Monday, July 30, 2012

Monday Project - Beach Combing Bags


These small crocheted mesh bags are great for beach combing - they're airy, so everything won't smell rank the next morning and can be made in different colors, making it easier to tell whose bag is whose.

Materials:
*size 10 cotton crochet thread
*US size 5 steel hook

1.  Loosely chain 82.  Single crochet in the 9th chain from the hook.  *Chain 4, skip 4, single crochet in the next stitch.*  Repeat from * until you reach the end of the beginning chain.


2.  Chain 4 and single crochet in next chain 4 space.  Continue to the end - do this twice in the end chain 4 space.


3.  From here on, you'll be working in the round - when you come to the end, you'll just keep on crocheting up the other side instead of turning.  At first it won't look like it's working, but keep going and you'll see the bag shape start to appear.


Edit:  I've added this drawing to show how you keep working around and around the original chain - you don't join each row at the end like usual.


4.  Keep working the same chain 4/sc in next chain 4 space around and around until your bag measures about 9 inches.  Make sure you stop at one of the bag's sides.  Chain 1, *single crochet in the next single crochet space and put 3 single crochets in the next chain 4 space.  Repeat from * all the way around.  Connect to the first chain in the row with a slip stitch.  Repeat for 5 rows.


5.  Slip stitch in the next two stitches - in the photo below I have my thumb by them.


6. To start forming the handle, chain 85.  Being careful not to twist the chain, connect to the other side with a slip stitch in the second stitch to the left of the side fold crease.  


7.  Single crochet in the next stitch, turn and single crochet back across the chain. 


8.  When you reach the other side, single crochet in the next stitch on the bag.


9.  In order to keep the handle from twisting, you'll be making your next stitch back across the handle.  Hold the bag as in the photo below - put a single crochet in the first stitch to the left of the handle.


10.  Single crochet in the next stitch, turn and single crochet across the handle.  Single crochet in the next stitch on the bag.


11.  Single crochet in the next stitch on the bag, turn, and single crochet across.  Single crochet in the next stitch on the bag, single crochet in the following stitch on the bag, turn and single crochet across.  Keep doing this until you have five rows of single crochet on your bag. 

Fasten off and head out to the beach!


Happy Creating!  Deborah

13 comments:

  1. I just sort of stumbled on this site. I haven’t crocheted in many years, but this looks like something I could easily do. Your directions seem clear and I love the photos that accompany each step. Could you please give the dimensions of the bag, and also how much yarn is needed. Thank you!

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  2. Thanks for the pattern; the photos makes this look very easy to do.

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  3. Oh, my gosh, I have to make a few of these! My husband and I just love walking along the shore in the evening and I'm always finding pretty rocks and shells--which end up in my pockets!
    Thanks for the pattern!

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  4. Just wanted to let you know that I have made 4 of these bags for family that are coming to the beach. Your instructions and pictures were great. Easy, easy, easy FUN project. Can't wait to put them to use and see how they go over. Thanks again!

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    1. Thanks! It's great to hear someone else went crazy making them too - I think I have seven now!

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  5. What are the measurements for your bag? In the picture, it doesn't look that big, but mine turned out rather large. Just curious if I did something wrong or its supposed to be big.

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    1. Yes - they are fairly small, about 9 x 6 inches for the bag part. In my experience, when something turns out a different size it's due to using a different size thread or hook than the original called for! Did you use size 10 cotton thread and a size 5 (1.9 mm) steel hook? Hmmm .... I just thought of something. Are you in the US? I'm using US terminology that doesn't look like it matches with UK/Canadian sizing. The steel hook size 5 I used looks like it would convert to a size 3 steel hook in the UK/Canadian measuring system. However, I think that would have resulted in a smaller bag, so I'm not sure that's it .... Here's a link to a crochet hook conversion chart (http://mkcrafts.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/crochethookconversionchart2.pdf) in case you used that size 5 hook and a steel hook conversion chart (should be this size 5 hook): http://www.purplekittyyarns.com/info/steel-crochet-hook-conversion.html Hope this helps!

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  6. Beautiful beach bag...
    but difficult to knitt. i dont know how to knit.
    but, i like to knit,,, can u show me how to crochet beginning.

    thanks.

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  7. I haven't done a tutorial on how to begin crocheting because Lion Brand yarns has an excellent one already! You can find it at http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/faq-search.cgi?store=/stores/eyarn&learnToCrochet=1

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  8. I'm having trouble with the beginning count. At the end of step 1, I still have 3 chains left over.

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    1. Hmmmm - without being there to see what's happening (the frustrating part for me of having lessons online!) I can't be sure what's happening. I'm sure you've already done this, but make sure you're making your first stitch in the 9th chain from the hook. Sometimes this happens to me when I'm following patterns - I either remake the chain with fewer stitches or add an extra crochet stitch group in. For the beach bag, it won't make a difference on how it turns out since it doesn't have to have specific dimensions. Good luck!

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  9. What is the brand of yarn you used? Would it be 'cookies and cream' 100 per cent cotton yarn? If so, I find this yarn not to hold its shape too well and the colors fade so badly.

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    1. This is in size 10 thread - I usually use Aunt Lydia's or DMC, but some Coats and Clark could've snuck in on this project! I find them to do well with keeping their colors and not stretching more than one would expect for cotton.

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