Are you ready for the Honeysuckle crochet bag as promised to match the crochet hat! Usually after working with a specific yarn, I get bored and tired of the color but this one was lots of fun. The self-striping pattern turned this crochet bag into one awesome project. I hope you will have as much fun making it as I did!
Did you catch the Crochet World magazine in the bag? Check out the date! You can read how I acquired the magazine if you are curious. I love all these old magazines. How many of you have some stashed away? Did you also notice the hook? It’s in testing for someone and hopefully will have a surprise in the near future for you…..
Look at both the hat and bag together! I LOVE IT!
Pattern Instructions for Honeysuckle Bag
Supplies:
1. I Love this Cotton by Hobby Lobby. 225-275 yds. I purchased 2 skeins Too Pink, 1 skein Pink
2. Crochet Hook Size – H/5.00
3. Tapestry needle for weaving in the ends.
Gauge: 17 stitches and 17 Rows = approximately 4 inches. (My measurements were taken from the row stitches.
Abbreviations:
BLO – back loop only
ch – chain
sc – single crochet sl st – slip st
tr – treble crochet
YO – yarn over
Finished Size: 13 ½” in length and 11” in height (not including the handles)
NOTES AND TIPS: I want you to be successful with understanding the bottom part of the bag especially if you decided to make your bag bigger or smaller. Let me explain how I came up with the amount of stitches on the edge. I had 17 rows and the height of the project equaled almost 4″ (I still technically had one more row to do but this would be done in round 1). I then measured 4″ to get my stitch count within the pattern which equaled 17 stitches. I needed to end my project on an even number, so I decided to crochet 16 stitches across, which meant there needed to be 8 stitches in 2″ for it to be worked evenly across right? In other words, if you did 20 rows and the height was 5″, you would want to see how many stitches it took within the project to get 5″ and that would be the number you would crochet evenly across. Let me show in you a couple of photos.
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I want to give credit to Kim Guzman for helping me learn how to do this technique. I had a question on Dear ELK Studio and she was kind enough to answer it for me. You can read her full explanation HERE.
With main color, Ch 36 Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each sc across, ch 1, turn (35 st) Row 2: sc in first sc and each sc across, ch 1, turn. (35 st) Row 2-17: Repeat row 2 (Do Not Finish Off)
Beginning the Sides of the Crochet Bag
Round 1: After repeating row 17, do not ch 1 and turn, 2 sc in the corner, 12 sc evenly down the edge, 2 sc in the corner, sc in each bottom loop down the row (35 st), 2 sc in the corner, 12 sc evenly down the edge, 2 sc in the corner (102 st including row 17)
Use a stitch marker because you will be working in the round on rounds 1-3. I actually placed a stitch marker before and after the 2 corner stitches, so I could keep my stitch count on round 1.
Round 2: sc in BLO across to edge (35 st), sc2tog corner, sc in BLO next 12 st, sc2tog corner, sc in BLO across to edge (35 st) sc2tog corner, sc in BLO next 12 st, sc2tog corner. (98 st)
Round 3: sc in first sc each st around (98 st) Fasten off.
Change to Alternative Color
Round 4: ch 1 and sc in same st, *tr in next st, sc in next st* repeat from * to *, join by sl st to first sc. (98 st) Round 5: ch 4 (counts as first tr here and throughout the pattern), *sc in next st, tr in next st*, join by sl st to first to of 4th ch. (98 st) Repeat Round 4 and 5 until you have reached your desired height of the bag. (I had 22 rounds).
Handles:
Change to main color and use stitch marker because you will be working in the round. Round 1: sc in first st and each st around (98 st) Round 2: Repeat Round 1 Round 3: sc in next 6 st, ch 50, skip next 23 st, sc in next 26 st, ch 50, skip next 23 st, sc in next 20 st. (98 st) (If you want longer handles ch more than 50, for smaller handles, ch less than 50). Round 4: sc in next 6 st, sc in each ch, sc in next 26 st, sc in each ch, sc in next 20 st. (98 st) Round 5: sc in first st and each st around. (98 st) Round 6: Repeat round 5
Change to Alternative Color:
Round 7: Repeat round 5 Optional using alternative color inside the handles: Join with alternative color, sc in first st and around, sc in corner, sc in bottom loop of sc and in each st around, sc in corner, join by sl st in first sc. Fasten off and weave in all the ends. I hope you will enjoy the bag! I’d love the see your finished project too. Show it off on my ELK Studio Facebook page!
If you would like to line your bag, Pattern Paradise has a great tutorial!
Disclosure: As with all of my patterns, you can sell your projects. I only ask that if you share on any social media sites/internet, please link back to my website and not distribute my patterns in part or full via internet or hard copy without express written consent.
Have a great day! Be blessed.
Kathy
LOVE this bag! I do have one issue though. I am two rounds into the sc, tc. rotating rounds and my little bumps are going the wrong way. Should I do these round the “wrong way” or should I pop them all through. I hope that makes sense. I followed the same direction as my last row of single crochet not even cutting my yarn.
I know most bags, as you work up the sides slowly flip so you are actually working the correct way. Unless the wrong side is what actually shows all my bumps will be inside the bag.
Hi Cheryl,
Yes, you can do those rounds the “wrong way”. I am left-handed and think that had something to do with it.
I’m stuck again, im afraid.
Round 4: ch 1 and sc in same st, *tr in next st, sc in next st* repeat from * to *, join by sl st to first sc. (98 st) Round 5: ch 4 (counts as first tr here and throughout the pattern), *sc in next st, tr in next st*, join by sl st to first to of 4th ch. (98 st) Repeat Round 4 and 5 until you have reached your desired height of the bag. (I had 22 rounds).
The part that says, “join by sl st to first to of 4th ch”. What does that mean?
I’m new to crochet and I’m trying to make this bag but I’m a little confused. I crochet 35 then 2 in the corner. Is that in addition to the one stitch from the end of the row of 35? Meaning 3 stitches in the corner now?
Yes ma’am. 3 stitches in the corner.
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On round 5, will I be sc and tr crochet in the chains of the triple crochet? OR will I sc and tr crochet in the prior rows sc and tr stitches? does that make sense? I’m a little confused. thanks
Hi Lisa,
If a round begins with sc/tr, the next round begins with tr/sc.
Meaning you will always sc in the top of the 4th ch on one round then the next round would be tr in the first sc.
I hope this helps!
OK. So, on the way around, the sc will be in the tr of the previous round? The tr will be in the sc of the previous round? Thanks for so much time!
You got it! No problem! Glad to help
So pretty – thank you 🙂
Lovely!
This bag is so pretty, what a wonderful design.
Hi Kathy! I started this pattern over the weekend. I had a hard time meeting the gauge and still wonder if I’m not missing something. I am using Sugar n Cream cotton yarn and have had to really tighten my crocheting and drop to a smaller hook to get 17 stitches and rows in 4″, but I did it. The final size listed for the bag is 13-1/2 inches wide, but following your gauge, 35 stitches is measuring just a little over 8″ and from the looks of what I have crocheted so far, there is no way a magazine will fit in my bag. I just started the first row with the striping color and everything is so tight, it is really difficult to do the treble stitches. What am I doing wrong?
Rita,
You are correct about the gauge for the sc stitches but as I started with the tr/sc stitches the bag “grew” in width on its own although I didn’t change my hook size. Does that make sense? Gauge would change just because the stitches are different. You don’t have to maintain the same gauge for the bottom of the purse as you do for the top portion. You could try going back up a hook size for the tr/sc stitches and see if that helps you. Let me know if you need anything else.
Kathy
I have a question…….
Round 1 – Is is 98 st or is it 102 st? Check my math : 2 corner + 12 + 2 + 35 + 2 + 12 + 2 + (35 from row 17) = 102?
If I’m right, then I think Round 2 would also be 102 st, but Round 3 would be 98 as a result of the sc2tog in Round 2.
Michelle,
You are so correct about Round 1. Thank you so much!! On Round 2 there would actually be 98 stitches since you are doing the 4 sc2tog. I appreciate your feedback and taking the time to tell me about the calculation error. I appreciate it!
Kathy
Not only a beautiful crochet bag but also a beautiful set together! Loving your patterns.
Thanks Kathryn! I hope you have a great day!
Kathy
Kathy, I might have missed it, but I don’t see how much green yarn is needed.
Liz, of all days, I’ve been having some technical difficulties behind the scenes and checked the page to see some of the directions jumbled together. I’m sorry. I used one full skein and probably 50 yds of another of the self-striping yarn, so around 200 yds.