HEXAGONALLY
YOURS – A JAZZED UP TOILETERIES BAG 2
If
you’re following my blog, you’ll know that some days back I chanced on someone
selling some simple bags, and I bought a few just for kicks.. and then decided
to ‘up-cycle’ and bling them up. I gave
the first one to my friend, who travels a lot, and she totally loves it – so I
thought I would carry on with the others I have purchased too (else they
*could* have joined some of that stash lying way way way back in my cupboard..
you *know* what I mean, right)
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 toilet bag ideas .. I do have a few more
we purchased from that day
Thank you for joining me.
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Cheers. Enjoy
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For
my earlier pattern, check https://shyamanivas.blogspot.in/2016/07/jazzed-up-toiletries-bag.html
For
this pattern, the original star flower is from http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/starflower-hexagon
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.
Materials used : Acrylic yarn, with
a 4 mm crochet hook ; Embroidery and sewing needles ; and a ready-made bag with
a zipper (if you are doing this D.I.Y bag) ;
Optional : Water Insoluble Glue.
Skill level : Easy to Intermediate
While the stitches used are easy enough, there is a fair amount of thought that
goes into this creation.
Abbreviations :
sc : Single crochet yo : Yarn Over
st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : hook
lp(s) : Loop(s) dc : Double crochet
sl-st : Slip Stitch
sc-blo : Single Crochet Back Loop Only
fsc : Foundation single crochet
hdc : Half Double crochet
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
What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY
What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw
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
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
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
Pattern 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 (as well as through the 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.
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 an readymade inner, then there are links above on how to
line your bag and attach a zipper as well.
My bag is 10.5 x 5”.
So *ideally* we want a granny square that is 5” x
5” – and then we will extend two sides to get the length of 10.5” such that we
keep this beautiful starflower hexagon in the centre.
So for the pattern, off you go to http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/starflower-hexagon for the
original hexagonal pattern.. and then you can come back here if you want to
follow my tweaks – or you just go and create!
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 Starflower hexagon all
the way to the end and have a 7 x 7.5” hexagon (as measured from one flat side
to flat side and then from one point to point)
Now I am going to keep this hexagon such that the
centre of the hexagon is at the bottom of the bag – and my bag is 5” wide, so
folded, this hexagon is just under 3.5”, which means minimum I need to add 1.5”
to get the length right.. so let’s tweak!
As you’ve done till Round 8 on that pattern sheet,
let’s go ahead and start here with Round 9, shall we?
(dc, ch 1, dc) in the
next ch-2 sp ;
*dc in each st till the next ch-2 sp ;
rep (to)
once in the next ch-2 sp* ;
rep *to* all around and join with a sl-st to the 1st
st.
Round 10 : Rep Round 9.
At this point, I find that the hexagon has the
width I need for my bag. So here’s what
I’m going to do.
I folded the hexagon, and am now going to work in rows
along three sides of this hexagon ; working back and front sections separately.
Now at this point, all I’m going to give you is an
idea.. as we’re both probably working on different sized bags.
Imagine this :
You have one side of your hexagon at the far end of
your bag, along the width, but we have to get the sides of that triangle (from
the side of the hexagon) squared up.. and will probably have to stop increasing
on the top of the hexagon shortly too.
So first work along the three sides of the hexagon,
and just keep increasing the stitch size (i.e) at the corner of the
hexagon, work sc, then go from hdc, to e-dc (extended double crochet) and then
dc to an e-trc (extended triple / treble crochet) to a trc (triple / treble crochet).
You will do this along the side of the hexagon till
you reach the ch-2 sp ; [dc, ch 1, dc] in that ch-sp.
Work dc along that top edge in each dc all through
till the next ch-2 sp (on that top edge);
[dc, ch 1, dc] in that ch-sp as before and then you
mirror whatever you have done on the third side of our hexagon for one side of
your bag.
Make a note of what
you’re doing as you will need to repeat it even on the other side of this
hexagon.
In my case, one row of dc along the top edge of my
bag evens the length out for me.
So I have then worked just the two *triangle* parts
along the sides, till I have got it to the squared up shape I needed.
Once again, write whatever you are doing here too,
for repeating not just on the other side of this front, but also for the back.
Fasten off and weave in ends. We’ve completed one side of hexagon
extension.
Repeat all that you’ve done her for the next side
as well.
Finishing
1. I first joined the sides, 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 side.
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 hot 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 crazy 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 for the superb hexagon.
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Have a great day and see you soon.
If you'd like to check out some of my other bag patterns, here goes
