If
you’re following my blog, you’ll know that some days back I chanced on someone
selling some simple plastic 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 )
Today I've used some Acrylic yarn, with a 4 mm crochet hook but you can use any yarn with a suitable hook to create your own sensational creation.
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For
this pattern, the African flower and more patterns is from here
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 ; fabric glue to seal ends ; stitch markers ; embroidery needle ; and a ready-made toiletry bag or a simple zippered bag (if you are doing this D.I.Y bag) 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.
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.
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
Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA
What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw
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
How to add beads : https://youtu.be/EcpgMgBox8I
How to work with beads in crochet : https://youtu.be/yanbAnF_pr0
How to change colors seamlessly : https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno
How to carry your yarn when using two colors : https://youtu.be/NuascBU3pxQ
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.
Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.
In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement. This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.
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 ready-made 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 African Flower in the centre.
So for the pattern, off you go here for the
African flower pattern.. and then you can come back here if you want to follow
my tweaks – or you just go and create your own tweaks!
Decide
if you’re making one or two African flower motifs.
So if you’re making two
motifs, then you will just make the extensions for the sides.
If
you decide to make one motif, then you will make a plain back for the bag.
Yet
again.. choices & decisions for you.
Also, measure the bag you are working with so you
can decide which round you are going to end with on your African flower.
The ready-made bag that saves me lining :)
I have worked my African flower and got it about 5”
x 5”, which is perfect for my bag.
I decided to add one more row of dc all around,
with (2 dc ; ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner ch-sp and I have the perfect size I
need (so I can manage to join sides and bottom without stretching and buckling)
So for this bag, I’m going to add sides to it, and
then attaching the front and back together.
If you’ve followed my earlier two blogs on jazzing
up this bag, then you’ll know what I’m about to suggest.. but let’s get it done
too.
So you’ve got your two African flower motifs that
you are going to keep in the centre of your bag, and then figure out how much
you will need to extend on either side.
Look at the motif.
You have four corners with ch-sps in each corner.
For the side extensions, you will attach your
yarn, in the dc just after the ch-sp and then work all the way along that dc
row till the dc just before the ch-sp.
Continue working dc in each dc all the way down this side till you have
the little extension you need to make it fit this side of the bag.
You will then repeat this three more times for the
other side of this motif, and both sides of the back motif.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
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 flower square.
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If you'd like to check out some of my other bag patterns, here goes
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