Friday 31 January 2014

Giant Granny Square Bag

Thursday I spotted a very unusual colour combination, which I could not wait to try.


giant granny square bag

As soon as I got home I started crocheting a Giant Granny Square (well it would end up that way!).   As it grew, so did the idea of a big floppy Giant Granny Square Bag.

I was all but obsessed with these new lovely colours and the idea of the big floppy bag! 
  
giant granny square bag

I just kept on crocheting - 25 rows and it was a rather large square (oops I had better stop - I want to make a bag not a sack!)


giant granny square bag

As usual there are a hundred versions of the same thing on the internet!     After a bit of research I decided I liked this JAPANESE Version!

I did not really follow the pattern (only sort of) - I am lazy that way!!

A FEW TWEAKS I MADE:

Single Strand of DK
Used Jan Eaton's Squared Target pattern as the basis for my square, except I just kept going in DC
Only did 25 rows

Gathered the sides by doing sc into every second dc


giant granny square bag

At this point I had one of those "oh-no-this-is-never-going-to-work" moments - one seriously misshapen piece of fabric.

Started decreasing the top (over a few rows so that it did not pucker too much) - and that was when it actually started looking like a bag,   

There are no less than three bags in my WIP's basket - they are almost finished, even the ends are worked in - but I still have to do the straps (UGH!!   hate that even more than working in ends!).   This bag was about to become number four when I had a brainwave.      

Youngest had thrown out a faux leather handbag I had passed on to her, and which was now looking decidedly worse for wear.   After a bit of "surgery" performed with a craft knife I managed to remove parts of the straps and four buckles

I had to improvise a bit - made four tabs for the buckles in sc and sewed them onto the bag (very untidily *embarrassed*)


giant granny square bag

 Buckled the straps in and secured them with tassles


giant granny square bag

 Added a big flower to cover up the "securings" and VOILA!!


giant granny square bag
Photo taken indoors

and VOILA!!


giant granny square bag
Photo taken outdoors

I love this bag!     I have two odd balls of variegated cotton blend in my stash -  am so making another one!



17 comments:

  1. This is really cute! You are invited to share this with Show Your Stuff:
    http://www.treasuresmadefromyarn.com/2014/01/show-your-stuff_30.html

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  2. I love this! It turned out great! Really like the flowers on the handle area.

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  3. Thank you Kimberlee - It is so much fun to make!

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  4. Clever idea with the handles and very pretty using flowers to cover up the workings.

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  5. What a wonderful bit of surgery, the bag looks stunning it is amazing you must be so pleased.Beautiful

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  6. I do love this bag! And it is actually such a comfy bag to use!

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  7. REALLY cute! Visiting from Annemarie's blog!

    Sheila

    http://sheilazachariae.blogspot.com/2014/02/knit-socks-on-straight-needles-and.html

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  8. Just so lovely! I really need to get busy and make one! Visiting from annemarie's blog.
    Sheila
    http://sheilazachariae.blogspot.com/2014/02/cath-kidstongreengate-inspired-bakeware.html

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  9. Υπέροχη τσάντα ,την έφτιαξες μοναδική σε χρώματα και σχήμα.Καλημέρα όλη μέρα γλυκιά μου.

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  10. I LOVE your bag! I need a new one, since mine is in constant use, and was crotcheted by me more than two years ago. I used Premier cotton for it.

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    Replies
    1. I love the Premier cotton Dianne - it is so easy to crochet with and it is very hardwearing too!

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  11. I battled with the lining. I think it would work better to stitch yhe lining to the square before starting the decreases. I also like a BIG bag, and next time would add more rows.

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  12. My bag is almost like this, only the colors are different. Well, my almost done bag. I made the square, lined it with cotton and a zipper pocket, then did the decreasing. I didn't want round handles, so I bought some similar to yours and didn't know how to attach them. Thank you for the inspiration! Now I can get this bag done, and go on to make another with crocheted shoulder straps.

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  13. Love this bag! My question: is the yarn you use equivalent to US light weight (#3), or Medium weight #4? Thank you!

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