Sudden Crochet Inspiration
I had no idea that I was going to make a bag last week, no idea at all! I was dashing off somewhere and felt I could do with taking a little crochet project with me. Hurriedly, random balls of yarn were grabbed and off out I went. Thus, a granny square bag was made! Yay!
I didn’t have enough yarn to make a blanket, which made me wonder what else I could turn the colourful granny squares into. I considered making a cushion, but what got me really excited was the idea of a crochet bag! It’s a tricky thing to take a picture of, the bright colours shout so loudly that they blew the pics out!
I used leftover Paintbox acrylic aran yarn and, just because I fancied it, joined as I went (I’m fairly sure I used the Attic 24 method).
Make a Crochet Granny Bag
To crochet your own granny square bag, you’ll need a few things. Here they are:
- Colourful yarn (I used aran weight but any yarn is fine).
- 4.5mm hook (if using a different weight make sure to use the right sized hook for the weight of yarn you use).
- Bag handles (I recommend searching for “long bag handles” on Ebay or Etsy, that’s what I did!)
- Lining fabric (something measuring a couple of inches bigger than your finished crochet piece)
- Darning needle for when you’re sewing with yarn and pins, sewing needle and thread for when making up the lining.
The main body of the bag is a bog standard gang of grannies; super quick and easy to do! Rounds of three, joined together in 8 rows of 5 (you’ll either need more rows or more rounds for each square if you’re using DK yarn, check out my tutorial for a double knit version here).
My piece measured 15.5 x 27 inches (40 x 68cm).
How to Place Colours in Crochet
Every now and again it is worth checking to see that the spread of colour is even. I eyeball the colour layout for the granny squares, taking into consideration how colours look when they sit next to each other. I also make sure to know what I’ve got left in stash so that I don’t accidentally run out of a shade half way through. If you take a look at the picture above, you can see that the colours are evenly distriubted.
Adding Handles to a Crochet Bag
Once the main body of the crochet bag is complete, the handle sections need to be shaped. It’s not as tricky as it looks and luckily, accuracy is not paramount. I don’t mind a project that needs a bit of bodging and crochet is usually very forgiving when it comes to bodging! Not that you need to bodge it, I’m just saying!!
UK terms are used (a treble is a US dc)
- At one end of the main body, (right side facing) work a strip of granny clusters starting with a ch3 and 1tr in the first st and ending with 2tr on the last stitch of the row. Straddle the square joins with (1tr, tr2tgr, 1tr). You can kind of see what I’ve done on the picture above but I also show you how to add this edge across granny squares (about 2:40 into the vid)
- Turn the work. Ch2, 1htr in each stitch along to the end. Turn.
- Ch1, slip stitch along approximately 10 stitches (you want the narrow section to be the same width as the handle slot). Ch2, 1htr in each stitch along, missing the last (approx) 10sts. Turn.
- Ch2, 1htr in each stitch of last row. To widen the work again, ch13, Turn.
- 1htr in 3rd ch from hk. 1htr in each st along to the end. Continue by adding 10 more stitches using a chainless foundation half double stitch. This is actually lovely to do, I promise. I have a video that shows you how, it’s here: The Foundationless Start. Skip the first bit of the video (that explains the same technique for a UK dc). Turn.
- Ch2, htr all the way along. Turn.
- Repeat row 6. Fasten off.
- Repeat 1-7 on the other end of the bag.
Next, with right side facing, evenly stitch dc’s (sc’s) all the way down the edge of both lengths. Don’t fasten off yet…
Fold the granny square bag in half and using the yarn still on the hook, slip stitch the sides together. Repeat on the other side.
Tuck the handle bits through the handle holes/slots, then fold down to the inside and pin, ready for sewing closed.
The stitches don’t have to be super neat. If you use matching yarn, you won’t see if you’re making a dog’s dinner of it! Try not to come through to the right side though, or if you do, make the stitches small so they’re not staring at you. Don’t forget the top bits at the ends.
Add Lining to Your Crochet Bag
Next, you need to add the lining. It’s not 100% necessary but I think it looks better and you won’t have your stuff escaping through granny holes!
Fold a length of fabric in half, right sides together. Place the granny square bag on top and mark/draw where you need to sew. Also mark where you want the fold of your top hem to go. Sew down both sides to make the bag cavity. Next, iron the seams nice and flat, at the same time fold down the top hem and press. I went back to the sewing machine and top stitched the hem.
Tuck the lining into you bag, pin it in place and hand sew the top of the lining to the top of the crochet! And there you have it, a crochet bag of your own!
Oh goodness, I think I need a course in how to photograph bright colours!!
I would absolutely love to hear from you if you make one of my designs. If you do, please give me a shout. I’d love it if you said Hi! Don’t forget that I’m on Ravelry, so your makes can be added there. Oh, and I almost forgot Instagram! #zeensandroger
Thank you. X
