Good N Plenty bag

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

After the monster crochet bag, I needed to prove to myself that I could do a reasonably sized string bag, so I set out to make a bag using one 2oz ball of cotton worsted weight. The yarn I chose reminds me of Good N Plenty licorice candies.

I'll post pics as soon as I get a good shot out of my crap digi-camera. In the mean time, here's the pattern. If you make this bag, please post comments. I'd love to hear your feedback.

Good N Plenty Bag
(one skein cotton string bag)

This pattern is worked in rounds from the top down to make it easier to adjust for the variable yardage of individual skeins. Because yarn is sold by weight, yardage can vary from skein to skein. The more dye a yarn has, the few yards it will offer per skein. The idea is to get as many rounds out of your skein as possible.

Work both loops throughout. Mark the end of each round with a stitch marker or scrap of yarn to help keep track of rows.

Finished size: approx 10” high x 9” wide

Gauge: 7 rows = 2” and 6 stitches = 2”

Yarn: Peaches N Cream (worsted weight, 100% cotton; 2 oz) 1 ball of #198 Black Cherry Ombre

Hook: USJ10/6.00mm

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
rnd = round
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch

Pattern:
Ch 49, sl st to join being careful not to twist the chain (do not turn throughout)

Handles:
Rnd 1: ch 1 (counts as 1st sc), sc in each ch around, sl st to join (49 st)

Rnd 2-3: ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st to join (49 st)

Rnd 4: ch 1, sc in next 7 sc, ch 10 skip next 10 sc, sc in next 14 sc, ch 10 skip next 10 sc, sc in next 7 sc, sl st to join (49 st)

Rnd 5: ch 1, sc in each stitch around, sl st to join (49 st)

Mesh body:
Rnd 6: *ch 4, skip 1 sc, sc in the next sc* 24 times (24 ch loops)

Rnd 7-15: *ch 4, sc in ch loop* 24 times (24 ch loops)

Bottom:
Rnd 16: 2 sc in each ch loop around, sl st to join (48 st)

Rnd 17-19: ch 1 (counts as 1st sc of rnd), sc in each sc around, sl st to join (48 st)

**Rnd 20: ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st to join, fasten off

Finishing:
Whip stitch the bottom closed (make two passes if you have enough yarn left), weave in ends.

** Note: Repeat Rnd 17 for as many rows as possible while still leaving enough yarn to sew the bottom closed. If you have enough to make it to Rnd 21, go for it. If you can only get to Rnd 19, that's ok too.