A Bag and It's Pattern

Well I suck! I have promised so much and have given so little! Well, actually nothing...

But I have just crocheted a bag! I just sat down one day and started creating. I am quite proud of myself. Even though it was easy. ;)

My mom thinks it is absolutely amazing that I can do that. :)

Well since I've promised you patterns and things, I will tell you how to make this purse. :)


You need:
A little less than a skein of yarn
Size H-8 crochet hook (although I think I crochet loosely so it would probably be more like an I-9)
A button (mine was 1 1/2" wide)
A yarn needle or something for weaving in ends

Note: It's okay if you mess up with the amount of sts you have in each rnd. It doesn't really matter.

BAG
Round 1: Ch 38. 2 dc into 3rd ch from hook. Dc across to end st. Dc 4 times into end st. Kind of turning around and continuing back down the other side, dc into next st and continue to beginning st. Dc 2 times in first st. Slst in first dc you made. (76 sts total)

Round 2: Ch 2. 2 dc in same st as the one the 2 chains are coming out of (ie first st). Dc in the next 36 sts. 2 dc in each of the next 2 sts. Dc in the next 36 sts. 2 dc in last st. Slst into first dc. (80 sts)

Rounds 3-7: Ch 2. Dc in each st around, starting with first st. Slst with beg dc.

Round 8: Ch 1. Sc in each st around, starting with first st. Slst with beg sc.

Round 9: Ch 3. *Tc in first st. Ch 1. Sk st and tc in next st. Repeat from * all the way around. Slst to beg tc.

Round 10: Ch 4. Tc in second st. Ch 1. *Sk next st and tc in next st. Ch 1. Repeat from * all the way around. Slst to ch space at beg.

Round 11: Same as round 9.

Round 12: Ch 1. Sc in each tc and ch sp around to beg. Slst with 1st sc.

Round 13-15: Ch 2. Dc in each st around. Slst with first dc.

Bind off.

STRAPS (make 2)
Round 1: Ch 68. 3 dc in 3rd ch from hook. Dc in each st to end. In last st, dc 6. Kind of turn around and continue down the other side with a dc in each st. Once the last/first st is reached, dc 3. Slst to first dc. Bind off.

CLOSURE
Row 1: Ch 9. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and all the way across.

Rows 2-11: Ch 1. Sc in each st across.

Row 12: Ch 1. Sc2tog. Ch 4. Sk 4 sts. Sc2tog in last 2 sts.

Row 13: Ch 1. Sc2tog. Sc in next 2 sts. Sc2tog.

Row 14: Ch 1. Sc2tog 2 times.

Bind off.

FINISHING
Sew straps, closure, and button to bag with yarn and a yarn needle and weave in ends.

Abbreviations:
Ch: chain
Sp(s): space(s)
Sc: single crochet
Dc: double crochet
Tc: triple/treble crochet
Sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
Tog: together
Beg: beginning
St(s): stitch(es)
Slst: slip stitch
Rnd(s): round(s)
Sk: skip

Well I hope you enjoyed my pattern! :D

Another Crafty Post

AHHHH!!!! I am so mad at myself!!! I keep procrastinating and my skirt is still sitting there by the sewing machine... *sigh...* Every evening I think, "I can watch t.v., read a book, work on my story, or sew my skirt..." and it always ends up being t.v.... :( I am dissapointed in myself! I will try harder to finish it by next Thursday!!!! Please remind me on Monday or sometime in the week so I will do it!

In other news, there is a couple renting our guesthouse right now and the lady is an AMAZING crafter!! For example, she took a whole bunch of pine needles and made this strong, sturdy bowl out of them! O.O It's crazy!!! I wish I had a pic to put up on here and show you! Well anyway, she offered to do some sewing with me so I am supposed to pick out a purse pattern and buy some fabric and she will help me make it. I have a list of about 12 different patterns so far... I always have long lists and then have to choose one... haha! Anyway, it'll be fun!

Also, when I was looking at purse patterns on Vogue, I saw these amazing old fashioned hats!!! I really wanna make one! I have a "southern belle" themed spring formal in April(?) and if those are the kind of hats they wear, I should make one to match my dress!! :) That would be awesome!!! :) Here is the link: http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8052-products-6806.php?page_id=850
And here is the pic! :) They're so cool!

Hmmm... what other crafty things have I been up to? ;) Well, I've been designing some clothes. My sketches aren't that great and I don't know how to turn them into patterns to sew so I doubt anything will happen out of them... But, I did find a book somewhere online (that's like $95!!!!) that says it shows you all about making patterns. Maybe I should get it (or a cheaper one) so I can try to make one or two or more of my designs! That would be cool!! :)

I also found a pattern on youtube for crocheted fingerless gloves. I made one, and it's a little lopsided, but I didn't have enough yarn for the other one so I have one glove just sitting on my dresser... :P I also found a couple patterns for slippers and I might want to try making one of them sometime...

Hmmm... Sometimes I wonder if this blog is super boring for everyone because it's all just about things that I make and do and it's not interesting for anyone else... I mean I don't post any patterns or anything interesting... If you guys think this is kind of boring and have any suggestions for things that would make this any more interesting, feel free to comment and let me know! :)

It's Been a While

Wow! It's been a long time since I've written on here! I kept thinking of it and telling myself to do it right after school, but I forgot over and over again... Well, here it finally is! :)



So I've started crocheting a baby blanket for some friends whose baby is due in a week!!! It's so exciting! I got the pattern from Lion Brand (like I do with all of my patterns). The yarn it said to use (Nature's Choice Organic Cotton) was like $7 a skein and would have cost me like $70! So I got a much cheaper ($3 a skein) yarn (Vanna's Choice Baby by Lion Brand) in green, white, and blue. I don't know if it's going to be a boy or girl, so I hope that it'll be ok for both genders! :)

My sweater is taking a long time... I've been working on the back for months! I never remember to work on it (I'm such a procrastinator) and when I do, it's only one or two rows... I will try to work on it more and maybe finish it by winter this year! :)

Speaking of procrastination, I've stopped working on my skirt... I keep telling myself to work on it, but either I forget or the t.v. or computer distracts me... sigh... I will try to finish it by the end of this week! I know I can if I make myself do it! So anyone who reads this, hold me to that! Remind me sometime in the week so I don't forget! :D

And speaking of sewing, I wonder if I should try to sew a southern belle dress for my homeschool group's spring formal... I've been looking at dresses and they are all so expensive (although I don't know how much cheaper this would be...) and I don't know if the cheaper ones on ebay would fit... maybe I can rent a costume somewhere...

I keep wanting to make a knitting/crocheting video to post on youtube or something, but I never get around to it... haha I'm such a procrastinator...

I will try to keep posting stuff at least once a week! :)