Larger Than Life CAL

I’ll have seperate, larger pics posted on my blog later this morning.  I made several mods to the pattern when it comes to lining.  I added a zipper and zipper placket with end opening for long needles,  needle pocket with elastic, a large side pocket for magazines, patterns, & books, another large side pocket divided up with slots for double points, crochet hooks and other knitting accessories.  I used 2 different fabrics for the inner and outer linings with a layer of heavy interfacing between them.

The handles are braided drapery tie-backs like several other people have used.  The drawstring is lengths of the contrast colors used in the squares twisted into a tight cord and knotted on the ends.  The border the cord is threaded through is simply one round of sc, then 1 round of 2dc cluster, ch 1, 2 dc cluster, ch 1.  I finished it with one more round of sc and then my favorite edging stitch, which is ch 1, sl st, ch 1, sl st, repeating to the end of the round.  This gives it a little bit of a zigzag effect similar to rickrack.  I also used this stitch for all the seaming I did on the bag except for the seams joining the base to the side gussets.

The modification to the side  gussets went something like this:  starting at the top of the side panel I crocheted *20 sc, 15 hdc, & 15 dc.  Turn & ch 3.  Work dc’s into dc’s, hdc’s into hdc’s and sc’s into sc’s.  Turn & ch 1.  Sc in every stitch, turn & ch 1.  Sc in every stitch, turn & ch 1.  Then repeat this sequence till the gusset is the width you want.  ALSO:  on the sc sections of the row, I alternated crocheting into the front loop only with crocheting into the back loop only to get the texture I wanted.

The modification for the base of the bag is simple; just rows of sc alternating between the main bag color and the contrast colors.  I did find though that if you were using the contrast colors when the wrong side was facing you, then they would show up more prominently than the main color when it’s all seamed up.

Here she is, in all her glory.

I enjoyed making this bag so much there will be another in my future someday I’m sure.

Thanks for letting me crochet-along with all of you and Thank You! to Cecily for such a great pattern and inspiration!

Rebecca

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website