The other day I was going through my yarn stash looking for scraps to make comfort blankets for the local cat shelter. I came across a small ball of cotton yarn that had been used in an exercise of natural dying for a fabric structure class. Attached to the yarn was my note the yarn had soaked in a chrome mordant for 1 hour and a walnut dye bath for 1 hour 10 minutes. It's tough to see in this photo but the walnut dye has a lovely striping effect with the yarn.
I thought about throwing it into the pile destined for the cats, but decided instead to use it for making a new "It's In The Bag" bag. This is the perfect project for small scraps of yarn and when you have only one of a particular button.
I designed this pattern a number of years ago and it was included in the 2009 Crochet Pattern-a-Day Calendar. I publish it now as a free pattern.
"It's In The Bag" is a small crocheted pouch that holds one or two recycled plastic bags to reuse when shopping. I like to attach the handle of the plastic bag to the clasp of the pouch and keep everything all together.
Gauge: Don't worry about a gauge with this project!
Stitch Definitions:
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
fpdc = front post double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
sc = single crochet
sk = skip
sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch
Special Stitch Definition:
Shell: (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc)
Materials:
Worsted weight cotton
G Hook
5/8" Decorative Button
Pattern:
Rnd 1: Ch 12, 2 hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc across working 2 hdc in last ch; turn and working in bottom loops of chain, hdc across, sl st in beg hdc. (24 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc throughout), dc in next st, *sk next st, shell in next st, sk 2 sts, dc in next st, sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk next st, * dc in next 3 sts, repeat from * to * once more; end with dc in next st; join to top of ch 3.
Rnds 3 - 8: Ch 3, fpdc in next st, * sk 2 sts, shell in ch-1 sp, sk 2 sts, fpdc in next st, sk 2 sts, shell in ch-1 sp, sk 2 sts, * in next 3 sts work (fpdc, dc, fpdc), repeat from * to * once more; end with fpdc in next st, join to top of ch 3.
Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in same st; for this round only do not count the ch-1 spaces as a stitch, sc in the next 18 sts, ch 14, being careful not to twist the ch, sl st into sc last made, sc in next 5 stitches; join to beg sc.
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Attach button.
