Checker Felt Tote Bags

CHECKER-FELT BAGS (crochet)

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Skill level: Easy/Intermediate

Sizes:

Shoulder bag measures 13"x13" before felting, approx. 10" wide x 9" high after felting

Notions bag measures 7"x7" before felting, approx. 5" x 5" after felting

Materials:

NOTE: Do not use white, off-white or superwash-treated wool as it will not felt.

125 yds. each of 3 colors of bulky weight wool or wool/mohair blend

that felts easily (samples shown in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky)

Size N/15 (10 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to achieve gauge

Buttons for closure (optional)

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 2 dc = 1", 2 rows dc = 2" with size N/15 (10 mm) hook (before felting)

Stitches/Terms: beginning (beg), chain (ch) , double crochet (dc), repeat (rep), reverse single crochet (rev sc), single crochet (sc), slip stitch (sl st), stitch (st)

Pattern Notes:

Method: Bags are worked in rounds from bottom to top, working from both sides of starting chain to form seamless tube. Work loosely to allow for maximum felting action.

Color changes: When 2 loops remain on hook at completion of dc before next color change, drop old color, draw loop of new color through 2 loops on hook, work next stitch in new color. Lay unused strands along top of row as you work over them, keeping strands loose to prevent puckering. Do not fasten off colors until instructed to do so.

Shoulder Bag

Rnd 1: With Color A, chain 24, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 20 ch, 3 dc in last ch, working in free loops on opposite side of starting chain, dc in next 19 ch, 2 dc in last ch, join with sl st to top of beg ch (45 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 19 dc, 2 dc in ea of next 4 dc, dc in next 19 dc, 2 dc in ea of next 2 dc, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3 (54 dc)

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in ea dc around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3 (54 dc)

Rnd 4 (checkerboard round): Drop Color A, pull Color B through loop on hook, ch 3, dc in next 2 dc drawing Color C through last 2 loops on hook as you complete the last dc, dc in next 3 dc, *change to Color B, dc in next 3 dc, change to Color C, dc in next 3 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (54 dc, 9 3-dc blocks of ea color)

Rnd 5 (checkerboard round)(you will be placing Color C stitches above Color B stitches and vice versa to form checkerboard): With Color C still on hook, ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, change to Color B, dc in next 3 dc, *change to Color C, dc in next 3 dc, change to Color B, dc in next 3 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (54 dc, 9 3-dc blocks in ea color)

Rnd 6 (checkerboard round): With Color B still on hook, ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, change to Color C, dc in next 3 dc, *change to Color B, dc in next 3 dc, change to Color C, dc in next 3 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (54 dc, 9 3-dc blocks in ea color) Rnd 7 (plain round): Pull Color A through loop on hook (drop Colors B and C to inside), ch 3, dc in ea dc around, join with sl st (54 dc)

Rnd 8: With Color A, dc in ea dc around, join with sl st (54 dc)

Rnds 9-11: Repeat Rnds 4-6.

Rnd 12: With Color A, dc in ea dc around (54 dc)

Rnd 13: With Color A, sc in ea dc around, join with sl st (54 sc). Fasten off Color A.

Finishing:

Top trim: Pull Colors B and C loosely up to current round and hold them together as one. Work 1 round reverse sc (shrimp or crab stitch) as follows: Working loosely from left to right around top of bag, *sc in next 2 sc to the right, skip 1 sc to the right, rep from * around, join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off both colors and weave in tails.

Shoulder strap: Holding Colors A, B & C together as one, attach yarn at one side of bag with slip st (leave 6" tails to weave in), ch 80, attach chain to opposite side of bag with slip st. Cut yarn and weave in tails.

Felting instructions: Set washing machine to low water level, hot water, heavy duty agitation and add a drop or two of mild liquid soap (such as Ivory Liquid). Place crocheted bag in washer along with old denim jeans to increase agitation. Let the machine agitate the bag for about 10 minutes, then check to see how bag is felting. Do NOT let the water drain out or go to rinse cycle, but continue to check every 5 minutes until bag has reached desired amount of felting (sample bags took about 20 minutes to felt completely). Keep resetting machine to agitation cycle if necessary. When bag is desired size, remove from washer and rinse thoroughly in lukewarm water in sink. Press between dry towels to remove as much water as possible, then lay flat on more dry towels and leave to dry completely.

Notions Bag

Rnd 1: With Color A and size N hook, ch 18, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 11 ch, 3 dc in last ch, working in unused loops on opposite side of starting ch, dc in next 11 dc, 3 dc in last ch, join with sl st to top of beg ch (30 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in ea dc around, join with sl st (30 dc)

Rnd 3: Drop Color A, pull Color B through loop on hook, ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 dc, change to Color C, dc in next 3 dc,*change to color B, dc in next 3 dc, change to Color C, dc in next 3 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (30 dc, 5 3-dc groups in ea color)

Rnd 4: With Color C still on hook, ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 dc, change to Color B, dc in next 3 dc, *change to Color C, dc in next 3 dc, change to Color B, dc in next 3 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (30 dc)

Rnd 5: With Color B still on hook, ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 dc, change to Color C, dc in next 3 dc, *change to Color B, dc in next 3 dc, change to Color C, dc in next 3 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (30 dc)

Rnd 6: With Color A (drop Colors B and C to inside), ch 3, dc in ea dc around,join with sl st (30 dc)

Rnd 7: With Color A, sc in ea dc around, join with sl st, fasten off Color A (30 sc)

Finishing:

Top trim: Pull Colors B and C up loosely to current round, work reverse sc around top of bag (as on shoulder bag), join with sl st, fasten off and weave in tails.

Felt in washing machine same as shoulder bag.

If desired, bags can be finished with a button closure. Sew button to outside of bag on one side, then make a chain loop long enough to reach from one side of bag to other side and around button. With sewing thread, sew one end of chain loop securely to inside at top of bag. Push button through chain loop to close top of bag.

For personal or charity use only. Do not duplicate pattern for commercial purposes.