Market Bags 'To Go'

Market Bags 'To Go'

I'm going to be making quite a few of these this month. I'm totally jazzed about it too!

I've got 3 great big skeins of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, in beautiful Spring-time colors...just waiting to get my hook into them!

 I use this PATTERN from Linda at Linda's Crafty Corner. 

Mine are a little different.

I like my Market/Produce bags cinched at the top so my goodies don't roll out when I set it down.

So my bags have a drawstring type closure..nice and sturdy though, they will last a good long time with lot's of use.

I also make the pouch closure a little differently..I hate buttons. I have no idea why, except that they catch on stuff and they just 'bother' me.

So I made a long loop in the center of the pouch opening and designed it to loop around the flower decoration attached to the other side of the the pouch.  Works like a charm!..and pretty too :)

In order to avoid cutting thread/yarn and weaving in while you are in the middle of a net/mesh pattern, you need to start with a cone or large skein. 

The first one I made, I used one of the regular small skeins of Lily Sugar n Cream and it took all of one plus part of another. So I do recommend that you start out with a large skein to begin with.

I have made note of all my changes to the pattern on my Ravelry page. I'm considering writing it all up in a pdf for downloading...but for now, I've got to get hooking!

Simple Market Bag / Produce Bag—FREE PATTERN

This Simple Market Bag came about easily enough. I've been inspired by the arrival of Spring and anticipating the opening of our local Farmers Markets.

This really is simple as can be and works up in an hour or less. It is worked all in one piece, you will not cut the yarn until the bag is finished.

I used one skein of Lily Sugar'n Cream Super Size Yarn and had a small bit left over..probably enough to make a medium sized flower with.

You will want to use either a G or an H size Crochet Hook.

Simple Market Bag..Produce Bag—FREE PATTERN

Base

Start with a Magic Ring or Tracy’s Not So Magic Circle

• 9 DC in magic loop(or in 3rd ch from the loop), join with SS.
• Ch 3,  2 DC in each stitch around, join with SS.
• Ch 3,  2 DC in 1st stitch, 1 DC in next stitch, (2 DC in next, DC in next stitche) ... repeat around, join with SS.
• Ch 3,  2 DC in 1st stitch, 1 DC in next 2 stitches, (2 DC in next, DC in next 2)... repeat around, join with SS.
• Ch 3,  2 DC in 1st stitch, 1 DC in next 3 stitches, (2 DC in next, DC in next 3)... repeat around, join with SS.

*Do not tie off..this bag is made all in one piece..you will not cut the yarn until the entire bag is completed.
Bag

• CH 8, skip 2 stitches, DC in next stitch, CH 8 (skip 2, DC in next, CH 8) repeat around
• Connect with SS to base of beginning  chain 8
• 3 SS into next chain 8 space, CH 8
• DC into next chain 8 space, CH 8, repeat around
• Connect with SS to base of beginning  chain 8

Repeat last 3 steps until you reach the desired length/size of your bag. Mine are 11-13 rows of netting. When deciding how large to make your bag…Pull your bag downward (stretch it a bit) to get a more accurate size of how big it actually is.
**Remember..do not fasten off or cut your yarn yet.
Handle/Pull Cord

• CH 80-90 (depends on whether you hook tight or loose..ch 80 first then double it over to see how big of an opening that makes)
• turn over so you are viewing the backside of the chain..SS in each back ‘bar’ all the way back down the chain to the beginning where it meets the bag
• SS into the body of the bag
• keep your hook in the work…grab the tail of the cord and weave it in and out of the last row of your bag (over the first DC bar, under the next DC bar) around to the beginning, where it connects to the bag
• poke your hook through the end of the cord, YO and pull through

Finishing

• remove your hook from your work cut the yarn, leaving a long tail.
• thread the yarn into a large needle, draw up through the final loop then pull tight to create a knot.
• Weave in the tail using this Tutorial.

If you would like to download your own PDF Copy of this pattern, it is available for FREE on Ravelry...CLICK HERE.

Copyright 2014 Tracy Joyner…You may freely use this pattern as you wish and also freely sell items made from this pattern. You may NOT reproduce this pattern and represent it as your own work. If you reference this pattern/tutorial you must also credit it to Tracy Joyner and provide a link back to This Post.

Newborn Hats Gift Set

Now and Later Newborn Set

Last Fall I was asked to make a gift for one of my son's High School teachers. He was becoming a brand new, first-time father and my son's class wanted to do something special for him. NICE HUH? I was impressed :D

So I got volunteered ..

I whipped up this set over the weekend and wanted to share it with you.  I call it the 'Now and Later' set because there is one hat for Now and one hat for Later. :)

The first little hat I made,'Valentine', worked up much larger than expected .. too large for a newborn, but it will be perfect this winter. Next I made a beautiful 'Butterfly' hat which was just the perfect size and added a couple of flowers to each hat.

  

I should have been done but it just didn't feel finished. I didn't have a gift bag handy, so using the
magic and versatility of crochet, I made one!  It's a mesh-style bag so the new mother can keep those tiny little baby socks in it and throw the whole thing in the laundry .. no more losing them :)

Crochet Hearts Scarf & Gift Bag

This week I've been hooking the Crochet Heart Scarf by Alice Merlino & Little Hearts Drawstring Bag by Esther Chandler. 

Cari Plunk is easily my best friend. We met 10+ years ago and quickly became sisters..like we have known each other for many lifetimes..and truly, maybe we have.

We have followed each other across town and across state lines, raised our kids on the same street, loved & disciplined them together. We have survived suiters and beaus and even a marriage or two. 
We even lived together for a year..with a husband and teenagers under roof. :) 

Cari's birthday is Feb.05 and this year she is having an 'official' party. I want to bring something festive. 

Cari also has a 'thing' for hearts.
We are always on the lookout for something unique that she doesn't already have and when we find it, it goes into the Cari basket for when she needs a smile. 
Maybe I should have been more original in my choosing this year, but I almost feel like she would be disappointed if I didn't crochet her something with hearts.

I picked these in her favorite colors.

 Crochet Heart Scarf by Alice Merlino

Little Hearts Drawstring Bag by Esther Chandler.

My heart scarf is made using worsted weight I Love This Yarn and a size H hook. The pattern calls for DK or fingering weight but I wanted the worsted. I knew this would make it a little bit bigger and probably require blocking, but it is what I wanted.

Sure enough, it definitly needed blocked..but I hate blocking. So I just rolled it up good and tight instead. This worked great..no blocking required..LOL

I'm not so sure I worked the bag correctly.

I wasn't understanding the pattern very well..no fault of the designer. Sometimes, and some  days, directions just aren't clear in my brain. I decided to just look at the pictures and 'wing it'.

I also changed up the top a bit where the drawstring/cord is woven through.

I made the cord so the bag could be easily carried or hung for storage or convenience.

All in all, it worked up pretty neat. It's going to make a handy little bag to carry or keep things in!

The scarf worked up in an evening and the bag also was finished in another evening. Both patterns were well written and included a lot of pictures to help. And they are both FREE! 

These projects qualify as Stash-Busters so I'll be Linking them up at Linda's 2014 Stash-Busting Challenge :D

If you decide to make one of these yourself, I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

*Click HERE to see Linky Parties I participate in.