then let dry flat, in the open air. No tumble dryer, no bleach.
If you have a precise idea, a colour, a pattern, a shape that does not exist yet in the shop, you can suggest it to me through the custom project page.
Questions fréquentes
Comment s'appelle le pendentif qu'on accroche à un sac ?
On dit charm de sac, bag charm en anglais, breloque de sac ou bijou de sac. Grigri se dit aussi, au sens de petit porte-bonheur.
Où accrocher un charm sur son sac ?
À l'anneau en métal de l'anse, le plus souvent. Sinon autour de l'anse, à la tirette d'une fermeture éclair ou au trousseau de clés.
How many charms to put on a bag?
One is enough. The trend is towards several charms together, and it is a matter of taste: on a small bag, two or three are already quite noticeable.
Can a handmade crochet charm be washed?
Not by machine. We dab the stain with a barely damp cloth and let it air dry, flat and in the open air.
All of Léa’s pieces are crocheted by hand, one by one, in the south of France. See the pieces
