Patchwork crochet project bag

Hi lovelies,

I hope you’re having a good week? I can’t believe we are in the second week of January already – time is flying!

Today I want to share with you a project that I mentioned in this post before Christmas. I couldn’t say too much about it then because it was a Christmas present for my sister who had said she’d like a project bag to store her knitting in. But now that it has been given, let’s take a look shall we?

Ta dah!!

What do you think? I have to say I was so pleased with this little bag! It’s made of 44 squares – each one is different. They may contain the same colours but not in the same order, so not one square is the same! Here’s the other side:

And the base:

The squares are joined using slip stitches on the front of the work which is what gives the ridged effect.

And the handles are rows of double crochet, fastened in between the crochet panels and the lining.

Now, the lining was quite a triumph (if I do say so myself!). And this is the bit I was really worried about – because crochet I can do, but sewing machining does not come easily to me. Luckily it was all straight lines, but the instructions were quite confusing and on top of that the dimensions of my bag weren’t quite what the pattern suggested they might be so I had to calculate the amount of fabric I needed, including the seam allowances, and cut it out – which always scares me a little! You can unpick crochet, but you can’t un-cut lovely fabric!!

For a while I dabbled with the idea of not lining the bag – too difficult – but I’m so glad that I did as it really makes the bag and will mean that knitting needles (my sister is a knitter) won’t get caught in the crochet etc. That said, I didn’t include the inside pocket – that felt like a step too far for my basic skills!!

Once the lining was sewn, I hand to hand stitch it to the bag – I added one of my labels just so there was no doubt it was a handmade original!

Eee, it’s so lovely and colourful – a bit mad – but such a jolly bag!

Bag stats:

• 44 squares
• Wool: Drops Muskat 100% cotton in dark olive, off white, light blue, blue (I felt that was too strong for the bag which is why the squares that use that colour are on the base), ice blue, light yellow, old pink, dark purple and coral. The pattern asked for Rowan Belle Organic DK (50% wool, 50% cotton) but I was unable to get hold of that. I think it might be discontinued. Anyway the Drops Muskat came in similar colours and was lovely to work with. The squares did come up smaller though – which meant I did a 4×4 panel instead of the 3×3 panels that the pattern said.
• Lining fabric: Sage dotty fabric from Dunelm Mill

And this is what it should have looked like::

Similar, don’t you think!!

The pattern for this bag came from this lovely book: Cute and easy crochet by Nicki Trench. My sister gave me the book as part of my birthday present earlier this year so it seemed fitting that I make her something from it!

The book is filled with lovely projects. I’ve already made the Baby Bouncers (a present for my friend’s little boy back last summer): Mine are the blue ones::

But just look at some of these other things – the Stripy Wave Cushion:

The Roses and Posies Tea Cosy:: just imagine that on your tea table!

These adorable Babushkas::

And what about this gorgeous Springtime Throw::

Yes, the whole book is full of great projects – it’s quite inspiring actually, it makes you sort of want to get cracking Right Away! and if it weren’t for all my other WIPs and projects brewing in my head then I probably would!

Happy Tuesday!

Jones x