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Bags are very important in our day-to-day life. We should have
Gunny bags made out of jute fiber are used
to carry huge loads. They were available in every size. To carry a huge amount of
harvests like paddy wheat, potatoes produced in cultivating fields farmers use
these. Nowadays most bags are made out of synthetic materials like
polypropylene.
As ladies and housewives, we always need
to carry a somewhat big bag like a tote bag with us. So, when we come to
crochet we have both selections natural and synthetic. If we need a natural
product we can use cotton yarn. If we use acrylic yarn it will be a synthetic
product. A crochet bag gives a unique appearance to a woman as an accessory
because it is a handmade one with a beautiful design. Here is an easy pattern for a crochet tote bag.
Now let’s do our project in making the
crochet bag. You can use yarn as your preference. But cotton yarns are easily
entangled with dirt and difficult to wash away and take time to dry.
First, we have to think of the size of our
bag. I have shown the bottom of the bag here to show you how to get the
measurement. Herewith my yarn I have taken the length of the foundation chain
as 13” and its ended up with a width equal to 15” or 38cms.
Frist make a long chain by counting and
measuring it to see it has the needed length. Then get the nearest number of
multiple of 7. That is the final number of chains should be divided by 7.
Further, it should be an even number, that is should be divided by 2 also. For
example 168 chains, 182 chains, 196 chains, etc.
Actually, the thickness of the yarn also
affects the size. If you want a big bag you can use thick yarn and then you
can have somewhat less number of chains. If the yarn is thin you have to make
more chains to get a large-sized bag.
Now you have the foundation chain.
Round1: Make 3 dc into the third chain from the hook. Then make I double crochet (dc)
to each of the remaining chains except the last chain, into the last chain make
6 dcs. Then work on the backside of the foundation chain. Make 1 dc into each
of the chains and into the last chain make 3 dcs. Then join the first chain
with a slip stitch.
2: Chain 2, make 2dc to each of the next 3 stitches. Then
make 1 dc along each of the next dcs until you come to the set of
6dc stitches. Then make 2dc into each of the 6 dc. Then make 1dc
along each of the next stitches until you come to the set of 3dc
stitches. Make 2dc into each of the 3 dcs. Join the first dc with a
slip stitch.
3: Chain
2. Make *2dc,1dc* alternately 6 times to each of the next 6 stitches. Then make
1 dc along each of the next dcs. Then make *2dc,1dc* into each of the set of 12
dc. Then make 1 dc along each of the next dcs until you come to the 3 sets of
2dcs. Into each of these 6 dc make *2dc,1dc* alternately. Then join to the 1st dc
made.
4: Chain
2, make 1dc (into the back loop) around and join with a slip stitch to the
first dc made.
5 and 6:
ch 2 make 1dc around and join with a slip stitch to the first dc made.
Now the base/bottom of the bag is made.
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| Pattern |
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| Base/bottom |
For the pattern, we use two double crochet together stitch. (2dctog.)
How to do 2dc.tog. stitch: This is done into the V stitch of the previous row.
Yarn over insert the hook into the V stitch and pull up the yarn now
you have 3 loops on the hook. Pull up the yarn and release 2
loops. Now you have 2 loops on the hook. Again yarn over, insert
the hook and pull up the yarn and release 2 loops. Now you have 3
loops on the hook. Pull through all three loops.
We should do it 4 times into the space of V stitch. In between each 2dc tog. stitch there should be 1 chain.
7: Make 5 chains and make 1 dc into the same stitch. Chain 5 skip 6dc. Dc in the next stitch, chain 2 dc in the same stitch. (V stitch) *Ch5, skip 6, (dc, ch2, dc )* repeat. From * to * around. Join with a slip stitch to the 3rd chain of the 5 chains made at the beginning of the round.
8: Make a slip stitch into the next chain 2 space. Ch 1 and make 2dc tog. stitch in the same stitch. Then make a dc in the middle (3rd dc) of the skipped dcs. In to the next space of chain two(V stitch) make *Chain 1 2dc tog. stitch * repeat this 4 times. Then ch1, dc in the 3rd skipped dc. *ch1, dc in the 3rd skipped dc, ch1, (2 dc together x4) in the V stitch * Repeat around. Now you have reached the 2 dc together stitch made at the beginning. Now add (chain 1, (2 dc together) 3 times to the same space. Join with a slip stitch to the first 2dc tog. stitch made at the beginning.
9:
Make a slip stitch into the next chain 1 space and then into the dc. Chain 5,
dc in the same stitch, chain 5, skip the next (2 dc together x4) group. In to
the next dc below, make * (dc chain 2 dc), ch 5, skip the next (2 dc together
x4) group*. Repeat from *to*around. Join with a slip stitch to
the 3rd chain of the beginning 5 chains.
10:
Make a slip stitch into the next chain 2 space. Make a 2 dc together stitch in
the same space. Chain 1, make a dc in the ch1 space at the middle of the 4, 2dc
together group. Chain 1, into the V stitch 2 dc together
x4. * ch1,dc in the middle of the 4, 2dc together group, Chain 1,
into the V stitch 2 dc together x4* Repeat around until you reach
the V stitch with one 2dc together. Into this V stitch make *ch1,
2dctog.*3times. Join with a slip stitch to the first 2dc tog. stitch.
From Round 11, you can repeat
round 9 and round 10 alternately to get the needed height.
Top
part and handles.
Now we have the final round which is
similar to round 10. This is with an uneven upper edge and as the top, we have
to make it even. To do this start from where you finished the last round.
Make ch1 and single crochet in the
top of dc 2 tog. stitch. Half double crochet in the next ch 1 space, dc, and ch 1
space. * 1 Sc in each of next 4 (dc 2tog.stitches.) (Do not make 1sc into
the ch1 space between dc2tog.stitches.) Hdc in the next ch 1 space,
dc, and ch1 space* Repeat from * to *around. Sc in the last three dc2
tog. stiches. Join with a sc to the first single crochet you made.
Next 4 rounds : Ch1 sc in each stitch
around. Join with a slip stitch to the 1st sc you made. Fasten
off.
Handles
Now we can make handles. These handles are
not separately attached but continue with the top part.
Keep the bag on a flat surface and first select the places you are
going to start the handles. From each side of the bag measure equal distance
and mark it on both sides of the bag with stitch markers or simply with a piece of another
colour yarn. Otherwise, you can count an equal number of 2dctog. groups from either
side. (I have counted 6 groups from either side and marked them.) Now join the yarn
to the marked stitch of one side and make a chain with a length of 19” or as your liking. (I
have crocheted a shoulder bag to keep my hands free. So, handles should be
rather long).
To avoid the twisting of this long chain,
make 1 single crochet to the 2nd chain from the hook and 1sc to
each of the chains remaining. (Working backwardly along the chain). Then again
make 1 sc into each of the sc along. Then join the free end of the long chain to the
next marking of the same side of the bag. From there you should make single crochets until
you reach the next marker of the other side of the bag.
Then start to make the long chain of 19” (2nd handle) and strengthen it by two rows of single crochets. Then join to the next mark of the same side. Then make single crochets along the top edge until you reach the attached point of the first handle. Work 1sc to each of the sc along with the handle. From there, make single crochets along the top edge, along with the 2nd handle, and again the top edge. Likewise, make many rows and stop when you get the desired handle width.
You can attach a bunch of flowers to decorate the bag. In the next post, I will explain to you the crocheting of a flower.
