Slouchy Grab Bag

SUPPLIES:

• 4 skeins of Darn Good Yarn’s Recycled Resolution Silk Yarn
• Hook:   Size “H” crochet hooK

MY TIPS (Trial and Error):
Bag Bottom: If you want the bottom of your bag to be more stiff than floppy, use a skein of yarn that is on the thicker side. If you want a bag with a bottom that sags (like my bag), use a skein of yarn on the thinner side.
Bag Body: If you want the bag to be stiffer, use a thick-er skein of yarn. If you want a very floppy bag, use a thinner yarn. I personally continued with the thinner skein (that I had used to make the bottom) and worked up the body of the bag, then used a thicker yarn for the rest of the body. This gives the effect of the bag flopping/collapsing on itself while still maintaining a sturdy body that won’t collapse on you while you’re digging around in the bag.
Bag Strap and Flap: Use a thinner skein of yarn to produce a softer, more flexible strap and flap.


INSTRUCTIONS:
All stitches are double crochet (DC). All instructions are just suggestions.

BOTTOM: There is no exact science to crocheting a circle. For each round, the pattern will depend on the uniqueness of your yarn. The important thing is to frequently put your work down (yes, literally) to make sure it lays flat on its own. If it starts to show bumps or ripples, just frog it back and adjust the number of times you DC in each chain. Trust me, it’ll be okay. To ease your mind, here’s a rough example of how I made mine:

Row 1: Chain 3, slip stitch into chain fur-thest from hook to join in circle.
Row 2: [This may be used for a few rows, depending on your circle].
Double crochet (DC) twice in each chain. Repeat to end of row.
Row 3: (Mark the beginning of the row!)
[This may be used for a few rows, depending on your circle.]
DC in first two chains twice, then DC once in third chain. Repeat to end of the row.
Row 4: [This may be used for a few rows, depending on your circle.]
DC twice in first chain, then DC once in second chain. Repeat to end of row.

As the size of the circle increases, you’ll do rows with fewer and fewer “ DC twice in chain”. I stopped trying to count the pattern after a while, since the variations in the yarn (as well as the varia-tion in how tightly each person crochets) created spots where more or fewer “DC twice in chain” are needed to maintain an even, round bottom. It’s as unique as you!!!

Just keep crocheting in a circle until you have the bottom of the bag at the size you want. Then bind off your work. I’ve found that pulling the yarn through the first chain in what would begin the NEXT row creates a more uniform circle. Weave in the end now or just wait till the bag is done.


BODY: This is a bit tricky to start but not too bad. A perk of the sloppy bag is that its texture and color changes hide imperfections! Pick a spot (I started away from the bind off site) to pick up stitches.

Row 1: Pick up stitches by DC through the chain BELOW the final row/edge. This will allow you to crochet around the entire edge of the bot-tom piece (essentially creating a very thick, very strong seam). Picking up stitches this way creates a nice, rounded edge to the bottom of your bag, rather than a sharp cylindrical-like edge you might get from picking up stitches just along the outer edge of the circle.
Row 2-?: DC each stitch in entire row. Do this for as many rows as needed to make the main body of the bag as tall as you want. I didn’t count rows since I tend to crochet tightly and therefore my rows are shorter than the average bear. My “straight” portion of the body is about 6.5” high.
DECREASING: When you’re ready to start decreasing, once again it’s a personal preference on how you want it to look. My bag was done with the following:
STEP 1: DC once in first two chains, DC next to chains together. Repeat to end of row.
STEP 2: DC each stitch in entire row.
Then just repeat steps 1 and 2 until your bag has been reduced to the desired diameter. I recommend bind-ing off after a “Step 1” row to prevent the top from resembling a tube.


STRAP: My shoulder strap was 10 stitches wide. You may prefer one that has more or fewer stitches. It’s totally up to you! Pick a spot to start (once again, I chose a spot away from the bind off). You can either pick up stitches by DC into the top row of the bag or DC into the chain BELOW the final row.

Row 1: Pick up the desired number of stitches.
Chain 1 (or 2, whatever gives the smoothest edge for you), turn.
Row 2: DC the entire row. Chain 1 (or 2), turn.
Repeat the rows until the strap is your desired length.

Line up the strap with the opposite side of the bag. Attach with DC into the corresponding stitches in the top row on that side of the bag. Bind off. Weave in ends now or later.


FLAP: The flap for the bag is crocheted between the two straps, on one side of the bag.
Row 1: Pick up all stitches between the two straps using DC. Chain 1 (or 2, whatever gives the smoothest edge for you), turn.
Row 2-?: DC entire row. Chain 1 (or 2), turn.
Repeat until flap is desired length.
DECREASING: When you’re ready to star decreasing, you can make the tip of the flap as blunt or narrow as you would like.
Step 1: DC first two stitches together, DC across row to end.
Step 2: Turn (don’t chain 1 or 2), repeat Step 1.
Continue until you’re ready to bind off.
Weave in ends. ENJOY!

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