Tutorial - Crocheted Treasure Bag

These darling bags were a HIT as Abigail's birthday party take-home favors.  So I thought I'd share the pattern with you. =)

I used Rico Creative Cotton (Lucy Pack) and a size 4.5mm Susan Bates crochet hook.

Round 1:  
Chain 5 and join together to form a circle with a slipstitch.
Chain 3 (equals a DC), 11 DC into circle.
Join round by slip stitching last DC to top of first DC (chain 3).
12 DC total.

Round 2:
Chain 3 (equals a DC).
DC into same stitch.
2 DC into each stitch all the way around.
Join round by slip stitching last DC to top of first DC (chain 3).
24 DC total.

Round 3:  
Chain 3 (equals a DC).
DC into same stitch.
** 1 DC into next stitch.  2 DC into next stitch.
Repeat from ** all the way around.
Join round by slip stitching last DC to top of first DC (chain 3).
36 DC total.

Round 4:  
Chain 3 (equals a DC).
DC into same stitch.
** 1 DC into next 2 stitches.  2 DC into next stitch.
Repeat from ** all the way around.
Join round by slip stitching last DC to top of first DC (chain 3).
48 DC total.
Cut yarn and pull through slip stitch to secure.

The base of the bag is done.  You will no longer increase in each row but work around evenly to form the sides of the bag.

Round 5: 
Attach new color by slip stitching into any stitch.
Chain 3 (equals 1 DC).
DC into each stitch all the way around.
Join round by slip stitching last DC to top of first DC (chain 3).
48 DC total

Round 6:
Chain 3 (equals 1 DC).
DC into each stitch all the way around.
Join round by slip stitching last DC to top of first DC (chain 3).
48 DC total
Cut yarn and pull through slip stitch to secure.

Repeat Round 5 & 6 three more times, changing colors at the beginning of Round 5 so that stripes are formed.

A picture is worth a thousand words.  =)

Round 13:
Attach new color by slip stitching into any stitch.
Chain 3 (equals 1 DC).
DC into each stitch all the way around.
Join round by slip stitching last DC to top of first DC (chain 3).
48 DC total

Border:
I'm very partial, as you know, to a scalloped border, so that's what I did as the last row.  You may do the same or change it to whatever border you fancy.  A picot or v-stitch border would look very nice!

Drawstring:
Crochet a string 60 chains long.  I tried all sorts of numbers -- 50 is too short and 75 is too long.  =)  Thread it over and under through the last row of DCs.  Knot ends together.  Add some beads if you have them handy.

They don't take much time to make -- perhaps an hour each.  =)  Fill the bag with little goodies and you have sweet and thoughtful present ... Mother's Day, Teacher Gifts, Shower Favor, or Just Because.

Happy Hooking!

Erin

Edited 8/9/11 - Correction made in Round 4!

Rainbow Granny Pillow

There were a few blocks leftover from the Rainbow Granny Blanket and they were too lovely to let languish in a closet.  So I made a pillow.  =)

I am not much of a Pillow Maker as the whole sewing process is terribly fussy.  

But a Crocheted Pillow ... it was a lot of fun!

Red and White is a classic color combination so I used them for the checkerboard border.  The back is exactly the same as the front except done all in natural wool.   

Both the front and the back have a Dark Lavender 3 round granny border.  I slip-stitched them wrong sides together around 3 sides, stuffed in the pillow form, and slip-stitched the last side.

It was a Smashing Success and I plan on making lots more pillows this way!  This beauty didn't sit on my chair too long ... it whisked it's way across to town to live at my friend Joanna's house.  =)

Cheers!

Erin

Seeing Squares

Miss A colored this for me last summer.

I tucked it away in my Studio knowing that one day it would become Something. 

That Something just might be my Summer Project.  =)

It is very inspiring!

Perhaps a pieced quilt with little 2 1/2" blocks out of Kona Cotton.

Maybe 2 round granny squares joined-as-I-go.

Should I use wool or cotton yarn?

How many colors do you see ... I count 18.  =)

Love always,

Erin