DEBI'S DRAWSTRING BAG

 

I designed this bag to go with the checkerboard afghan (see photo at end of directions) found on Sara’s Crochet Blog, https://saracrochets.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/free-checkerboard-gameafghan-pattern-part-one/.  It's great for holding the checkers and if on a road trip, can double as a pillow  for your child in the car!

Yarn:  Model was made with 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver yarn (364 yds), plus a few yards of a 2^nd color for the stripe.  (I prefer Red Heart Super Saver yarn for my bags because it is a bit stiff, which works well for bags.) 

Hook:  “H” for bag; Hook “J” for braid.

Special Stitches:  dc2tog –  Yarn over (YO) hook, insert hook in stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).  YO hook, pull through 2 loops.  YO hook insert in next st, pull up a loop, (4 loops on hook).  YO, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook).  YO pull through last 3 loops.  

DIRECTIONS:  Ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch2 (counts as first dc here and throughout), work 11 more dc in ring; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2(12 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, *2 dc in next dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in top of orig ch2 (24 dc)

Rnd 3: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next  dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next  dc;  rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (36 dc)

Rnd 4: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 2 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 2 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (48 dc)

Rnd 5: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 3 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 3 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (60 dc)

Rnd 6 & 7: Ch2, dc in each dc around; join with sl st in top  of beg ch2. (60) 

Rnd 8: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 4 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 4 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (72 dc)

Rnd 9: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 7 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 7 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (81 dc)

Rnd 10: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 8 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 8 dc; rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2  (90 dc)

Rnd 11: Ch2, dc in same sp as join, dc in next 9 dc, *2 dc in next  dc, dc in next 9 dc;  rep from * around; join with sl st in  top of beg ch2– 99 dc.

Change to 2^nd color.

Rnds 12: Rep Rnd 6.

Rnd 13:  Ch3 (counts as dc and ch1); skip dc; *(dc in next dc; ch1; sk next dc); repeat around. Join with sl st to 2^nd ch in the beg ch3.  (50 spaces)

Rnd 14 & 15: Ch3; *(dc in next dc; ch 1); repeat around. Join with sl st to 2^nd ch in the beg ch3.

Rnd 16:  Ch2; dc in sp; *(dc in dc; dc in sp). Repeat around. Join with sl st to top of ch2.  

Change back to 1^st color.

Rnd 17 & 18: Repeat Rnd 6. (100 dc)

Rnd 19: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 23 dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 13dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2.  (92dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 20: Ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 22 dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 12dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2 (88dc; 4dc2tog)

Rnd 21: ch2; dc in next 9dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 21 dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 11 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2  (84dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 22: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 20dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 10 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2. (80 dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 23: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 19dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 9 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2. (76 dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 24: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 18dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 8 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2. (72 dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 25: ch2; dc in next 9 dc; dc2tog; *(dc in next 17dc; dc2tog) 3 times; dc in next 7 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch2. (68 dc; 4 dc2tog)

Rnd 26: Ch3, tr ch in next 4dc; ch1; *(tr ch in next 5 dc; ch1); repeat around.  Join with sl st to top of beg ch3.

Rnd 27: Ch2, dc in next 4 tr ch; dc in sp; *(dc in next 5 tr ch; dc in sp); repeat around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch2.  Cut yarn and weave in ends.

DRAWSTRING BRAID:

Using a “J” hook and two strands of yarn (I used one strand of black and one strand of red), ch 125. Leave about 4” of tail at beginning of chain.  At end, cut off yarn, leaving about 4” tail.  Weave braid in and out of the ch1 spaces created in Rnd 26.  Tie ends securely together, using tails at each end.

A Simple Multi-Purpose Bag

Even though I have been crocheting over 45 years (since I was seven years old), I'm still learning new things.  

A couple of years ago, I figured out how to change colors in a pattern without doing the cut-n-knot thing.  

Here are some samples of bags I designed.  The one thing I am bad at, however, is that I rarely record a pattern.  I just start crocheting and create the pattern as I go.  So there is no pattern for most of these.

I started with a basic bag pattern that I found CLICK HERE as a free pattern on Lion Brand Yarns website.  I then just adjusted the center of the bag with the pattern I wanted.

Here are some of the bags I created using the above pattern as my base:

This pink one was made for my daughter when she was a Mary Kay Consultant.

On the inside I added a pocket and a ring to hold keys.  It is nice to have a great big bag but we all know the horror of trying to find something in the bottom of it.  The ring was to be able to hook a key ring on it (I use a "D" ring for my keys) and the pocket was a great place for my cell phone.

When I added the pocket, the first problem I encountered was it was hard to see the pocket that was the same color as the bag.  So I started added a top edge of a different color to make it easy to see.

These bags are really strong!  While a full time college student (I went back to college at the age of 50), I would carry 2 textbooks, my lunch, a couple of cans of Coke, plus all of the regular purse stuff.  When  I connected the strap, I made it a little longer so I could overlap the two sides, created a nice padding on my shoulder.

Anyone can use these as a gift!  They are universal and provide a wide array of uses, such as school supplies, overnight bags, a place to carry games and toys on a car trip.

Checkerboard Game Blanket

I found this pattern online (click HERE for the free pattern) and made it for my grandchildren and for a friend's daughter's birthday.  Big hits on both fronts!



The board is about 30x30" and can be used as a game board and can double as a small cover on a child's bed.  It is great for snuggling on the couch while watching TV.  I used an "H" size hook and soft baby yarn.

The drawstring bag was a "made it up as I go" pattern, meaning I just started crocheting a bag and if I have to make another one, I'll wing that one, too!

The checkers are super simple.  They work great as projects to do while traveling in the car.  Tip:  Make the bag first then you have something to store the completed checkers in as you make them!