My Shopping Bag

I used an eco-shopping bag like in this picture as a guide to the measurements of my bag.

                                       

SHOPPING BAG

Materials used:-

7 balls in main colour of Moda Vera Beetle Yarn (I used the Confetti variegated as pictured in the foreground)

1 ball of contrasting yarn (I used yellow which was one of the colours in the variegated yarn)

This is a 50% cotton 50% acrylic yarn very soft and nice to work with.

4 D-Link buckles

Piece of rope to the length you want for the handles

Piece of strong cardboard for the base lining

Yellow scrap material to cover the cardboard base

Fishing Line 0.28mm  I used this to sew on the buckles.

Abbreviations:-

DC (English/Australian)   SC American

INSTRUCTIONS

Front Panel

Using a 5.00 ml hook Chain 49

Change to 4.00 ml hook

1^st row DC into 2^nd chain from hook.  Continue DC to end of row.

2^nd  row turn chain 1.  DC in first DC stitch continue DC to end of row.

Repeat until there is a total of 60 rows of DC.

Back Panel

Same as front panel above

Side 1

5.00ml hook

Chain 31

Change to 4.00ml hook

1^st row DC into 2^nd chain from hook.  Continue DC to end of row.

2^nd row turn chain 1.  DC in first DC stitch continue DC to end of row.

Repeat until there is a total of 60 rows of DC.

Side 2

Same as 1^st side as above

Base

Using a 5.00 ml hook Chain 49

Change to 4.00 ml hook

1st row DC into 2nd chain from hook.  Continue DC to end of row.

2nd  row turn chain 1.  DC in first DC stitch continue DC to end of row.

Repeat until there is a total of  30 rows.

Finshing Off

Weave in any ends on all the panels.  Pin seams together. 

Working with the contrasting yarn working on 2 pieces to be joined together

Joining together Using Double Crochet (Single Crochet American)

Wrong sides together for an outside seam.

Line up your pieces so the edges and patterns match.

Work seams just like a regular crochet row, from right to left.

Start by pushing your hook from front to back through both layers of the right hand corner chain space of your granny square (under the usual 'v' shape of the chains). Yarn over hook, then pull your hook back through to the front of your work. Make sure you don't lose the tail of yarn - hold onto it behind your work. Yarn over again and pull that new yarn over through both loops.

Now, holding your loose end along the top of your work push your hook through the next 2 stitches (under the 'v' of the square in front and the second square too). Yarn over and pull back through to the front of your work. Yarn over again and pull that new yarn over through both loops and you're making a single crochet seam. Your loose end will be hidden as you work your single crochet seam.

Continue working along the row until your 2 pieces are completely joined. Break your yarn and pull the end through the last loop to finish off.

Source:- http://www.woolcrafting.com/crochet-seams.html

Top edge

I used a bobble edging following the instructions here. However you could do a simple shell edging or whatever edging you prefer.

http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Tutorials/Bobble-Edging

The Handles

I used these instructions to help make some nice strong handles for my bag.

http://www.yarnjulepsontheveranda.com/2011/10/tote-tute.html

Base Lining

Cover a piece of cardboard with some material using craft glue.

For a final finishing touch I did a crocheted butterfly but you could add a flower, owl or anything.  Lots of free appliqued patterns on the Internet.

I changed the butterfly as I thought it did not stand out much...so I used some black 4 ply cotton in  chain stitch to outlined it.

3rd May, 2015

As I sold my first bag.  I made a second bag with a couple of differences. 

In assembling the pieces together I used single crochet method as in the tutorial video clip here:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUe7rGpHXhc

I put the D Link buckles on the outside this time with some 4 tags I crocheted using left over Modra Vera Beetle coffetti yarn. 

As follows:-

Using 3.50 hook Chain 9

1 DC into second chain from hook to the end of the row.

Repeat until 12 rows finish off.

Make 4

Attach to the bag either with a running stitch or DC.

I did the cardboard base this time rather than material I crocheted 2 more base pieces the same as above.  Using DC to Join them together to cover the cardboard.

The second Bag

Any questions feel free to contact me. chrissy.matthews@gmail.com