The (not my idea) t-shirt yarn bag

I cannot take any credit for the idea behind this bag - you see my good friend, Sharna made one and shared it on Instagram and I loved it.

Find Sharna's inspiring Insta feed here and her blog here

A quick search through my stash at home revealed lots of odds and ends of t-shirt yarn and a deeper dig unearthed some wooden bag handles, too.

And so, inspired by her totally marvellous idea, I decided to come up with my own original design pretty much completely copy it.

If you'd also like to be cool like Sharna and strut around with a copy-cat bag like me, then here's what to do:

You'll need around 350g-ish of t-shirt yarn oddments, a 15mm hook and D-shaped wooden handles (approx 17cms width) find similar here. (Some of my t-shirt yarn was a bit thin, so I worked holding two strands together to even things up a bit.) 

Pattern UK terms (US below)

Make Two

Rnd 1: 4ch (counts as 1ch and 1tr), make 7tr in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st to 3rd ch. (8sts)

Rnd 2: 2ch, 1tr in same st (counts as tr2tog), 1ch, [tr2tog, 1ch] in each st around. Join with sl st to 1st st. (8st, 8ch)

Rnd 3: Beginning in any 1ch-sp, [2ch, 1tr (counts as tr2tog), 1ch, tr2tog] in 1ch-sp, [tr2tog, 1ch, tr2tog] in each 1ch-sp around. Join with sl st to 1st st. (16sts, 8ch)

Rnd 4: Beginning in any 1ch-sp, [3ch, 1tr, 2ch, 2tr] in 1ch-sp, 2tr between the next two sts, 2tr in 1ch-sp, 2tr between next two sts, *[2tr, 2ch, 2tr] in same 1ch-sp, 2tr between the next two sts, 2tr in 1ch-sp, 2tr between next two sts; rep from * around. Join with sl st to 3rd ch. (40 sts, 8ch)

Handle/joining

Rnd 1: (this will vary slightly, depending on your handle). Beginning with one of the squares, in any 2ch-sp, [1ch, 2dc] in 2ch-sp, 1dc BLO in each st over handle, 2dc in 1ch-sp

Now put the other square, with WS facing the WS of the piece you are working on. Make 1dc in the same 2ch-sp and the corresponding 2ch-sp of the square behind, then work your way around the two pieces, joining them by working 1dc BLO of front square to join FLO of back square. Make 3dc in the 2ch-sp space and repeat around, making 1dc in the first 2ch sp where you started.

Now you will just work across the back square. Make 2dc in the same 2ch-sp, 1dc FLO in each st over handle, 2dc in 1ch-sp.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

(Or if you're really lazy like me, tie the ends in a knot on the inside of the bag and snip them.

Job done.

Enjoy your bag - it really is the perfect summer accessory!

Pattern US terms 

Make Two

Rnd 1: 4ch (counts as 1ch and 1dc), make 7dc in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st to 3rd ch. (8sts)

Rnd 2: 2ch, 1dc in same st (counts as dc2tog), 1ch, [dc2tog, 1ch] in each st around. Join with sl st to 1st st (8st, 8ch)

Rnd 3: Beginning in any 1ch-sp, [2ch, 1dc (counts as dc2tog), 1ch, dc2tog] in 1ch-sp, [dc2tog, 1ch, dc2tog] in each 1ch-sp around. Join with sl st to 1st st. (16sts, 8ch)

Rnd 4: Beginning in any 1ch-sp, [3ch, 1dc, 2ch, 2dc] in 1ch-sp, 2dc between the next two sts, 2dc in 1ch-sp, 2dc between next two sts, *[2dc, 2ch, 2dc] in same 1ch-sp, 2dc between the next two sts, 2dc in 1ch-sp, 2dc between next two sts; rep from * around. Join with sl st to 3rd ch. (40 sts, 8ch)

Handle/joining

Rnd 1: (this will vary slightly, depending on your handle). Beginning with one of the squares, in any 2ch-sp, [1ch, 2sc] in 2ch-sp, 1sc BLO in each st over handle, 2sc in 1ch-sp

Now put the other square, with WS facing the WS of the piece you are working on. Make 1sc in the same 2ch-sp and the corresponding 2ch-sp of the square behind, then work your way around the two pieces, joining them by working 1sc BLO of front square to join FLO of back square. Make 3sc in the 2ch-sp space and repeat around, making 1sc in the first 2ch sp where you started.

Now you will just work across the back square. Make 2sc in the same 2ch-sp, 1sc FLO in each st over handle, 2sc in 1ch-sp.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

(Or if you're really lazy like me, tie the ends in a knot on the inside of the bag and snip them.

Job done.

Enjoy your bag - it really is the perfect summer accessory!

Have a great weekend,

Sarah xx

A Chevron Necklace

 

It needs no introduction, really -

All you need is the teeniest bit of t-shirt yarn, a hook and about 5 minutes of your time.

 

Now, most of you who visit my blog, or see my stuff on Instagram will know that I am not one for tricksy, difficult projects.

Nope.

Simple and quick is the way I roll.

In fact, this project is SO easy that I taught a non-crocheter how to make one (which she did, and it was rather brilliant, I must say).

Ok.
You'll need some t-shirt yarn (about 15g / 2 metres - this is the perfect stash-busting project)
A big hook - a 10mm or 12mm will work fine.

• Chain 14

• Starting in the 2nd chain from your hook, make 1dc in the first 5 chains, skip 3 chains, make 1dc in each of the last 5 stitches.

To make up, simply pull the yarn end through your final stitch and use this to make the necklace, tying it securely on the other side of the chevron, at the right length to fit.

Now hide your yarn tails by weaving them into the back of your chevron.

And that is that.

 Have fun using up all your t-shirt yarn ends with this super-easy project!

Enjoy your week,

Sarah xxx

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

Crochet T-shirt necklace

Inspired by a rather large delivery of T-shirt yarn from here, I decided to make this cute crochet necklace.

Fancy making one?

Those of you who know my stuff won't be surprised to learn that this project is super-quick and super-easy. 

AAAAAnd, I've included a step-by-step photo tutorial underneath the pattern for all you crochet newbies.

Cos I am nice like that.

Let's crack on..

You will need:

12mm hook 

T-shirt yarn in whatever colours you like (this is perfect for using up leftovers)

Tapestry needle

Pattern: (US terms in bracket)

Foundation chain: In colour A, Chain 13

Row 1: beginning in 2nd chain from hook, 1dc (1sc) in each ch across, 1ch, then pull through colour B for 2nd ch, leaving long beginning tail for tie.

Now working the other side of the ch, make 1slst in each st across.

Fasten off, leaving long tail of colour B. Weave in ends of colour A.

Photo tutorial:

In colour A, Chain 13:

Beginning in 2nd chain from hook, 1dc (1sc) in each ch across:

 

Make 1ch in colour A, then pull up a loop of colour B, leaving a long tail at the beginning:

Turn the necklace around so you can work along the other side of the chain. You'll make your stitches into those unused loops:

Make 1 slip stitch into each stitch across, keeping your tension quite loose.

Pull the yarn tail through and make an invisible fastening-off as follows:

Stitch the end through the loop of the next stitch...

...and then back through the last slip stitch.

Turn the necklace over and stitch this tail through the back of the stitches to create one of the ties:

Weave away the yarn tail from the foundation chain on the other side:

Knot together the remaining two ends and weave away colour A, leaving colour B as the other tie:

Tada! 

Job done. 

Enjoy, lovely peeps!

Sarah xx

The one with the competition

Da da da da da da daaaaaaa! (It's a trumpet fanfare, of course)

And so, the lovely people at Craft Daily TV and myself are offering a wonderful giveaway - 

The chance to win my Yarny basket (handmade by me and the very one featured in my new book).

And actually, not just the Yarny basket.

The Yarny basket filled to the brim with gorgeous yarn and other lovely goodies!

If you fancy entering the competition, it couldn't be easier. You need to be a UK resident, then click here and you'll be whisked away to the Craft Daily TV website where you can enter.

No difficult questions, no answers in 100 words or less, no jumping through hoops.

Nope.

Just a simple 'subscribe to the newsletter' email entry and you're done.

The competition will close on March 29th, when a winner will be drawn at random, blah-de-blah, usual conditions apply, see website for details.

Good luck!

Sarah xx