Monday 22 October 2018

DIAMOND TOTE BAG

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DIAMOND TOTE BAG
I’ve made several tote / swag / potli bags in the past and this is just one more to add to my large growing collection.  Use this pattern to make a variety of bags – not just one tote / swag / potli bag ;)

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Materials used : About two cones of polyester purse yarn in cones , with a 3.5 mm crochet hook ; fabric glue to seal ends ; 4” wide metal clasp ; safety eyes ; 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.

Skill level : Intermediate to Advanced

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 

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                  

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 your convenience there video tutorials through the blog too
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. 

The beauty of this creation is that you can make it using any yarn with a suitable hook and make it to any size.

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We start our bag at the base and have a plain base (without pattern) till we have increased to the width we need for our bag.  We will then start the cute and simple pattern that we will take all the way to the top.
Right on top, we will once again have a plain pattern to finish it all off neatly.

Now here’s where it gets fun – you can decide to have a plain top, or leave it with the pattern and a picot edging.  I will give you information for all of this and leave the creativity to you. 
Come along then, let’s create something beautiful today.

Our stitch count for the pattern is in multiples of 3.

We work our pattern in rounds.
So though you do not need to start in multiples of 3, by the time you are done with the base, you should have stitches in multiples of 3.

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Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA  

Start Round 1 : with 30 fsc. 

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

Round 2 : 2 hdc in the 1st fsc ; and in each fsc till the last one ;
5 hdc in the last fsc ;
Turn and work under the fsc row ; hdc in each fsc till the last one ;
3 hdc in the last fsc.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.
Place a marker in the centre hdc (of the 3-hdc set) on both ends

Rounds 3 - 4 : 3 hdc in the 1st hdc ;
hdc in each hdc till one hdc before the marked st ;
3 hdc in that st ; hdc in the marked st ; 3 hdc in the next st ;
hdc in each st till one hdc before the marked st ; 3 hdc in that st ;
hdc in the marked st.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st. Move marker.

At the end of Round 4, remove markers.

You can start your pattern right here. 
However if you want an extended base section, please work Rounds 5 & 6.

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Rounds 5 - 6 : hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc till the end.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Assuming you have worked the above two rounds without increase, I will continue numbering.

Round 7 : hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc till the end.

Before we start the pattern, check that we have the stitch count (multiples of 3) for this round.  Keep a number check, as you will need to work this number again on the last round for finishing and neatness.

Our pattern stitch is a combination of four stitches all worked together in one stitch or ch-sp. It has two sections that make the diamond stitch.  Both sections of the diamond are made up of the same four stitches, in a different combination.

For the bottom half we will call it our “V-1 st” which is (dc ; ch 3, sl-st in the same st ; ch 3 ; dc) all in the same st.

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 

Round 8 : “V-1 st” in the 1st hdc ;
*sk next 2 hdc ; “V-1 st” in the next hdc* ;
rep *to* all around and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

We have the lower “V” section of our diamond stitch done.

The top section of our diamond is as simple, but will sound complicated.
So before we look at the instructions, I need you to visualise the stitch.
We will once again have 2 dc and 2 sets of ch-3 to make this half.
We will be working one set of ch 3 and dc on one half of the “V-1 st” and the second dc and second ch 3 on the second half.
Now, the dc that we work will be a dc 2-tog but we will work one half of the dc 2-tog over one side of the “V-1 st” and the second half of the dc 2-tog over the second half of the “V-1 st”.
Sounds terribly complicated, but it isn’t now, is it?

So our “V-2 st” is (ch 3 ; dc 2-tog over the 2 legs of the “V-1 st” ; ch 3) all over the same “V-1 st”.
This will make it a diamond stitch.

Double crochet 2-tog : dc 2-tog :  [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 2 times (3 lps on hk) ; 
{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 2 times.  One dc 2-tog made. 
This video tutorial at https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease.  
Sometimes we work the dc 2-tog in the same stitch, to use as a decorative stitch. Visit this video tutorial at https://youtu.be/lLUXOJ1sY9w 

Round 9 : sl-st into the 1st st ; “V-2 st” over the 1st “V-1 st” ;
*sl-st into the next st ;  “V-2 st” over the next “V-1 st” * ;
rep *to* all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

See what a beautiful diamond stitch – that looks a little like a faux Solomon’s knot too.

Round 10 : “V-1 st” in the 1st st ;
and in each st all around ; 
join with a sl-st to the 1st st.
Note : st : means the top of the V-2 st or that dc 2-tog.

Once again, we have the lower “V” section of our diamond stitch done.
Now all you need to do is basically rep Rounds 9 & 10 working the V-1 and V-2 sts to get the diamonds.

Here's a video tutorial for the stitch.
Now note that in the tutorial, I have not worked in rounds - so I start and end with a dc and that looks different from our start and end here.
The video is just to show you the stitch - so do NOT follow it totally for making this tote bag.  In our tote bag we are working in rounds, and join at the end of each round.

In case this video does not come on, please go to https://youtu.be/wLF9x1JpO0g

For Round 10, you will start your “V-1” stitch on the pinnacle (or top bit) of the diamond.  In Round 11 you will work your “V-2” st over the “V-1” st as before.

Rep Rounds 8 & 9 till you have the length needed for your bag, ending with Round 9.

You could work one round of sc all around the top for a neat finish.
Remember I've asked you to keep a number count - so check now that you have the same number of stitches as when you started the pattern (Round 7)

For the last round, I suggest you work 1 sc on each V-2 st and 2 sc in each ch-3 sp in between.  Check at the end of the round that you have the same number of stitches as Round 7 for neatness.

For edging, you could leave it with this last sc row, or work another row and work picots along that row. There is no specific pattern for the picot addition, but I'd say you could add it at the top of every "V" diamond stitch.

Fyi, I have not worked picots along my bag edge.

How to work a picot stitch : Traditionally for a ch-3 picot, you work (ch 3, sl-st in 3rd ch from hook).  For a ch-5 picot, you will do (ch 5, sl-st in 5th ch from hook).  
Here’s a great video https://youtu.be/8s3zVaBcn4s


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

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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