Showing posts with label clutch bag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clutch bag. Show all posts

Monday, 1 May 2017

The perfect little bag




It's a bag.

Just a little bag, but so useful. 

The perfect size, in fact for all the essentials*.

What makes it even more perfect is the fact that it takes about an hour to make and it doesn't need lining (what a Godsend - I blimmin' HATE lining bags).

Oh, and it has tassels. 
What's not to love??

Fancy making one?

*There is, in fact a bigger, tote-style bag in my NEW BOOK, Supersize Crochet (and it doesn't need a lining, either - hoorah! Take a quick look over there on the sidebar →



You'll need around 500g/ 71 meters of your favourite t-shirt yarn (I love this shop) and a small amount in a contrasting colour for the tassels, 17cm / 6.5" bag handles (mine are from here) and a 12mm hook.

The finished bag measures around 26 x 19 x 6cm

Pattern notes 

I used the cross-dc variation of the double crochet (US single crochet) stitch - see my post Quest for a Stitch to find out how to do it. If you prefer, you can use the normal dc (sc), the pattern will work just fine.

I also worked from round 2 in continuous rounds without a slip stitch to join or ch1 at the beginning, which was to avoid a seam. If you'd prefer joined rounds, then feel free to do so. Again, the pattern will work.

Don't want tassels? Simply work rnd 5 as regular dc (US sc) stitches and leave off the tassels!

Nope, I'm not crocheting glasses - it's how you work across the bag handles on Round 1


UK Pattern (US Below)

Rnd 1: Make 10dc across the first handle, 5ch, 10dc across the second handle, 5ch. Join with a sl st to the first dc to join. (30 sts)

Rnd 2 - 3: 1ch, 1dc in each st around (do not join - work in continuous rnds from here on).

Rnd 4: (Short row) 5dc (leave 25 stitches unworked).

Rnd 5: 1dc in each st BLO.

Rnds 6 - 12: 1dc in each st around.

Base 

18ch
Row 1: 1tr in each of 12 chains, beginning in the 4th ch from your hook, sk 2 ch, sl st in last ch.

To join base to bag, and with RS facing, sl st through FLO of rnd 12 to stitches around the base piece.

Fasten off.

To make up:
Cut tassels to the desired length and attach to the exposed loops from Rnd 5.
Joining the base to the bag


US Pattern

Rnd 1: Make 10sc across the first handle, 5ch, 10sc across the second handle, 5ch. Join with a sl st to the first sc to join. (30 sts)

Rnd 2 - 3: 1ch, 1sc in each st around (do not join - work in continuous rnds from here on).

Rnd 4: (Short row) 5sc (leave 25 stitches unworked).

Rnd 5: 1sc in each st BLO.

Rnds 6 - 12: 1sc in each st around.

Base 

18ch
Row 1: 1dc in each of 12 chains, beginning in the 4th ch from your hook, sk 2 ch, sl st in last ch.

To join base to bag, and with RS facing, sl st through FLO of rnd 12 to stitches around the base piece.

Fasten off.

To make up:
Cut tassels to the desired length and attach to the exposed loops from Rnd 5. 




Taaa daaaaah!
See? Quick and easy !!

Enjoy crocheting and don't forget to tag me so I can see what you've been making!

Have a fab week,
Sarah xxx


Friday, 29 May 2015

The one with a clutch bag and a workshop

Ooooo, I've had some lovely projects on the go at the moment.
This is my most recent, and absolute favouritest: 


I had the idea of using a star stitch, something I've been playing around with. It's not a difficult stitch, just a bit fiddly, but the real problem I had was in finding other stitches which could work around it.

You see, the star stitch is greedy. A very greedy little stitch indeed. And boy, does it pull in the yarn. The trouble I had was that everything I tried in the rows after it just didn't work. (There were several sweary moments, let me tell you.)

And then I cracked it. It was a simple case of reducing the number of stitches. Then my rows worked.


After that, it was a cinch.
I'm so pleased with how it looks. And although I love using lots of colours, stripes being a particular favourite of mine, I think reducing the palette really makes the stitches work hard and stand out.

Sooooo, I'm very pleased to be able to offer you the chance to learn how to make one of these gorgeous bags at an exclusive one-day workshop at Black Sheep Wool's Craft Barn on the 17th July in Warrington* AND I'll be there the day before for some fun meet-the-author/ book-signing malarkey. 
The day itself consists of much crochet-y fun; I'll show you how to make the clutch bag and you'll be provided with all the materials and know-how, a delicious buffet lunch and 10% discount to spend that day in the shop!

*Your response will be one of these:
a. Excellent! I live just around the corner.
b. Oh no. I live too far away (I'm in the UK)
c. Oh no. I live too far away (I'm outside the UK)

My answer would be this:
a. Awesome. See you there.
b. Not a problem. Grab a friend who shares your passion for crochet and do an overnighter, staying in one of Warrington's finest hotels. Or one of its worst. Up to you.
b/c. For those of you unable to get time off work, or living impossibly far away, then don't worry, I'll be releasing the pattern for sale after the workshop, so you'll still be able to get yer mitts on it.

To book your place on the workshop, then visit Black Sheep Wools and sign up. Spaces are limited, so get in there early to avoid disappointment.



I can't wait to see you there,

Sarah xx