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’ve had a few new friends come and join in the fun here recently, so I thought it’d be nice to share the pattern with you guys as a thank you. Thank you!
I didn’t have enough yarn to make a blanket, which made me wonder what else I could turn the squares into. I considered making a cushion, but what got me really excited was the idea of a bag! It’s a tricky thing to take a picture of, the bright colours were shouting loudly. I used leftover Paintbox aran and joined as I went (I’m fairly sure I used the Attic 24 method)
If you’d like to make a crochet granny bag you will need the following:
-Colourful yarn (I used aran weight but any yarn is fine)
-4.5mm hook
-Bag handles (search”bag handles” on ebay to find some, that’s what I did!)
-Lining fabric (something measuring a couple of inches bigger than your finished crochet piece)
-Sewing needle for yarn, pins, sewing needle and thread.
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). Every now and again all you need to do is check to see that the spread of colour is even! My piece measured 15.5×27″ (40x68cm)
Once the main body is complete, the handles 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) make 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, 2trtgr, 1tr. You can see what I’ve done on the picture above.
- Turn the work. Ch2, 1htr in each st 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) 10st. Turn
- Ch2, 1htr in each st of last row. To widen the work again, ch13, Turn.
- 1htr in 3rd ch from hk. 1 htr in each st along to the end. Continue by adding 10 more stitches using a chainless foundation half double stitch. This is actually easy, I promise. I’ve found a good video that shows you how: The half double chainless stitch. Skip the first minute of the video, the informative bit starts just after! 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 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 bag handles, fold down to the inside and pin ready for sewing closed.
The stitches don’t have to be 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.
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 your length of fabric in half, right sides together. Place the 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!
I think I need a course in how to photograph bright colours!!
I would absolutely love to hear if you make one of my designs, please do 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
