Saturday 24 June 2017

MY STRAWBERRY BAG

free crochet strawberry bag pattern
MY STRAWBERRY BAG

Yes, I’m on a fruit-crazy bag mania .. with summer on in Mumbai, it seems only right .. not that one needs any justification when creating something cute and yummy ;)

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I’m keeping this strawberry crochet bag simple – it can be multipurpose - to be used by a kid for school stationery or for toilet accessories. I am going to make it without a handle. I am, however, giving you links for lining the bag and adding an I-cord if needed, so you can make this a nice hanging sling bag too.

With this blog, you get a whole load of new bag ideas.. and if you like swag / potli bags, then you get a whole load of those ideas too.. check out the end of this blog J

I have used two colours to easily show change of yarn colour.  I would suggest, as always, that it is better to work with my patterns via the laptop / tablet / I-pad rather than print it out - if nothing else, to save our environment.  Cheers

Materials usedpolyester purse yarn in cones (under 2 each of red and green) , with a 4 mm crochet hook ; fabric glue to seal ends stitch markers ; embroidery needle.

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros or unbranded knitting cotton as well
General yarn info : This polyester yarn is available only in India.
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.

For Non-Indians :This yarn is available only in India, and has a 4-ply or sport ply thickness.  The branded international yarn(s) I have used that are similar in thickness are "I-love-this-cotton" cotton  yarn ; Lily Sugar n' cream.
This yarn is available at Pradhan Stores, Mumbai,  and they are on Facebook too.

Skill level : Intermediate to Advanced skill level

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  

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

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 

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      
dc 5-tog : Double Crochet 5-together                

free crochet strawberry bag 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 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 usual, before we head off into our project, let’s take a quick look at what we’re working on today.  We will work one rectangle that will make up the front and back of the bag .. maybe add in a little side extra bit .. (?) , put in a zipper along the flat top end, line it .. and voila we’re done with our lovely bag. 

You can use this pattern to make any bag (i.e not just a strawberry one), but if you’re making the strawberry bag, you need to use the two colours – red and green.
For this pattern, as we use one colored yarn alternatively, you will need to (a) carry yarn along and use as needed or (b) fasten off each color yarn at the end of each row and re-attach every other row.
So figure this out first, and then carry on with the pattern.

Part 1 : Front and back of the bag

free crochet strawberry bag pattern


free crochet strawberry bag pattern

Our stitch count for the bag is in multiples of 4 + 3.

Start Row 1 (with red yarn) : 
with a fsc in multiples of 4 + 3 for the length of the bag you need.

Row 2 : (with red yarn) : 
sc in the 1st 3 fsc, 5 dc in the next sc ;
*sc in the next 3 fsc ; 5 dc in the next fsc* ; 
rep *to* till end.  Turn.

Change to green yarn.

Double crochet 5-tog as a decrease stitch : dc 5-tog :   Here is an easy video tutorial for working a dc 5-tog over 5 sts at https://youtu.be/Dh2viux_fBA 

Row 3 : (with green yarn) : 
sc in the 1st 3 sts ; 
*dc 5-tog over the next 5 dc ; sc in the next 3 sts* ; 
rep *to* till end. Turn.

Change to red yarn.
In the following row, one of the sc will be worked over the dc 5-tog.

Row 4 : (with red yarn) : 
sc in the 1st st, 5 dc in the next st ;
*sc in the next 3 sts ; 5 dc in the next st* ; 
rep *to* till end.  Turn.

Change to green yarn.
Once again, in the following row, one of the sc will be worked over the dc 5-tog.

Row 5 : (with green yarn) : 
sc in the 1st st ; 
*dc 5-tog over the next 5 dc ; sc in the next 3 sts* ; 
rep *to* till end. Turn.

Change to red yarn.

Row 6 : (with red yarn) : 
sc in the 1st 3 sts, 5 dc in the next st ;
*sc in the next 3 sst ; 5 dc in the next st* ; 
rep *to* till end.  Turn.

Change to green yarn.

Row 7 : (with green yarn) : 
sc in the 1st 3 sts ; 
*dc 5-tog over the next 5 dc ; sc in the next 3 sts* ; 
rep *to* till end. Turn.

Change to red yarn.

Rep Rows 4 – 7 till you have the length needed, ending, if possible, on either a Row 5 or 7. 

There is only a small difference depending on which row you end – as the strawberries (made mainly by the dc 5-tog) will be differently placed.  I am writing a general idea here, and I am sure you will figure out what I mean.

Basically you will work one row of sc all through, with an sc in each sc and one sc on top of the dc 5-tog.  The main thing is that you should ensure you end with the same number of stitches as what you started with on this last row.

Last Row : (with red yarn) : sc in the 1st 3 sc ; 
*sc over the dc 5-tog ; sc in the next 3 sc* ; 
rep *to* till end. 
Count your stitches and check before you fasten off and weave in ends.

And we are done with our bag.

Check out my earlier watermelon bags and see if you'd like to add that side strip to make the bag a little wider.

You are working this in a rectangle, so once done, you will fold in half and if you are adding that side bit, you will only work a strip for half the width of the rectangle.  In the watermelon bag(s), we worked it all around the side and base, but here, the base is the rectangle - Got it?

The easy option, of course, is to just keep it a rectangle, fold in half, add the zipper on the top and voila you are done !

  
Finishing :

Once you decide what you are doing, all you need to do is attach the sides together for the simple easy option, or attach the little strip for the sides to widen / fatten your purse up a bit.

Here are a few links on how you can finish up your bag.

Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI


a)   How to line the bag : View the link below to see how to easily line your handbag. http://pattern-paradise.com/2014/06/12/tutorial-how-to-line-a-crocheted-bag/

b)   Easiest I-cord : Check out this video for a really easy I-cord at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_AQ9m0QeZI


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