Free Pattern: Mixed Material Bag

  *Everyone congratulate my kid for her first design! No, she didn't write the pattern or crochet it herself, but I gave her designing freedom when I said I wanted to make a bag. She chose the colors, shape, and size of this awesome idea. She picked the yarn, decided how it should be assembled, and added her sense to the creation of the button and flap.*

  So as a result, two colors of plarn and some Caron Simply Soft mixed together during the creation of this bag to give recycling a softer side. Alone, plarn can be lumpy, bumpy, and uninteresting. Combining two different colored panels of plarn with a gusset, strap and closing flap of soft yarn in a rich jewel tone add character and contrast to this mini messenger tote.



Variations:
A real button can be used instead of a crocheted one, just check for fit before making the button hole loop.
Create a few simple square pockets to attach to the front from your leftover Simply Soft.
Don't want to work up the more complicated decorative strap? Copy the simple single crochet gusset pattern and use that instead.
The front and back panels can be made in plain single crochet, too, for beginners.



Finished size is about 11" (28 cm) across by 12" (30.5 cm) tall. The gusset is a little over 2" (5 cm) wide.

Skill level:

Materials:
Worsted weight (4) yarn:
Caron Simply Soft (less than one skein) - Color used is Pagoda
Single strand plarn, cut 1" (2.5 cm) wide *also see notes*
  -2 balls each of white and grey, or colors of your choice (25 bags per ball)
Crochet hook size G/6 - 4.25 MM or size needed to obtain gauge
Smaller hook or needle to weave in ends





Gauge:
In 4" by 4" (10 cm by 10 cm)
15 rows of 15 sc




Notes:
Remember when working, two strands of plarn should be held together.

*If you prefer using the "loop" method of joining plarn, I suppose you could cut the loops 1" (2.5 cm) wide, and just use one strand of loop-joined plarn. I haven't made a swatch this way to know if the knots will change the gauge.

Before you cut all of the plarn for this project, work up a small sample. Make another swatch with Simply Soft to check if the gauge of your plarn matches.

Stitches and abbreviations:
Chain (ch)
Slip stitch (sl st)
Single crochet (sc)

Single crochet two together (sc2tog)
  Insert hook, pull up a loop. Insert hook in next st, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.

Single crochet three together (sc3tog)
  Insert hook, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). (Insert hook in next stitch, pull up a loop) twice (4 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through all 4 loops.

Double crochet (dc)




Directions:



Front and back panels (make one in each color plarn):

To begin, ch 40 with double strands of 1" (2.5 cm) wide plarn.


Row 1:
1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of remaining 38 chs. (40 sc)


Row 2:
Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), turn. 1 sc in each of remaining 39 sts.

Rows 3 - 21:
Repeat Row 2.


Row 22:
Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), turn. 3 sc in next st. Sc3tog twice, 3 sc in the following st. *2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 3 sc in the following st. Sc3tog twice, 3 sc in the next st.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. 1 sc in the last st.


Row 23:
Repeat Row 2.


Row 24:
Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), turn. Sc3tog, 3 sc in each of the next 2 sts. Sc3tog. *1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, sc3tog. 3 sc in each of the next 2 sts, sc3tog.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. 1 sc in the last st.


Rows 25 - 43:
Repeat Row 2.


Bind off, weave in ends.



Button:
Need help with a magic circle? Click here.
Begin with one strand of each color plarn and one strand of Simply Soft. Make a magic circle, ch 1 (counts as 1 sc). Make 11 sc in circle. Tighten circle, join with a sl st to beg ch-1. Weave in ends to the center, use tails to attach to front panel.
*Instead of worrying about your button's gauge, check for fit when working the border of the closing flap. You can alter the ch-6 buttonhole if needed.

Gusset:

Row 1:
With Simply Soft, ch 126. 1 sc in the 2nd ch from hook and each of remaining 124 chs. (126 sc)


Row 2:
Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), turn. 1 sc in each of the remaining 125 sc. (126 sc)


Rows 3 through 9:
Repeat Row 2. Bind off, weave in ends.



Front Flap:


Row 1:
With Simply Soft, ch 10. 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of remaining 8 chs. (10 sc)

Row 2:
Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), turn. 1 sc in the first st, 1 sc in each of the remaining 9 sc. (11 sc)

Row 3:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 9 sc, 2 sc in the last. (12 sc)

Row 4:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in the same st. 1 sc in each of remaining 11 sc. (13 sc)

Row 5:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 11 sc, 2 sc in the last. (14 sc)

Row 6:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in the same st. 1 sc in each of the remaining 13 sc. (15 sc)

Row 7:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 13 sc, 2 sc in the last. (16 sc)

Row 8:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in the same st. 1 sc in each of the remaining 15 sc. (17 sc)

Row 9:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 15 sc, 2 sc in the last. (18 sc)

Row 10:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in the same st, 1 sc in each of the remaining 17 sc. (19 sc)

Row 11:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 17 sc, 2 sc in the last. (20 sc)

Row 12:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in the same st, 1 sc in each of the remaining 19 sc. (21 sc)

Row 13:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 19 sc, 2 sc in the last. (22 sc)

Row 14:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in the same st, 1 sc in each of the remaining 21 sc. (23 sc)

Row  15:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 21 sc, 2 sc in the last. (24 sc)

Row 16:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in the same st, 1 sc in each of the remaining 23 sc. (25 sc)

Row 17:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 23 sc, 2 sc in the last. (26 sc)

Row 18:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in the same st, 1 sc in each of the remaining 25 sc. (27 sc)

Row 19:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 25 sc, 2 sc in the last. (28 sc)

Row 20:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in the same st, 1 sc in each of the remaining 27 sts. (29 sc)

Row 21:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the remaining 28 sc. (29 sc)

Row 22:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the remaining 26 sc. (28 sc)

Row 23:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 25 sc. Sc2tog. (27 sc)

Row 24:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the remaining 24 sc. (26 sc)

Row 25:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 23 sc. Sc2tog. (25 sc)

Row 26:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the remaining 22 sc. (24 sc)

Row 27:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 21 sc. Sc2tog. (23 sc)

Row 28:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the remaining 20 sc. (22 sc)

Row 29:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 19 sc. Sc2tog. (21 sc)

Row 30:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the next 18 sc. (20 sc)

Row 31:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 17 sc. Sc2tog. (19 sc)

Row 32:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the next 16 sc. (18 sc)

Row 33:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 15 sc. Sc2tog. (17 sc)

Row 34:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the remaining 14 sc. (16 sc)

Row 35:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 13 sc. Sc2tog. (15 sc)

Row 36:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the remaining 12 sc. (14 sc)

Row 37:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 11 sc. Sc2tog. (13 sc)

Row 38:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the remaining 10 sc. (12 sc)

Row 39:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the next 9 sc. Sc2tog. (11 sc.)

Row 40:
Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog. 1 sc in each of the remaining 8 sc. (10 sc)

Border:
Working down side: sl st in 1st available post sp, ch 1 (counts as 1 sc). 1 sc in each of remaining 38 side post sps. Ch 1, 1 sc in the same sp. 1 sc in each of the next 8 bottom post sps. (1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc) in next post sp. 1 sc in each of next 19 side post sps. Ch 6 (check button size), sk 1 post sp. 1 sc in each of next 18 post sps. (1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc) in next. 1 sc in each of the remaining 8 post sps. Ch 1, join with a sl st to beg ch-1. Bind off, weave in ends.


Strap:

Row 1:
With Simply Soft, ch 127. 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sc3tog twice. 3 sc in the next ch, 1 sc in the following. *3 sc in the next ch, sc3tog twice. 3 sc in the next ch, 1 sc in the following.* Repeat from * to * 12 more times. (127 sc)

Row 2:
Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each of the remaining 126 sc. (127 sc)

Row 3:
Ch 1, turn. *Sc3tog, 3 sc in each of the next 2 sc. Sc3tog, 1 sc.* Repeat from * to * 13 more times. (127 sc)

Row 4:
Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), turn. 1 dc in each of the remaining 126 dc. (127 dc)

Row 5:
Repeat Row 3.

Row 6:
Repeat Row 2.

Row 7:
Ch 1, turn. *3 sc in next st, sc3tog twice. 3 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the following.* Repeat from * to * 13 more times. Bind off, weave in ends.


Assembly:

All seams use one strand of each color (2 strands) plarn and one strand of Simply Soft.

Measure at least 3 times the length of the seam before cutting material.

For a true whip stitch: Insert needle through both post spaces from back to front. Bring yarn over top, insert from back to front for next stitches.
*When I whip stitch, I do it backwards, from front to back. Does it make a difference? I don't think so.

Add the button:
Attach the button to the front panel by its tails to stitches 20 and 21 of Row 25. Secure with a knot on the back side, weave in ends.

Attach the front and back panels to the gusset:
Using 3 strands threaded on a yarn needle, whip stitch through the post spaces only. You will have 43 vertically, 40 horizontally, and 43 vertically again. Bind off and weave in ends for each separate seam.

Attach the strap and closing flap as one seam:
Begin at the outer edge of the gusset on the front panel side. Whip stitch the 9 side-post spaces of the strap and gusset together. Picking up closing flap, miss the first border stitch, whip stitch across back panel. Miss the last border stitch. Work across the gusset towards the front panel to attach the other end of strap. Bind off and weave in ends.





  So, I had the recipient model her mind's creation for the pictures (she chose her outfit and got all jazzed up for them)... And we didn't get the best ones because she was excited to check out her new bag, and you know, play with her friends and stuff.

Then grandma and grandpa picked her up and she took off with it!

In the pictures, she has a binder in the bag. There's still room for a pencil case, cell phone, and some other random stuff without it bulging. I think it makes a great homework (or artwork) bag to take to a friend's house for study time. Or as she mentioned, it will be perfect for her video games...

Happy Crocheting!