Sweet Nothings Crochet: “THE” BLUE MONSTER SLING BAG

“THE” BLUE MONSTER SLING BAG

I started on my sling bag binge using "famous cartoon characters" with a lovely Hello Kitty inspired , and today we’re off with the (drum roll please) awfully fantastic Blue Cookie Monster !

I did predict this line of sling bags is going to be long.. so come along and enjoy this ride.

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So for this bag, I thought we’d do a 3-D version – well, that just means that we’re going to make the elements of this bag separately and then attach them all on… so we make the base of the bag (face) and then attach on the really huge eyes and mouth, and then just for some fun, I will throw in a cookie.. Well, our monster does have a really large mouth, right Sound fun? Come on then, let’s get to it.

Materials used : Polyester purse yarn, about 1.5 cones, with a 3.25 mm crochet hook ; a small amount of poly fill stuffing (for nose, optional) ; embroidery needle

Size : 7” across (the widest part of face) x 6.5” (only face, eyes still popping out)

Gauge : 5 dc (across) x 2 dc rows (high) = 1”

Skill level : Intermediate to advanced

While the stitches used are easy enough, this is a bit of a long(ish) project and needs patience. One will also need sewing skills to attach all the pieces

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)

lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet

dc : Double crochet sp : Space

sl-st : Slip stitch ch : Chain

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook

yo : Yarn Over

Instructions using U.S terminology

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

We start making Cookie Monster’s slightly lopsided round face with blue coloured yarn. Make two.

Start (using blue) with a magic circle and 6 sc in that circle.

Pull lightly to close circle. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc.

Round 1 : 2 dc in the 1^st sc ; 2 dc in each sc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc. (12 sts)

Round 2 : 2 dc in the 1^st dc ; 2 dc in each dc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc. (24 sts)

Round 3 : 2 dc in the 1^st dc ; dc in the next dc ;

*2 dc in the next dc ; dc in the next dc* ;

rep *to* all around. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc. (36 sts)

Round 4 : 2 dc in the 1^st dc ; dc in the next 2 dc ;

*2 dc in the next dc ; dc in the next 2 dc* ;

rep *to* all around. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc. (54 sts)

Round 5 : dc in each dc all around. (54 sts)

Cookie Monster, if you can see has a slightly odd shaped faced.. elliptical but not quite – so its circular at the bottom and then flattish on the top.

For that we’ll do a half round of dc and the top half of sc’s. So let’s place markers on the halfway point on our Monster face – Count 27 sts.

Round 6 : dc in the 1^st dc ; 2 dc in the next dc ;

*dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next dc* ;

rep 11 times *to* till the marker ; sc in the next dc ; 2 sc in the next dc ;

*sc in the next dc ; 2 sc in the next dc* ;

rep *to* till the end. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st. (81 sts)

Move marker to the centre point again.

Round 7 : dc in the 1^st dc ; 2 dc in the next dc ;

*dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next dc* ;

rep *to* till the marker ;

hdc in the next st ; sc in the each sc till 1 st before the end ;

hdc in the last st. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

We now have our Cookie Monster face.

Fasten off and leave a long tail to join.

We will make now make Cookie Monster’s over-sized eyes , a large mouth and one cookie as well.

We will make the eyes in two parts – the white part and then the smaller black bit. The mouth is in one piece.

Cookie Monster Eyes : Part 1

Make two using white

Start with a magic circle and 6 sc in that circle.

Pull lightly to close circle. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc.

Round 1 : 2 sc in each sc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Round 2 : sc in the 1^st sc ; 2 sc in the next sc ;

*sc in the next sc ; 2 sc in the next sc* ;

rep *to* till end. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc.

Round 3 – 4 : Rep Round 2

Last Round : sc in each sc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc. Fasten off and leave a long tail to join.

Cookie Monster Eyes : Part 2

Make two using black

Start with a magic circle and 6 sc in that circle. Pull lightly to close circle. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc.

Round 1 : 2 sc in each sc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc.

Round 2 : sc in the 1^st sc ; 2 sc in the next sc ;

*sc in the next sc ; 2 sc in the next sc* ;

rep *to* till end. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc.

Fasten off and leave a long tail to join.

Cookie Monster Mouth :

Make one using black

Foundation double crochet (fdc) : This is a unique way of starting a project directly with a row of double crochet stitches. Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k

Start with 25 fdc. Turn.

Double crochet 2-tog : dc 2-tog : [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 2 times (3 lps on hk) ;

{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 2 times. One dc 2-tog made.

This video tutorial at https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease.

Sometimes we work the dc 2-tog in the same stitch, to use as a decorative stitch. Visit this video tutorial at https://youtu.be/lLUXOJ1sY9w

Row 1 : dc 2-tog in the 1^st 2 fdc ;

fdc in each fdc till last 2 fdc ;

dc 2-tog in the last 2 fdc. Turn.

Row 2 : sc in the 1^st dc ; dc 2-tog in the next 2 dc ;

dc in each dc till last 3 dc ; dc 2-tog in the next 2 dc ;

sc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 3 : sl-st in the 1^st sc ; sc in the next dc ;

dc 2-tog in the next 2 dc ; dc in each dc till last 3 dc ;

dc 2-tog in the next 2 dc ; sc in the next dc ; sk last sc. Turn.

Row 4 : Rep Row 3.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew in.

The Cookie :

Make two in light brown

So our cookie here is going to be a semi circle. I’ve decided to make this a 3D cookie, so I’m going to make two halves, and then join them up and stuff lightly. I will then join the flattish part (as against the semi circular edge) of our cookies and have it stick out of the mouth.

Once you’ve made this basic light brown cookie, embellish it with little cross-stitch work in a darker shade of brown IF you want it to be a chocololate chip cookie.

Start with a magic circle and 8 sc in that circle. Pull lightly but do not close circle.

Round 1 : 2 hdc in each sc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc.

Round 2 : hdc in the 1^st hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc ;

*hdc in the next hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc* ;

rep *to* till end. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st hdc.

Round 3 : hdc in the 1^st hdc and every hdc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st hdc.

Fasten off and leave a long tail to join.

Chocolate chip embellishment :

I have embellished my little cookie with little bits of darker brown to look like a lovely chocolate chip cookie – this is just a few basic cross stitches around the cookie. Now the top of the cookie, where we started our magic circle has a little hole.. I’ve just covered that hole with the same darker brown to make it one larger chip of chocolate.. and all of this chocolate chipping is just on one side, unless you want it all authentic and work the under side as well.

Now, join the two halves of the cookie and stuff lightly with polyfill stuffing.

Bag strap :

I made a long fsc chain for my bag strap – nice thin and pretty durable.

If you want it a little thicker, then work an sc (or hdc) in each fsc of this chain till you reach the start.

Join to the two sides of your Cookie Monster bag.

There are also two links given at the top of this pattern sheet on how to make an I-cord as well as a Rounded cord.

Finishing : There are several elements in this Monster face that need to be attached. So let’s start with this fun job. For this final finishing, we’re going to join all the elements we’ve made onto one side of the Monster face (made in blue)

1. Monster eyes 1 : * Check Note. Attach the whites of the eyes to the top of the head. Now look at the picture of Cookie Monster – His eyes pop out over the top of his head. So keeping the first round of the whites of eyes at the top of the blue face, pin the right eye down first. Attach the eye around the top edge of the blue face, and then continue down the lower semicircle that forms the bottom of the whites of the eyes. Once the right eye is properly attached, overlap and attach the left eye over this – once again ensuring that half the white of Cookie Monster’s eyes are over the top of his blue face.

2. Monster eyes 2 : * Check Note. Attach the blacks of his eyes in a wonky way onto the whites of the eyes.

3. * Note : You can attach the blacks of the eyes onto the whites first and then attach the whites onto the face as well.

4. Monster Mouth : Cookie Monster’s large mouth fits just under the blue starting magic circle for his face. So place the straight edge just under that first starting round, and pin the semi circular mouth down. Then attach it down to the face.

5. The Cookie : Attach the cookie with the bitten part of the cookie against the mouth (such that the semic circular bit of the cookie is near the bottom of Cookie Monster’s face). We just attach that top bit of the cookie tightly and firmly to the mouth and it will stand out just a little bit – seemingly being eaten by Cookie Monster. If you want it a little firmer, place a small semicircular piece of cardboard into the cookie just before you fill with stuffing, and it will stand out a little more. However, do note that cardboard is not wash-safe, and if your little bag gets wet, it will squish up and ruin the whole effect.

6. Finally join the two sides of the face together with sc-join or with a whip stitch (Info on a ‘how-to’ given on top)

7. Once I’d attached the two parts of Cookie Monster’s face, I attached the strap on.

8. Line your bag and add the zipper (Instructions for a “how-to” given at the top of the blog). Ensure that you line the back of the popped out whites of eyes as well, not only for neatness and good finish but also to ensure that it pops out straight and doesn’t curl down on itself.

And wow.. just look at what you’ve created. One little kiddo is going to be mighty pleased

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If you'd like to check out some of my other bag patterns, here goes

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2019/08/zeeba-coin-purse.html