Monday 12 October 2015

LITTLE BERRIES POTLI BAG

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog , photo of the berry n silver colored potli / swag bag
LITTLE BERRIES POTLI BAG

A great stash buster.. and as I have a little bit of several yarns, so I thought this was the ideal pattern for it.  That said, one could also use a combination specially bought for this lovely potli bag.  

So what’s a Potli ? (पोटली {poTali} = SWAG is the Hindi equivalent for Swag bag. (Just in case you’ve missed my earlier potli bag blogs, and are wondering…)

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Materials used : Polyester purse yarn in cones  , with a 3.5 mm crochet hook ; fabric glue to seal ends stitch markers ; embroidery needle.

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros or unbranded knitting cotton as well
General yarn info : This polyester yarn is available only in India.
The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.
International yarns :  Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Stitches used :
Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Magic circle : To refresh your skill, please view this easy video https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);
[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.  One dc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Double crochet 4-tog as a decrease stitch : dc 4-tog :   Here is an easy video tutorial for working a dc 4-tog over 4 sts at https://youtu.be/WjSNi7ithIU

Double crochet 4-tog as a decorative stitch : dc 4-tog :   Here is an easy video tutorial for working a dc 4-tog all in the same stitch as a decorative stitch at https://youtu.be/_B0-ye0cClU

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps.  One sc made.  Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Half Double Crochet : Hdc :  yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;
yo, draw through all 3 lps.  One hdc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8


Abbreviations used :  (Using U.S terminology)
lp(s) : Loop(s)                   sc : Single crochet
dc : Double crochet          sp : Space                                 
sl-st : Slip stitch                ch : Chain
st(s) : Stitch(es)                hk : Hook
yo : Yarn Over                                 
dc 4-tog : Double crochet 4-together
MC : Main Colour                           
CC : Contrast Colour 


Instructions 
Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.
Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.
In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement.  This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project. 

We will start our little potli bag from the base and work up to the top – so no drama here.. let’s just start with this cute lil’ bag.

Inspired by this free chart I found on the internet, here are my notes as I make this lovely design.
Start with a magic circle and 8 hdc in that circle.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc. 
Pull lightly to close the magic circle.

Round 1 : 2 hdc in the 1st sc and in each sc all around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st sc.

Round 2 : 2 hdc in the 1st hdc ; 
*hdc in the next hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc*. 
Rep *to* till end ; hdc in the last hdc.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc.

Round 3 : 2 hdc in the 1st hdc ; 
*hdc in the next 2 hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc*. 
Rep *to* till end ; hdc in the last 2 hdc.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc.

Round 4 :  2 hdc in the 1st hdc ; 
*hdc in the next 3 hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc*. 
Rep *to* till end ; hdc in the last 3 hdc.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc.

Rep Rounds 4 , increasing 8 sts each round, till you have a base of the size you want for your bag.

Next round : In this last round for the base, sc in back loops only (blo), so that we get an edge that will not just look good, but also hold the bag base down flat.

Single crochet back loop only (sc-blo) : Here is an easy video tutorial


Main body pattern for sides / top of potli bag

For the top / sides of our bag, we will continue without any increase. 
Our pattern repeat is 8.

For convenience, I am going to re-number our rounds starting once again from 1. 
Please do not confuse these rounds with the numbers above.  For all instructions that follow here, they are meant for this top/side section of your bag only.

I’ve decided to use two colours.  
So there is a Main Colour (MC), and Contrast Colour (CC).

How to change colors seamlessly : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to change from the Main color to the Contrast or second color of yarn seamlessly.  View it at https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno

How to carry your yarn when using two colors : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to carry your yarn along when working with two colours. 


Round 1 : (Using MC) : dc 4-tog in the 1st st ; sc in the next 3 sts ; 
*ch 3, sk next 2 sts , dc 4-tog in the next st ; ch 3, sk next 2 sts, sc in the next 3 st* ; 
rep *to* all around and join to the 1st st.

Round 2 : (Using MC) : sc on the 1st dc 4-tog ; 
*ch 7, sk next 3 sc , sc on top of the next dc 4-tog* ; 
rep *to* all around and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

In the following row, we will do a dc that goes over and past the ch-7 of Round 2, and into the sc’s of Round 1. So a spike stitch of sorts.
For this pattern, I’d suggest that rather than work your sc around the ch-7 as we usually do, we take the trouble of working into each st of that ch-7 space.

Round 3 : (Using CC) : sc on the 1st sc ; 
*(2 sc in the ch-7 sp ; 
3 dc that goes over the ch-7 and into the sc’s on the round below ; 
2 sc in the same ch-7 sp) ; sc in the next sc * ; 
rep *to* all around and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 4 : (Using CC) : sc in the 1st sc and each sc till end.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

And this completes our one pattern repeat.  I just love it.. don’t you. Little berries peeping out of the silvery base.. oh, how lovely will this look in a red and green combo 

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog ; photo showing stitch detail

Rep Rounds 1 – 4 till you have a bag of the height / length that you want, ending with a Round 4

Finishing :
So we only have to line our bag, and make our I-cord to make.  You will then pass your I-cord in through the “V” openings created on the border / last row, just by our own pattern. 

a)   How to line the bag : View the link below to see how to easily line your handbag. http://pattern-paradise.com/2014/06/12/tutorial-how-to-line-a-crocheted-bag/

b)   Easiest I-cord : Check out this video for a really easy I-cord at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_AQ9m0QeZI


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