Market Bag straps

Hey guys! When I was posting the Market Bag post, I was not completely finished with the straps, and I decided it would be too long of a pattern to combine it with the main bag post. I tried a few different options, and eventually settled on a tunisian crochet crossbody strap. In the process though, I made a few different patterns out of the different straps I tried. But, here's the strap patterns:

Strap Pattern

Notes

I have provided 2 patterns: one pattern for tote bag straps and another for a shoulder/crossbody bag. You could also put both on for a more versatile style.

You will work the beginning out of the top of the bag. Make sure the long edge of your strap does not line up with a seam in your top edge, as this will weaken the strap and possibly cause it to break.

Tote Bag Straps

8 hdc in side of bag. Continue until you have your desired length, typically 40 rows of hdc. Sl st end to side of bag approximately 1/4 of the way around.

Second strap- Start strap exactly opposite where you started your first strap. Follow instructions to end.

Shoulder bag strap

Regular weight-holding bag- 14 hdc in side of bag, continue in blo to create desired length.

Heavy-weight bag:

Regular crochet-16 hdc in side of bag, continue (NOT in back loop) to create desired length.

Tunisian crochet- I highly recommend this if you know how to do it. It creates a thick strap that works extremely well if you are actually going to take it to the farmer's market and load heavy fruits and vegetables into it. 15 Tss (basic Tunisian crochet) in top of bag, continue basic forward and returning pass to create desired length.

Hope you liked this posts, and don't forget to comment your thoughts! As always, thanks for visiting!

Analise

On Pinterest-analisehogan

On Ravelry-analisehogan

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

World of Crochet: Tunisian Crochet

Hey guys! Recently I discovered the most amazing technique in crochet. I shouldn't even call it crochet, as it is about 50% crochet and 50% knitting. This is absolutely perfect for my about even knowledge of knitting and crochet. I just really enjoy crochet and feel much more comfortable with a crochet hook than knitting needles. But enough about me, and more about Tunisian crochet. Tunisian stitches are worked, again, half-and-half between crochet and knitting. You have a forward pass (where you work slip stitches into the top row of fabric and retain loops on your hook) and a return pass (where you work off stitches by yarning over and drawing through 2 loops at a time.) For your materials, you use a long hook (typically 9-15 inches long) with a ball on the end to prevent loops from slipping off. It requires no specialty yarn, though experienced crocheters recommend using 1-2 metric hook sizes larger than you would typically use. I am really sorry I can't share a pattern with you guys, as I got all my patterns from a book. However, you can check it out from your local library or buy it from Barnes & Noble here. It is amazing, with an inroduction to Tunisian crochet and its origins, along with beginner techniques and patterns.

The New Tunisian Crochet by Dora Ohrenstein

I really hope you guys check this book or another Tunisian crochet book out. I really feel this is a great craft for people that have just one or two problems that keep them from knitting or crocheting, as you will probably not have to deal with that problem in Tunisian crochet. Again, I never felt quite comfortable with knitting needles, and obviously that is taken care of in Tunisian crochet. I really hope you guys try this craft.

As always, thanks for visiting!

Analise

On Pinterest-analisehogan

On Ravelry-analisehogan

 

Posted with Blogsy

Market Bags!

Hey guys, so I know I had made a post about market bags before, but I actually finished a bag in that pattern a few hours after I posted it, and I was not happy with the result. I found that it was too narrow to really be anything except for its intended purpose, a market bag. So I created my own pattern that can really be manipulated to fit your needs and wants. This pattern uses half-double and double crochet, but you can create one with single and half-double or double and treble crochets if you like. These may require a different number of skeins, depending on how tight you crochet. So here goes:

Materials:

• 2-3 skeins (depending on how tall you want your bag to be, I only used 2 skeins) Sugar'n Cream Fruit Punch (My New Yarn! Volume 3) or approximately 200 yards of variegated cotton yarn
• 1 skein Sugar'n Cream Black Currant (My New Yarn! Volume 3) or approximately 75 of cotton yarn coordinating with your variegated yarn
• Size "I" 5.5 mm hook
• Applique (optional, but I will put a link to a super easy applique rose by Planet June at the bottom)

Skills

• Half-double and double crochet
• Crocheting in-the-round
• Magic ring- this is a much better way to start crocheting in the round, as it has a much neater appearance than typical slip-stictched rings. Planet June has an awesome Magic Ring Tutorial and Videos to learn how to do this.

Pattern

Create Magic Ring, ch 3, 12 dc in middle (ch 3 does NOT count as a stitch)

Crochet 6 more rounds in typical crochet in-the-round instructions

Round 2- 2 dc in each st around. Join round with sl st.

Round 3- *2 dc in st, 1 dc in next st* around. Join round with sl st.

Round 4- *2 dc in st, 1 dc in next 2 sts* around. Join round with sl st.

Round 5- *2 dc in st, 1 dc in next 3 sts* around. Join round with sl st.

Round 6- *2 dc in st, 1 dc in next 4 sts* around. Join round with sl st.

Round 7- *2 dc in st, 1 dc in next 5 sts* around. Join round with sl st.

 

You will now be working in spiral. Do not join rounds, instead create a hdc in the top of the ch 3 from the previous round.

Ch 3. This counts as a dc. Ch 1 to create the "windowpane" look. You will skip a st with a ch, dc, sk st ch, around until you get back to the beginning. You will then place a hdc in the ch 3 of the round. Continue like this all the way around until you gt your deisred height.However, remember that you will be putting a 3-5 inch trim around the top. Remember to crochet in the chain, not in to the dc.

Note: If you find that you accidentaly did not create a ch after a dc, DO go into the top of the dc(s).

Top Trim

For my trim, I created a top of small granny squares. You can typically find a small, free granny square pattern online. I'm sorry I can't post my pattern, as I got it from a book, and book patterns are typically copyright. However, I have created a few tips for finding a good granny square

• Make sure it is small. Try not to go larger than 5 to 5.5 inches square.
• Look at the structure. Make sure it is not too lacy, and that it will support your bag.
• Look at the design. If you are only doing your granny squares in one color, make sure it has a definite stitch pattern and that it will stand out, and not just look like a few rows of single crochet.
• And remember, if you can't find a pattern that suits your fancy, just make your own! Try a tall and lacy stitch, like a treble crochet, crocheting simple squares and sewing them on in alternate directions, or try tiny diagonal dishcloths. It doesn't even have to be granny squares. Just crochet a strip in an eye-catching yarn or stitch!

The number of cranny squares you will need is dependent on how small they are. You will need more 3 inch squares that 5 inch ones.

Edit: If you do not like the look of granny squares, you can also make a long, narrow strip of Tunisian crochet.

Hope you guys like this post, and I will probably get some pictures on here soon. Thanks for visiting!

Analise

On Pinterest-analisehogan

On Ravelry-analisehogan

 

Posted with Blogsy