A crochet felted / shrunken bag!

 When I had my craft unit this was one of my most favourite  workshops to do.

We all crocheted squares to make a bag, then against all of our instincts not too.... we threw them into a hot wash to shrink!!

So, it was time to revisit it and re-make it for a tutorial.

Of course, you can choose not to shrink your bag, you can just use the pattern to create a regular crochet bag, you might need to line it though so it doesn't stretch.  If you do choose to shrink it you will need to use 100% wool and ignore the washing instructions completely  :)

And you can make any shaped bag you like, my layout is just an example, but any bag you make in 100% wool can be shrunk.

I used Wendy 100% Aran Wool yarn  with a 6.00mm Clover Amour hook

I washed at 90 degrees with a 1400 spin.

If you fancy having a go then here is the video for you .....

Do let me know if you have a go, would love to see your funky bags!   My user name across all the Social Media platforms is Sooz in The Shed.

The Links Blanket - written pattern and video links

 Hello everyone! 

I have had an influx of watchers on my Links Blanket on YouTube recently and it seems some people would like the written pattern beside them as they work rather than keep returning to the video.

Different people have different learning styles, some like to read, some like to watch, so if I can help with both I happily will.

So, below are all the links and all the instructions for my Links Blanket. 

The rainbow effect is my most popular colourway, but the one I originally designed was in shades of purple.

It looks equally as good in a single colour where you are relying on the texture to be the pretty part of the pattern rather than the colour.

Whatever colour to decide to do it in, I hope you enjoy making this  :)

Part 1:

VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE

Link 1. Chain 12, ss into first stitch to join into a ring. CH2, then work 23x HTR's into the ring.  SS to the beginning CH2 to join.

Subsequent Links.  Chain 12, with the first link facing you, thread the chain through the back of the link then ss into first stitch to join into a ring. CH2, then work 23x HTR's into the ring.  SS to the beginning CH2 to join.

For a blanket like the Rainbow one in the photo which is 1 x 1.7m (approx. 3 x 5 ft) you will need 14 strips of 28 links. 

Part 2:

VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE

Round 1.  Take a length of links.  Join in a stitch on the first link and DC in the same space.  DC in the next 4 stitches.

·       (Move to the next link and DC into the next 5 stitches)  work across all your links.

·       Work (DC,CH, DC) in the next stitch. DC in the next 5. (DC, CH, DC) in the next stitch, DC in the next 5.

·       (Move to the next link and missing out 7 stitches from the last stitch in that link, work a DC in the next 5 stitches) work across all your links.

·       Work (DC,CH, DC) in the next stitch. DC in the next 5. (DC, CH, DC) in the next stitch, SS to first stitch to join.

Round 2.  CH1, DC into the first stitch and every following stitch to the corner.  (1 x DC, 1 x CH, 1 x DC) into the corner space.  Repeat all the way around. SS to join.  END YARN.

Round 3.  Rejoin yarn into any CORNER space. CH3, (2 x TR, 2 x CH, 3 x TR) into the same corner space. *** SK2, then 3 x TR into the next stitch. Repeat from *** to next corner (you might have to skip an extra stitch at the end to even up the clusters) work (3 x TR, 2 x CH, 3 x TR) into the same corner space, continue this pattern all the way around. SS to join.

Part 3:

VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE

Joining the strips.  Work a Standing DC into the very first corner hole on the long length of the strip. Pick up the next strip and hold your strips back-to-back. Work a DC into the very first hole on the back strip.

*** CH3, then work a dc into the next free space on the first strip, then a DC into the next free space on the back strip.  Repeat from *** all the way across ending with a DC in the last back space.

Edging – row 1.  With your work facing you, start in any corner space with a SS. CH2, work (1 x HTR, 2 x CH, 2 x HTR) into the corner space.  Working inbetween the previous row stitches work a HTR all the way across.  When you come to a seam, work a HTR right in the middle of the joining stitch.  For each corner space work (2 x HTR, 2 x CH, 2 x HTR) into the corner space.  SS to join, End yarn

Subsequent rows.  With your new yarn, join with a SS into any corner and CH 4, work a HTR into the same corner space. Working inbetween the previous row stitches work a HTR all the way across.  For each corner space work (1 x HTR, 2 x CH, 1 x HTR) into the corner space.  SS to join, End yarn

Stitches explained:

Chain Stitch - Yarn around hook (from the back) and pull the new yarn through the loop on your hook.  This is ONE chain.  Repeat as needed.

Double Crochet (DC) - Put hook through work and draw yarn back through (2 loops on hook) yarn around hook, draw through 2 loops on hook

Half Treble Crochet (HTR) - Yarn around hook (from the back) put hook through work and draw yarn back through (3 loops on hook) yarn around hook, draw through 3 loops on hook.

If you do make this, I would love you to tag me on Instagram, Facebook or any other socials - you can find me using this same user name - Sooz in The Shed.