That’s a bit small for me, so the tan bag shown in the pattern I made by adding 6 rows to each end, and 6 rows across the middle. It’s about 10 inches high and about 15 inches across at the widest point.
I also made another bag by using 2 strands of #4 yarn held together, and a K hook & by following the pattern, not adding any rows, it came out about the same larger size, 10 x 15 inches.
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Materials:
H hook & #4 yarn
or
K hook – if you use 2 strands of #4
(thicker yarn & bigger hook will make the bag come out bigger.)
For the smaller purse, I used less than 1 skein of solid color Red Heart Super Saver.
However, the speckled yarn comes in smaller skeins, so you may need just a little more than 1.
For the larger purses I used about 1 1/2 skeins.
For the pattern chart:
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Purse Body:
Start with chain 18 and follow according to the chart. It will look kind of curved, like this-
(click on photos to embiggen)
Finished body. It will have a sort of bowl shape-
The little “holes” or gaps along the length every other row, where you chained 2 and turned your row. These are what you’re going to crochet into to create the gathering.
If you want to line your bag, you need to do it now. (While lining, I just put a stitch marker through the last stitch so it won’t unravel and leave my skein of yarn attached. Why create a break where you have to weave in ends again?)
Fold your bag in half, and fold your fabric in half and cut a square just about even with the length and width of the bag, then hem all 4 edges of the fabric in a rolled hem. You want the entire lining to end up being about half an inch inside all of the edges.
Add a pocket if you want to one side (make sure your pocket opens towards the outer edge.)
Fold lining lengthwise and put into bag (wrong sides together) and whip stitch along the length on each side.
Close up of lining. You want it to be away from the very edge because you’re going to need to crochet into those free loops to finish the bag.
Now pleat or gather the lining of the short sides. You want more pleats or gathers toward the center, as this will be the sides and deepest corners of the bag. Whip stitch in place.
OK, lining done. Now on to creating the gather of the bag body. Remember how I left my yarn attached? If you didn’t you will have to do it just like you will do the second side of the bag, so I’ve written the instruction that way. Let’s call this the gathering “band”, because I can’t think of what else to call it!
Band:
~Attach your yarn as close as possible to the end stitch of the long side, chain 1, and now, single chrochet into each “gap” left from the chain 2 turns. You’ll be skipping over one row as you go, so kind of squoosh your work towards the next gap as you go. Well, you don’t really have to squoosh, but just do not do this row loosely.
At the very last stitch, you may not really see a “gap” but just try to get your last single crochet as close to the very end as possible. It should be 26 single crochets across.
Chain 1, turn, single crochet in each stitch across.
Repeat for a total of 6 to 8 single crochet rows, depending on how wide you want it to look, it’s up to you. With thicker yarn I do less rows.
Tie off.
Do the other side of the purse the same way.
Shoulder Straps:
For the shoulder straps, attach yarn where shown.
Single crochet along the short side of purse and up the side of band,
now chain 60 to 80 (depending on how long you want your shoulder strap)
And, being careful not to twist the chain, single crochet it into the other side corner of the same band and single crochet along the short side of purse.
Chain 60 to 80 again for other strap, single crochet it to the other side corner of the same band, single crochet along the side of the band and now you should be back to where you started.
Chain 1, turn, and single crochet all the way around the sides and straps.
Chain 1, turn, and repeat this way for about 4 to 6 rows, however you would like it to look.
There ya go! If you have any questions, leave me a comment & I’ll try to help.
