Recycled material bag - crochet pattern

I did say when I finished this bag that I would write up the pattern - so here it is.

No gauge or needle size instructions as this is for a recycled material bag, so these are dependent on what material you use. I used an old frogged jumper, two strands at a time because I wanted a thick pattern and a sturdy bag, and needle size 8mm.

Chain 22.

The bag is worked round and round to create a seamless pattern.

hdc = half double crochet

Stitches used: half double crochet, single chain, slip stitch

row 1: hdc in 2nd chain from hook, then in each chain stitch to end. 2 hdc in the corner end stitch, turn.

row 2; hdc in each stitch to last 2, work 2 hdc in the two end stitches, turn.

row 3: hdc in each stitch to last 2 stitches, work 2 hdc in each of the two end stitches, turn.

row 4: hdc in each stitch to last 3 stitches, work 2 hdc in each of the three end stitches, turn.

row 5: hdc in each stitch to last 3 stitches work 2 hdc in each of the three end stitches, turn.

This is the base of your bag. If you want it bigger because of your plans for the bag or because you have enough material, just continue rows 4 and 5 until you have the base size you want.

To start working the body of the bag, work the following row in the front loops only.

row 6: hdc in each stitch, work 2 hdc in the end stitch, then hdc back to the other end, work 2 hdc in the end stitch.

Work again in both loops.

row 7, 8, 9: hdc in each stitch down to end, work 2 hdc in the end stitch, work 1 hdc in each stitch back to the other end, work 2 hdc in end stitich.

Repeat the above until you get the height you want for your bag, I worked these rows three times to get a taller basket type bag.

Switch to your contrast fabric or ribbon at the side of the bag. (Unfortunately this did not work so well as I only had enough ribbon for one round, so I finished my embellishment round in the main bag fabric).

row 10: work hdc in each stitch around

row 11: work hdc in each stitch around

OR - ALTERNATIVE ROW 11 - using the main fabric of the body or your contrast fabric - ignoring the last coloured row, single chain in one loop of each stitch of the main body fabric as it joins to the embellishment fabric. (This creates the row that stands slightly proud of the main bag body as per my bag in the photo).

Switch back to your main bag fabric and work through both loops of each stitch again.

row 12, 13, 14, 15: hdc in each stitch around for these 4 rounds and end at the side of the bag.

Optional variation if you have enough contrast fabric. Switch to contrast fabric for this one row, starting on the same bag side as the previous contrast rounds.

row 16: hdc in each stitch of this round.

Switch back to main material.

row 17: hdc in each stitch of this round.

row 18: starting at the side of the bag, hdc in each of the next 7 stitches, chain 20 for the handles (you can chain slightly longer if your bag is small and light, but this is not designed to be an over the shoulder style of bag).
Join the handle chain back into the bag with a single chain, leaving approximately 14 stitches unworked in the centre of the bag - this is an approximate number, fold your bag opening in half at the sides and simply ensure that you have your handle centrally positioned.
Work hdc into the remaining 7 stitches of that side of the bag.

row 19: hdc around the other side of the bag for 7 stitches, chain 20 and join with a single stitch into bag, leaving approx 14 stitches unworked under the handle. hdc for the remaining 6 stitches. Fold your bag opening and check that handles are aligned with each other and centrally positioned for the bag.

row 20: hdc in each stitch of the bag around to the handle, then work 2 hdc in the stitch at the base of the handle, and hdc in each stitch around the handle until you reach the end stitch to work 2 hdc again, hdc in each stitch round to the second handle, work 2 hdc into the stitch at the base, hdc in each stitch of the handle, then work 2 hdc into the base stitch, work 1 hdc into each stitch back to the side of the bag.

For an alternative finish - using contrast fabric or leather strips.

row 21: single chain, slip stitch in each stitch of the round to create a smooth bound edge. I would really have liked to do this even with the main material of the bag body, but I just did not have enough frogged jumper left.

Fasten off and weave ends under on the inside of the bag.

This is another easy but rewarding project, quite quick to do and one that can be done on the sofa watching TV, as there is not much counting or pattern following required. Plus you can use pretty much any fabric or yarn you have so it would be a good catch all project for tidying up your left over scrap fabrics. I am saving my left over hat and shawl yarns ready to make the next bag - which is going to end up a mish mash of colours and textures.

Embellishment Friday

I lit the fire in my studio and tried to hide out in there, just Ferguson and I, snuggled in from the cold.

Did not quite work out that way, my little fire in there is just too little to heat up a room from a starting temperature of -4°C. It valiantly chugged away and got to 9°C but could not seem to get any higher.

I ended up sat hunched over in my chair with Fergie on my lap, hat, scarf and thick winter coat buttoned up to the neck, dipping my hand back into my gloves everytime I finished sewing on a button.

Decamped back to the house at lunchtime, but I did manage to finish attaching the fastening buttons for the latest bags, embellishment vintage buttons on the bags and hats, turning up some jeans, taking in some trousers, and a baby hat for a friends complete with fluffy woolen flower (hard to show any pictures as a lot of these are pressies for people who sometimes read my blog).  Now all neatly wrapped and trimmed.

Oh yes - and had a job interview. Start with a new client on Tuesday. Although to call it an interview is a bit OTT. The eldest son of a neighbour popped in for a stare around my studio (he only remembers it as a bread oven from when he was a child) and to ask if I would tend to his mother for a fortnight when she returns from her operation on Monday.

Christmas card frenzy

In a frenzy of activity today.

Chose the two images for this year's cards, now printed, written and posted.

Bought a mega pack of turkey steaks reduced so made curry for tomorrow, grilled steaks with dauphinoise potatoes for tonight, and a creamy pie filling ready for the weekend.

Been to parents evening.

Wrapped pressies.

Went to the agricultural suppliers for animal feed for winter.

as you can see the crochet bag is now in use as my crochet project bag

Started my next crochet project - the most complicated thing I have attempted.

Just a stack of sewing projects to finish tomorrow, weather permitting I can set myself up in my studio and finish off the trouser turnups, vintage button addition to gift bags and waist line adjustments to a couple of pairs of trousers - incredibly taking them in not out!

At what age are you too old?

For ballet pumps with diamanté skulls?

I bought these for Thea but they are unfortunately too small (a Freudian slip there perhaps). So I am wearing them, but at 30 *cough* something, am I too old for skulls?



Panic buying has set in now......

This is what 10 metres cubed of wood dumped outside the barn looks like before we get stacking.

let it snow let it snow let it snow

Christmas shopping

For those of you who like shopping this won't seem much of a project, for me who hates the supermarket it was quite a challenge.

With an afternoon meeting scheduled at my agency necessitating a trip to the big city I thought I would try to combine it with my Christmas shopping and do it all in one go.

I hate shopping, well and truly hate it, and with only a small expensive supermarket on my doorstep I try to get all the family essentials (well they insist they are essentials and threaten me if I don't buy them), like squash, biscuits, jelly sweets, beer and wine at places like Lidl or Aldi to economise a bit.

Next week we have three Christmas dinners planned so the trick today was to keep three menu plans in mind and stick to the shopping list, as well as being on the look out for items suitable for various dietry requirements.

Now hopefully that should mean no more shopping, except for the cheese I forgot, oh and the ham, oh and some bread, and some more wine because quite frankly you can never have enough.

The only challenge remaining - stop Thea and Brendan eating everything before next week!

Finished shawl pictures as requested.

Open holed shawl, or pulled tight for a scarf.

(please note - my robin cross stitch has actually made onto the wall)

Easy crochet shawl.

With help from Ferguson of course.

I made this easy shawl in about 4 hours, I think it looks really nice, because you can wear it as a shawl, but if you pull it (like that JML magic scarf), the holey bits pull together and you can wear it as a thick and fluffy scarf too.

The finished wrap measures approximately 50cm wide by 150cm long, depending on how many rows you put in – which for me was conditional on the amount of wool skeins I had.

Gauge is not hugely important as it depends on the wool you use, size of hook and how loosely you want the loops to drape.

I used an 8mm hook on lightweight fluffy wool, but ran two threads together in my main colour of icy blue snowflake wool and a mohair black wool.

Ch 101.

Row 1 (Right Side): Dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next ch, * ch 5, skip next 5 ch, dc in next 3 ch; rep from * across; turn.

Row 2: Ch 3, skip first dc, dc in next dc, * (4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc) all in next ch-5 lp; rep from * to last 3 sts; skip next dc, dc in next dc, dc in top of ch-3; turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, skip first dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, * ch 5, 3 dc in next ch-1sp; rep from * to last 6 sts; ch 2, skip next 4 dc, dc in next dc, dc in top of ch-3; turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, skip first dc, dc in next dc, 4 dc in next ch-2 sp, * (4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc) all in next ch-5 sp; rep from * to last ch-2 sp; 4 dc in last ch-2 sp, dc in next dc, dc in top of ch-3; turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, skip first dc, dc in next 2 dc, * ch 5, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * to last 10 sts; ch 5, skip next 7 dc, dc in next 2 dc, dc in top of ch-3; turn.

Rep Rows 2-5 for pattern, end by working Row 5. Fasten off.

To finish the top edge: With right side facing, join yarn in first st of last row; * (hdc, dc, 4 tr, dc, hdc) all in next ch-5 sp; rep from * across; sl st in last st. Fasten off.


Bottom Edging: With right side facing, join yarn in free loop of first ch of foundation ch; * (hdc, dc, 4 tr, dc, hdc) all in next ch-sp formed by 5 skipped ch; rep from * across; sl st in last ch. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS:

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

hdc = half double crochet

rep = repeat

sl = slip

sp = space

st(s) = stitch (es);

* = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.

Where did the road go?

As this is the view at the rear of our farmhouse, and Arthur is positioned to show where the edge of the lane should be, it is probably no surprise that on Friday I became chief picker upper and dropper off in my Land Rover.

Every year two events happen locally, one is a charity telethon held in Pontaumur, our nearest town, to which (normally) kids and parents flock to play table games and buy raffle tickets for cakes etc. On Friday I did the cake round, fetching all the lovely choccie, sweet and gooey goodies and ferrying them down for others to win. And no - I did not pretend I got stuck in the snow and had to eat the scrumptious goods to keep my strength up.

It is currently reading -1°C in my studio so I have not been hanging out much in there.

The second event is held by our commune, the village that we are part of. The centre of the village is decorated with nativity scenes from around the world and people flock to take a tour of the scenes in the snow, drink a glass of warm fortifying mulled wine and a slice of gateau.

   http://www.landogne.fr/attachments/106_105_depliant_creches.pdf

Brendan and I have been involved every winter we have been here, putting up Christmas trees, decorating them, setting up nativity scenes and helping out in the bar. Friday afternoon I took my contingent of helpers down to the village to get our huge nativity scene set up, it features a village in Provence complete with working windmills, automated characters drinking wine, grinding coffe, making bread and hanging out the washing. It has 8 large buildings, and over 20 characters. It took 4 of us most of the afternoon to set up the buildings and the backdrops and we are nowhere near finished yet.  I have another building to make over the weekend as well as some repairs to hands, feet, and clothing.

Saturday was very very very cold, -12°C when I let the chickens out (they were not impressed I have to say), -7°C in the middle of the day was the highlight.

But on the up side it was sunny and looked very pretty and the first weekend of December is our family's traditional time for putting up the decorations so now the inside of the house is also pretty with twinkley lights and fluffy feathery decorations.

Bring on Christmas.

On the flip side, Arthur seems to have developed a serious addiction to snow.

I'm not a pheasant plucker....

... well actually today I am.

I'm not a pheasant plucker
I'm the pheasant plucker's mate
I'm only plucking pheasants
Because the pheasant plucker's late


- tongue twister for the non-english readers of my blog.

This lovely peahen is courtesy of the local countryside, and you cannot get fresher than that.

I must be getting good at this, it only took 15 minutes to get her plucked, gutted and freezer ready.

Now I know I should hang pheasant, but to be honest I don't taste the difference and with the current weather I am concerned that if I did hang her she would freeze overnight (last night's low was -12°C) and then be useless as you cannot freeze an intact bird and then defrost it.

Thea actually had yesterday morning off from college and nagged me several times to put up the Christmas tree.  I tried to explain to her that I do a big house clean twice a year, once in Spring and once again just before putting up the tree, because do to so I need to move furniture around, and therefore it is the perfect opportunity to clean properly.  

With her back at school today, I decided to get a head start on the house clean, and clean the living room, bathroom, and spare room from top to bottom.  Living room so that I can  shove the sofas around and not be embarrassed by the dust bunnies beneath them, bathroom so that I can finally get around to waxing the floor again, stairs for the same reason and finally the spare room ready for visitors.

Exhausted now - time for coffee and a muffin.  Yesterday's recipe was a complete success as was the silicon mould.

Pumpkin Muffins

With the snow still falling and the broken freezer still half full, time for yet more cooking and baking.

Today : Pumpkin Muffins

120g butter at room temperature

150g brown sugar

4 tablespoons molasses or golden syrup

1 beaten egg at room temperature

225g cooked pumpkin puree

225g white flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of grated nutmeg (optional)

50g raisins or currants

Preheat oven to 200°C - this mix will make approximately 14 muffins so prepare the requisite number of paper cases.

• Cream the butter and sugar together untilo soft, add the sugar and the molasses/syrup and beat with an electric whisk until light and fluffy.
• Add the egg and the pumpkin, stir well until blended.
• Sift over the flour, salt, bicarb, cinnamon and nutmeg, fold just enough to blend together, do not overmix.
• Fold in the dried fruits.
• Spoon the mixture into the cases, filling them 3/4 full.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the tops spring back when touched lightly.

I am using my silicone mould for the first time. This was given to me by a friend who had tried it and was not impressed, I had obviously then shoved it into the back of the cupboard and now it is going up against paper cups in direct competition.

With the left overs of pumpkin puree and last night's courgette and tomato spicy meatball sauce, I am combining to make a Thai red curry soup for Brendan tomorrow for his breakfast.  Yes - breakfast, as he is going to be up at 4am to drive the snow plough for the first time around the commune, so by the time he gets home he thinks he is going to want something more substantial than a cup of coffee and a slice of cake like normal.