FAT BOTTOM SWAG BAG
I was gifted a bag full of slinky shiny
polyester (malai dori) purse yarn, and my head was spinning with ideas.
This is the first bag I’m making with a part of
this stash.
The fat bottom swag bag is a pretty popular
pattern, and one that has been on my ‘to do list’ for a while. Now it’s DONE!
;)
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Materials used : Some polyester silky malai dori with 5.5 mm
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 : The malai
dori yarn is available only in India (to
my knowledge). This yarn has a 6 / 8-ply thickness.
You can make this project with any yarn
and a hook that suits it.
Skill level : Easy
to Intermediate.
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
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
fsc : Foundation Single crochet
e-sc : Extended Single crochet
For today’s
interesting fat bottom swag bag, please visit http://walaikrusye.blogspot.in/2013/08/1-tutorial-fat-bottom-bag.html?m=1
for the
original pattern
So what did I
do differently?
a) As I am working with a pretty thick yarn, I
decided to use the e-sc or the extended single crochet. Please check the bottom
of this blog for a photo tutorial on ‘how to’.
Extended single crochet (e-sc) : Here is an easy video tutorial
b) I
changed yarn colours randomly – but did try for some form of uniformity. I was trying to finish off my stash, so I
basically divided all the yarn into two lots and used one set per side.
How to change colors seamlessly : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to change from the Main color to the Contrast or second color of yarn seamlessly. View it at https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno
How to carry your yarn when using two colors : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to carry your yarn along when working with two colours.
View it at https://youtu.be/NuascBU3pxQ
The explanation on the pattern sheet is pretty
good – but I thought I’d just explain how you go about it to give you a visual
effect. I like to visualise what I am
about to create – especially when I am using up stash and need to see where I
can use which yarn. As this is the first
time I am making a fat bottom bag, I had a lot of ‘winging’ – and would like to
save you that bother, if I could.
So we start with 33 sts (or 32 if using fsc
start) and then you start an even increase of 2 sts per row. After a few rows, we stop increases and get
that flat fat bottom effect. We finally
start decreasing 2 sts per row to mirror the start and finish off.
We therefore get this funny shaped piece, which
is given in the chart at the start of our pattern sheet.
Now to fold it, we simply fold top to bottom.
This is why you
get the striped pattern when you are using multiple colours – the stripes of
your multiple yarn go top to bottom – because you are working side to
side and have folded top to bottom.. got it?
The lovely
pattern shows through even if you are using just one colour.
We then run a
row of sc along the top and work the handle off this last row.
I had a lovely
handle that matched beautifully, so decided to use that instead.
Right then.. go
off to that pattern sheet and have fun crafting & creating something
unusual.
Part 2 : Joining
Fold the body of the bag down in half.
I have sewn part of the sides first. As I am working with limited yarn, I could
not work all the rows as given in the sheet.
I am also working with a pretty thick yarn and felt the ‘flat portion’ of
my bag was growing too wide. However, it’s this flat portion that gives you the
depth and fat bottom effect. I think if
you work per pattern, you may not need to sew the sides up and that allows you
to have a wider opening off the top. I guess
you just need to pick your hook up, make it and see if that works for you
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
How to work an e-sc / extended single crochet :
Extended Single Crochet (e-sc) : hk into st, yo (2 lps on hk), pull through one lp, yo (2 lps on hk),pull through both lps. One e-sc made.
(An e-sc is basically an sc on an sc)
Part 3 : Finishing :
For this bag, you may want to line it before you
finish off. There is a link given on the
pattern sheet too – but here’s one more
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
c) How to attach a zipper : Check this link at http://frogknitting.blogspot.se/2013/08/att-sy-i-dragkedjor-installing-zippers.html?m=1
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