Pattern Instructions for “Crochet Bag with Irish Flowers”
Size
approx. 22 x 28 cm
You will need
- yarn (80% viscose, 20% metallic polyester, 100 m/25 g) – 275 g golden-beige, 25 g each of green and cream
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- approx. 35 x 50 cm cream cotton fabric
- approx. 20 x 45 cm heavyweight fusible interfacing
- clear and color-matched sewing thread
- 1 package of 3 mm artificial pearls
- a piece of tracing paper
Stitch Patterns and Charts
Main Pattern
The number of chains in the foundation row is a multiple of 4 + 2 + 1 turning chain.
Work according to Chart 1.
For the width, start with the stitches before the repeat, repeat the pattern repeat continuously, and end with the stitches after the repeat.
Work rows 1-4 once, then repeat rows 3 and 4 continuously.
Flowers
With cream yarn, make a magic ring and work 12 sc into it. Continue according to Chart 2, following the direction of work indicated by the arrows.
Work rounds 1-9 once, working sc through the back loop only in rounds 4, 6, and 8.
Leaves
With green yarn, make a starting chain of 11 ch + 1 turning chain and work according to Chart 3, following the direction of work indicated by the arrows. Starting from row 2, work sc through the back loop only.
Gauge
35 sts x 22 rows = 10 x 10 cm, worked in main pattern.
Instructions
Cutting
(Seam allowances of 1 cm are included.)
Cut a 46 x 31 cm rectangle from cotton fabric for the lining, and 2 strips of 7 x 40 cm from the fusible interfacing for the handles.
Crocheting
With golden-beige yarn, make a starting chain of 98 ch + 1 turning chain and work in main pattern = 98 sts. Finish the piece and cut the yarn after 39 cm from the foundation row.
Handles (2 pieces) With golden-beige yarn, make a starting chain of 11 ch and join into a ring with 1 sl st. Continue working sc in a spiral, working 1 sc into each sc, inserting the hook only through the front loop of the stitch in the previous round.
Finish the piece and cut the yarn after 40 cm from the foundation row.
Make 4 flowers and 16 leaves, joining the flowers sequentially with sl sts in the last round at the points indicated by arrows.
Finishing
Join the flowers and leaves together according to the arrows on Chart 4 using chains, sl sts, and sc in green yarn. Start at arrow A and work along one side of the flowers with stitches up to the repeat once, repeat the pattern repeat 3 times, and finish with stitches after the repeat.
Work the second side as a mirror image.
Lightly starch the crocheted pieces and let dry.
Sew 8 pearls into the center of each flower.
Fold both short sides of the crocheted bag piece to the right side, leaving a 6 cm wide open strip between the edges. Sew the flower and leaf motif onto these edges, overlapping.
Sew the bottom seam of the crocheted bag piece.
Finish the raw edges of the lining piece with a narrow zigzag stitch. Fold the short sides right sides together and sew the bottom and side seams of the lining. Turn the piece right side out and fold a double 1 cm hem along the top edge.
Place the crocheted and fabric bags together with wrong sides facing and sew along the top edge with small stitches. Tack the bottom seam of the lining to the crocheted piece along the middle 10 cm with a few stitches.
For the handles, roll each strip of interfacing lengthwise, sew with a few hand stitches, and thread through the crocheted handle piece. Sew the ends of the handles to the top edge of the bag, 3 cm from the center line, as shown in the photo.
