Sweet Nothings Crochet: JAZZED UP TOILETRIES BAG

modeled photo of the bag being held by the model

photo of the toiletry bag held up by a model

JAZZED UP TOILETRIES BAG

I was walking down our market road with a friend the other day, when we chanced upon a man who (almost) begged us to purchase these small plastic zippered bags, saying that he was making them at home and he had a family and was out of a job.

My friend travels a lot, and though we really did not need them, we bought some anyway – and then I thought I’d just jazz it up for her.

So let’s have fun as we work on this creation… and if you like this idea, do keep an eye out for further such jazzed up ready-made bag ideas ..

I do have a few more we purchased from that day

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Materials used : Today I’ve used Vardhaman as well as Oswal acrylic yarns, with a 4 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle ; sewing needle ; fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers ; and a ready-made toiletry bag or a simple zippered bag (if you are doing this D.I.Y bag)

For Indians : You could use Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well

General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn , Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.

Skill level : Easy to Intermediate

While the stitches used are easy enough, there is a fair amount of thought that goes into this creation.

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

What is a chain stitch ? https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

How to line your bag :

http://pattern-paradise.com/2014/06/12/tutorial-how-to-line-a-crocheted-bag/

How to attach a zipper on your bag :

http://frogknitting.blogspot.se/2013/08/att-sy-i-dragkedjor-installing-zippers.html?m=1

Easiest I-cord : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_AQ9m0QeZI

Abbreviations used : Using U.S terminology

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

dc : Double crochet ch : Chain

sp : Space sl-st : Slip stitch

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

yo : Yarn Over

fsc : Foundation Single Crochet

fdc : Foundation Double Crochet

dc 2-tog : Double crochet 2-together

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.

For this pattern, I’ve used a superb granny square from http://beacrafter.com/crochet-summer-sun-granny-square/

I then tweaked it a bit to fit the bag and covered it.

So come along and let’s see what we’re working on today.

As I mentioned above, I have decided just to jazz up a bag and have a ready-made inner bag with zip.

However, if you decide to work this pattern up for a bag, without a ready-made inner, then there are links above on how to line your bag and attach a zipper as well.

In this case you work the pattern starting with the granny square and then working all around it to create the bag, then check the links for lining it and adding a zipper.

This pattern idea will work for any sized bag. Just check that you place the granny square bang in the middle and work the plain pattern all around to finish.

My ready-made bag is 10.5 x 5”.

So I want a granny square that is approx 5” x 5” – and then I am going to extend just two sides to get the length of 10.5” such that I keep this beautiful sunshine square bang in the centre.

So for the pattern, off you go to http://beacrafter.com/crochet-summer-sun-granny-square/

BUT hold on .... Just before you go off.. a few pointers.

Measure the bag you are working with so you can decide which round you are going to end with.

I have worked this lovely Summer Sun Granny square all the way till Round 7.

Round 8 (light blue or my brown), I worked with sc.

So my Round 8 : 2 sc in the 1^st dc ;

2 sc in the next dc ;

*sc in the next 13 dc ; 2 sc in the next 2 dc* ;

rep *to* all around ;

2 sc in the last sc.

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

Our “corners” are the 4 sc stitches.

So you are at one corner, and for your convenience, you could mark the next corner.

We have 17 sts from one corner to the other, and these 17 sts were just right for me (as they would make 5” when lightly stretched)

You can use a sc, hdc or dc in each of these 17 sts end to end.

I chose to use a hdc.

Row 9 : hdc in the 1^st sc and the next 16 sc. Turn.

Row 10 : hdc in the 1^st hdc and the next 16 hdc. Turn.

Row 11 - 15 : Rep Row 10.

Fasten off and weave in ends. We’ve completed one side of granny square extension.

photo showing side as well as inside of the little toiletry bag

For the next side, you will find the next set of 4 sc that mark the next corner.

We will skip the 1^st 2 sc, and work in the next 2 sc and the next 15 sts to the end – so yet again in the 17 sts for the opposite side of the granny square.

Re-attach your yarn in the marked sc and work Rows 9 – 15 for this side as well.

*Read below

Fasten off and weave in ends.

*You have a really odd looking (like a wrist-watch of sorts!) piece of work. Now as I am working with a really stretchy yarn, I am going to literally mould this work to fit my bag. If your yarn is not as stretchy, please ensure that you work sufficient rows to get it to the length needed.. or maybe you don’t need as many rows.

Yes, I know this is an oddish shape, but hey, that’s what D.I.Y and creativity are all about… getting it whipped into shape

Right then, off you go to that link above.. make two of these odd shapes and come back here to see how we join it all up.

Finishing

We now have these two oddish shapes and one bag.

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

1. I first joined the sides (17 sts across), using an embroidery needle and yarn.

2. I then put my toilet bag on the inner side of the sewn edge, such that we now have the right side of the work facing outside, and the toilet ready-made bag on the inside. I then attached one side to the bag with a regular needle and thread (as the embroidery needle and this acrylic yarn will make very large holes, so ensure you use a thinner needle and regular sewing yarn). So slip your needle inside the bag, and sew through the bag and the crochet side, securing them both together. Fasten off when you reach from one end to the other.

3. I then continued with my embroidery needle and yarn, working on the crochet rectangle, down the longer edge and joined all the way to the end, ensuring I have a neat first corner.

4. I turned around at my second corner, once again ensuring I had a neat corner, and worked down the next set of 17 sts.

5. Once again, I joined the bag working from the inside as before, and worked a line of stitching down this side as well, securing the crochet work to the inner bag.

6. With three sides sewn and the bag now neatly inside, I decided to use a little of my water insoluble (very important) glue – securing the centre of my crochet neatly onto the centre of the plastic bag. As mentioned before, glue is optional, so you don’t need to do it.. but I just want my work to be neat and tight. Remember you cannot use a glue gun as the inside bag is plastic – and if you use glue that is not water insoluble, then you are defeating the purpose of gluing it down.. This is, after all, a toilet bag, and water and bathrooms .. ummmmm!

7. The final sewing is to secure the top of our crochet work to the top of the bag – and this once again, I did with a regular sewing needle and thread.

8. Fasten off and ensure there are no peeping ends.

Ta da.. you’re done. Now come on.. show off your color combination and creation on Facebook, and do remember to tell the world who took you on this craze journey.

If you’ve liked this pattern, I appreciate if you could share my blog when you make your creation

Please also remember to credit http://beacrafter.com/crochet-summer-sun-granny-square/ for the superb and sunny crochet square.

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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

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2019/08/easy-squared-pouch.html