Friday, 21 June 2013

The String Tote Pattern/Tutorial

The Pop It In Your Handbag String Tote.

 Thank you for all your lovely comments about the Mystery Giveaway Reveal, I'm glad you all like this cute little tote here is the tutorial and pattern as promised, sorry it took so long it took longer than I thought it would. 
These little bags are great for gifts make a few now for Christmas presents :)
bag,string,tote,flowers, free pattern

Bag, tote,free crochet pattern,crochet, string bag

Materials

Mercerised Cotton I used Patons 
3.50 hook
Change the weight of yarn depending on what size of bag you want.
I used 4ply for the beige bag
Dk for the green
2 strands of 4ply tog for the pink.

 Written in English Terms
ch = chain
dc = double crochet (sc/us)
tr = treble (dc/us)
dtr = double treble (tr/us)
ss slip stitch.

 Pattern
(Quick version for experienced crocheters)

Make a continuous circle of 4 rounds beginning with with 9 dc in magic loop.
(you can make the circle bigger if you wish depending on how big you want your bag)

dc for final round. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Embellish your circle with a flower or anything you wish,
(see step 20 below)

Make another circle as above but leave plain.

You can make any type of circle you wish but remember there is a certain amount of pulling and tugging involved so it would need to be a sturdy design and multiple colours would need to be well woven in. always finish your circles with a final round of dc (no increases) to give them some depth,

Place circles right sides together and dc them together leaving a gap of 13sts.
Buttonhole made on flower sided circle.
Dc 6 across gap edge  2ch, miss 1 dc, 6dc. 
sew a small button on the inside of opposite gap

Begin string bag
Chain 8 miss 2dc, dc in next dc, chain 8, continue around and include 2nd gap edge.   (see no 24 in tutorial)
Next round
chain 8 dc in next ch8 space continue like this until 22 rounds have been worked (or for as big as you want your bag)
Don’t fasten off
Handles
Chain 60 (or as long as you want them) dc into 5th 8ch loop (one handle made)
Now judge where next handle should be and place markers.
Dc 8 times in each 8ch space until you reach marker and make 2nd handle,
Dc all 8ch spaces around the top of bag and loosely dc around handles.
Fasten off.


 Tutorial
(Click on the pictures to get a larger view)











(revision on no 20...6th line should read 2ch, 1tr, 1dtr, 1tr, 2ch, ss into same st


 Make second circle as above but don't add flower and don't fasten off.








Finished Bag
 The opening should
be on the inside of the bag


To close the bag just turn it inside out, then turn the two two circles inside out, gently push the string bag inside and fasten button.



My latest bag
In Crushed Raspberry

Bag in Use
 If there is any part which is difficult or doesn't make sense please just leave me a comment and I will put it right.

Stats
Pink bag 75 grams
Beige bag 44 grams
Green bag 65 grams
Crushed Raspberry 56 grams 

String Tote Galleries

Hindusanka
Astri
Casey

Loving Hands

More from me info here

Mistea

Copyright © 2013 Linda Solaiman  All Rights Reserved.



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63 comments:

  1. awemastuff21 June 2013 at 18:04

    oooo just in time for me to get it started over the weekend - thank you so much for the very clear and instructive tutorial Linda - I have some purple 4ply cotton I use on the Knitting machines so will give that a try first
    Roamin
    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda22 June 2013 at 09:32

      I have sent your's off Roamin! Hope you enjoy making them :)

      Delete
  2. Hindustanka21 June 2013 at 18:55

    Thanks you, Linda! This would be my weekend project to try - a useful thing which I wanted to make for a long time now!:) So kind of you to share the pattern!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda22 June 2013 at 09:33

      Thank you, hope you enjoy making it. :)

      Delete
    2. Hindustanka25 June 2013 at 19:13

      Just finished my bag! It is wonderful! :) I made it colorful, will post pictures when I weave the ends. But the most fun part of course is the purse and the way you have to turn the bag inside out and make a cute round cushion! :) Thanks so much for the pattern, Linda!

      Delete
    3. linda25 June 2013 at 22:07

      Can't wait to see the picture Anna :)

      Delete
  3. SuperflyNApplePie21 June 2013 at 19:29

    Such a simple yet very clever design! Thank you so much for sharing this lovely pattern!

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  4. Barbara21 June 2013 at 19:39

    Cute!! I really like the way you can ball it when its not in use. Great pattern!
    Barbara

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  5. Ana BC21 June 2013 at 21:57

    wonderful tutorial, Linda! I am so tempted to make one...maybe soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda22 June 2013 at 09:35

      Thank you, put it on your do do list Ana. :)

      Delete
  6. Ali21 June 2013 at 22:45

    OOh how fab Linda - Thanks - Will have to give this a try!
    Ali x

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  7. Meredith21 June 2013 at 22:49

    I think you have spoiled us, great idea, great bag and great tutorial.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  8. Julie21 June 2013 at 23:56

    I will have to pin this! You are invited to share this with Show Your Stuff:

    http://juliejewels1.blogspot.com/2013/06/show-your-stuff-81-baked-doughnuts.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rajeswari22 June 2013 at 00:52

    How smart and clever this idea is. Would be deff making it soon to use for groceries and other shopping! Thanks Linda for taking the time and effort to share this pattern!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda22 June 2013 at 09:39

      Thank you Rajeswari, enjoy your holiday! :)

      Delete
    2. Hindustanka24 June 2013 at 11:31

      I am in the process of making now! :) Can't wait to use it!

      Delete
  10. Astri22 June 2013 at 00:53

    Thank you, thank you, thank you, Linda!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Astri22 June 2013 at 00:55

    Oh and guess what kind of flower will embellish mine. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda22 June 2013 at 09:41

      You are welcome Astri and er would it be a..let me think?????? a rose perhaps. haha looking forward to seeing it. :)

      Delete
  12. Tami22 June 2013 at 09:00

    I actually had the colors picked out in anticipation....however do you think a worsted weight red heart yarn would work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda22 June 2013 at 09:49

      As long as it is a strong yarn and it doesn't stretch Tami, a cotton or cotton blend is the best. Worsted weight would give a bulkier bag, I would do 2 rounds of dc at stage 15, to give the circles more depth so there is more room for the string bag to fit inside, would love to see it when it's done. :)

      Delete
    2. Tami22 June 2013 at 16:30

      Ok thats a deal but now I know I have to make 2 I have some cotton that I wasn't sure what to do with. My daughter lives extremely close to the beach in Galveston tx this is a perfect bag for her and her room mate who is a mom to a 3 year old perfect for her also.

      Delete
  13. hooksandyarns22 June 2013 at 14:19

    This is a pretty nice bag Linda - thanks for sharing your pattern with us. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Crafty in the Med22 June 2013 at 20:55

    Brilliant Linda!
    Thanks for the tutorial.
    I so want to get down to making a couple of these bags. This may be a daft question and perhaps obvious when the bag is finished but where do you put the button???

    It is going on my "want to do" list straight away.


    keep well

    Amanda :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda22 June 2013 at 22:02

      Look at picture 22 Amanda, you can just see the buttonhole in front of the hook, the button needs to be opposite on the inside (which is the right side as we have right sides together) You can add the button at the end but it is a bit fiddly. :)

      Delete
    2. Crafty in the Med23 June 2013 at 14:42

      Yes I see it now and of course its perfectly clear. I can't see for looking :-)

      Many thanks

      A xx

      Delete
  15. marianna22 June 2013 at 22:11

    I started one last night - and it's finished already ! It looks great.
    Thank you so much for the instructions Linda. So clear and straightforward.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda22 June 2013 at 23:16

      That's great Marianna! I'm pleased the instructions are clear enough, would love to see a photo, link it up to the stash party it must be a stash-buster right? :)

      Delete
  16. Beth Fitch22 June 2013 at 23:44

    Beautiful thanks for your generosity!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Maggie23 June 2013 at 07:22

    Such a pretty bag. Thanks for the pattern :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ana Love Craft23 June 2013 at 09:41

    Wow!!! Just gorgeous!Thanks so much for sharing the great tutorial! Would love to have you visit me sometime.
    Have a fabulous weekend and week!
    Hugs from Portugal,

    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tami24 June 2013 at 02:46

    I made a smaller one to see if I could. I did it and will post a picture tomorrow.I want to say thank you very much this is perfect for what I have been searching for. You see some of the things I crochet I give to the less fortunate the problem with that is I don't have a lot of money to be able to do it as much or the way I want to. I wanted to have a bag or back pack for the lapghan or stuffed animal or whatever.the flap on inside can hide a gift card to mcdonalds or some other fast food restaurant. This bag is perfect it's light if they are walking,or have children can hold large items and can fold up if needed. Thank you so much. The instructions are super I'm not super good at crocheting I love it but as for details it's hard for me I have add. so concentrating is difficult if the instructions are too detailed I can't these are perfect!I also bag adapted the bottom into a doggy bag holder.(to clean up after the doggy)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda24 June 2013 at 08:01

      That's brilliant Tami! I'm so glad these bags meet your needs, it sounds like a great idea to me. it looks like these bags have more uses than I ever gave them credit for. I'm looking forward to seeing the photo. :)

      Delete
  20. joanna27 June 2013 at 19:22

    A pretty bag. Great the pattern

    ReplyDelete
  21. Natas Nest1 July 2013 at 18:39

    Super, Linda, thank you so much for the pattern!! It's very beautiful and I like the useful feature that the bag can be put in this little pocket, great job! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  22. Unknown3 July 2013 at 20:45

    Hi Linda,
    What a wonderful tutorial, thank you so much for sharing this on Tutorial Thursdays Linky Party. Your link got the most votes last week and as such is a featured link on this week's Post :) Do come by and grab your "Featured" Button!
    I look forward to seeing what you will share with us this week :)
    Kind Regards
    Natalie
    Marigolds' Loft

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda4 July 2013 at 10:01

      Thank you Natalie, I'm honoured that my bag got the most vote's, I'm off now to grab that button, have a great day :)

      Delete
  23. Muriel12 July 2013 at 20:05

    very original project...thanks for sharing with us... great week end... muriel

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thomasina Tittlemouse13 July 2013 at 06:25

    What a great idea and pattern Linda! Thank you so much for all the clear instructions. May just have to add to my bag collection (again!) love the way the circles act as a pocket - so clever! E x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous14 July 2013 at 05:27

    Hello. i just wanted to say that i love love love this pattern im actually crocheting it as i type. its so cute and the instructions were very easy to follow. the pitures helped me alot too. thank you so much for sharing this pattern. have a wonderful day. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda14 July 2013 at 09:44

      Thanks Heather would love to see a picture when it's done. :)

      Delete
  26. crazydazy26 November 2013 at 22:42

    this is great........I must have a go, now there are no longer free plastic bags in northern Ireland it would be so handy..........so glad I found your site

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  27. Unknown5 February 2014 at 14:09

    Almost completed my first tote

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda5 February 2014 at 16:32

      That was quick Mary to say you just started it today, I want a photo! :)

      Delete
  28. Unknown5 February 2014 at 14:18

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ms. Krafty Katie7 May 2015 at 19:44

    Just a quick question. Does it matter what type of yarn(acrylic, cotton.etc) you used for the bag? Especially for beach use?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. linda7 May 2015 at 20:47

      Hi Katie, I would say yes it does matter in that I would only use cotton yarn as acrylic would stretch I would think. Any type of cotton would be ok but if you want it to be small enough to pop into your bag use 4 ply or Dk. :)

      Delete
  30. Unknown5 June 2015 at 11:09

    How awesome! I never thought about having a little pouch before! I've pinned this one! Now to find the time...

    ReplyDelete
  31. cotbags31 May 2018 at 10:29

    You blog is eye-catching. I get pleasure from it. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of writing with me. cotton bag manufacturer in india

    ReplyDelete
  32. Unknown9 August 2018 at 21:51

    Thank you linda for sharing this pattern I love it it was easy to follow and I plan on making a few more of these maybe even some for gifts

    ReplyDelete
  33. Eliza Lewis14 November 2019 at 04:23

    Thanks for sharing this informative information about net string shopping bags with us. It's very helpful. Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sarah Stewart11 March 2020 at 19:11

    Trying this looking at the pictures as I'm fairly new to crochet. Will it start out flat after the circles because mine isn't going up lol.

    ReplyDelete
  35. linda12 March 2020 at 11:50

    Hi Sarah once you start the bag after the circles it may stay flat for a couple of rounds but it will go up eventually.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your visit, I will always answer any questions but due to time constraints I'm not always able to reply to your comments, please keep them coming I read and appreciate each and every one. xx