Handmade Wardrobe

Do you love designing crochet accessories for your wardrobe? I do!! I started designing because my daughter would keep nagging me to create my own piece of crochet! Be it home decor or just squares! The very first design was a shawl – hearts galore, where I just let the yarn and hook tell me what to do. It was surreal to see how the design transformed itself from my head to the accessory! That was it! I found a new way to channel my creativity and there was no looking back! This was 9 years ago and I am glad I am able to continue the process of designing and enjoying it to the hilt!

I have started participating in blog hops , joining hands with other crochet designers in bringing newer patterns to my patrons. Usually I put up quick and easy projects that can be completed in a day or at the most 2 or 3 evenings! Have you seen these patterns yet? Do have a look around my blog and drop me a line to let me know what you think:)

This next blog hop is hosted by Susanna Biaye and the theme is Handmade wardrobe- Crocheted garments and accessories! This blog hop start October 10th 2023 1pm GST and goes on until October 19th 2023 ! Each day features one designer and somedays even 2!

There are 9 Crochet Designers participating to bring you 13 amazing crochet patterns! Refer to the image below to know how the blog hop will work!

Isn’t this amazing???? Wait there’s more! If you do not want to wait for the coupon code everyday, you can get the whole bundle for 0.70 cents per pattern? Get the bundle right Here!

The pattern that I am bringing to the table is a lovely tote bag with canvas strips for handle!

A little bit of history about the pattern is needed here. Recently , we lost a dear dear friend who left us shell shocked! Suma , an avid crafter, indie yarn store owner and a loving human being left us inconsolable . She was the most gentle , loving and caring person I have encountered! She always had a smile on her face, had the time to volunteer to read at a school for blind children and was always there to share a laugh, a joke, a quiet moment! It has been a week but the truth is yet to sink in.

This tote bag is designed in her memory! I had casually mentioned to her that I would love to learn how to sew a tote. Her willingness to drop everything and teach me to sew a bag made me realize how much she valued our friendship! It was quite unfortunate that I couldn’t make it to her place to learn from her then ! She was also the perfect role model for my daughter! From giving tips on how to pose for a hat to giving her the first commissioned work from her store as soon as she completed her Fashion Design Course, Suma was just too good! We lost touch for a few months when she moved to a different state but we would always wish each other for our birthdays and get chatting from where we left off! Sadly this birthday of mine instead of her wishes , I heard the news of her demise.:( I miss you a lot Suma! I can’t come to terms with what happened yet we carry on , hoping to meet you on the other side. I am sure you will be there to greet me with that beautiful smile of yours! Praying for your family to stay strong during these trying times is the only thing I can do!

If you have read so far , I thank you for listening to me !

I have named the tote, Layers of Happiness because that’s what Suma had to share with everyone in her lifetime! Layers of Happiness!!!!

You can find the downloadable link to the pattern on Ravelry and Payhip after the instructions! Do remember to come back here on October 12th 2023 to download your PDF at a discounted price!

Layers of Happiness Tote bag

Materials:

Yarn : Bulky yarn.

Prototype uses :-

48 gms (34 mts / 37 yds) CA

48 gms (34 mts / 37 yds) CB

48 gms (34 mts / 37 yds) CC

48 gms (34 mts / 37 yds) CD

100 gms 71 mts/ 77 yds MC of Vardhman Cotton Plus.

Alternate yarns : Cotto-nit by Ganga Acrowools, Bulky Yarn by Hobby Store, Lion Brand Woolease thick and quick , Lion Brand Re-spun thick and quick, Lion Brand Hometown Yarn, Big Twist Static from Joann’s

Hook : 5.5 mm

Additional materials

Pair of Scissors

Yarn needle

2 pieces canvas straps each measuring 28” in length.

Gauge: 12sc by 12 rows = 4”

Finished size: Bag Body measures 11” tall 11” wide (not including the bag straps). Bag base measures 11” long by 3” wide.

Stitches and Abbreviations:

Beg – beginning

YO – yarn over

Ch – chain

Sp – space

St – stitch

Sk – skip

Sl st – slip stitch

SC – single crochet

SCFLO – single crochet front loop only

EHdc – Extended half double crochet worked as follows : yo, insert hook in the skipped stitch of the row indicated, yo, pull up a tall loop, yo, pull through one loop, yo , pull through 3 loops.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Notes:

The tote size can be customised by adding or subtracting chains at the start of the pattern. Make sure to have an even number of chains.

Stitch count is given at the end of each round.

Pattern Instructions

Base

Round 1: Using MC, ch 26, 2 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, 1 sc in each of the next 23 chains, 3sc in the next chain, continue working on the other side of the starting chain, 1 sc in each chain, 1 sc in the same chain as the beg sc. Join with sl st to the first sc – 52 sc.

Round 2: Ch1 (does not count as st), 2sc in the first st, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 23 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 3 sts, 1 sc in each of the next 23 sts, 2 sc in the last st. Join with sl st to the first sc – 58 sc.

Round 3: Ch1 (does not count as st)sc in the first sc, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in each of the next 23 sts, (2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st) 3 times, 1 sc in each of the next 23 sts, 1 sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st. Join with sl st to the front loop of the first sc – 64 sc.

Round 4: Ch1 (does not count as st), 1 scflo in the first st, 1 scflo in each st around. Join with sl st to the first sc – 64 scflo.

Body

Round 5: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk next st, *sc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 6: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk ch1 sp, *sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, repeat from * around. Using CA, join with sl st to the first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 7: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, Ehdc in the skipped st from round 5, *sc in the next st, Ehdc in the next skipped st from round 5, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the first sc. Sl st to the next ehdc – 32 sc, 32 ehdc.

Note: In round 8 , the sc will now be worked on all the Ehdc of the previous round.

Round 8: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk next st, *sc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 9: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk ch1 sp, *sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, repeat from * around. Using CB, join with sl st to the first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

The short video above shows where to work the Ehdc stitch!

Round 10: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, Ehdc in the skipped st from 3 rounds below, *sc in the next st, Ehdc in the next skipped st three rounds below, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the first sc. Sl st to the next ehdc – 32 sc, 32 ehdc.

Note: In round 11 , the sc will now be worked on all the Ehdc of the previous round.

Round 11: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk next st, *sc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 12: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk ch1 sp, *sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, repeat from * around. Using CC, join with sl st to the first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 13: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, Ehdc in the skipped st from 3 rounds below, *sc in the next st, Ehdc in the next skipped st three rounds below , repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the first sc. Sl st to the next ehdc – 32 sc, 32 ehdc.

Note: In round 14 , the sc will now be worked on all the Ehdc of the previous round.

Round 14: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk next st, *sc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 15: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk ch1 sp, *sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, repeat from * around. Using CD, join with sl st to the first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 16: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, Ehdc in the skipped st from 3 rounds below, *sc in the next st, Ehdc in the next skipped st three rounds below repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the first sc. Sl st to the next ehdc – 32 sc, 32 ehdc.

Note: In round 17 , the sc will now be worked on all the Ehdc of the previous round.

Round 17: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk next st, *sc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 18: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk ch1 sp, *sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, repeat from * around. Using CC, join with sl st to the first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 19: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, Ehdc in the skipped st from 3 rounds below, *sc in the next st, Ehdc in the next skipped st three rounds below , repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the first sc. Sl st to the next ehdc – 32 sc, 32 ehdc.

Note: In round 20 , the sc will now be worked on all the Ehdc of the previous round.

Round 20: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk next st, *sc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 21: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk ch1 sp, *sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, repeat from * around. Using CB, join with sl st to the first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 22: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, Ehdc in the skipped st from 3 rounds below, *sc in the next st, Ehdc in the next skipped st from three rounds below, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the first sc. Sl st to the next ehdc – 32 sc, 32 ehdc.

Note: In round 23 , the sc will now be worked on all the Ehdc of the previous round.

Round 23: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk next st, *sc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 24: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk ch1 sp, *sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, repeat from * around. Using CA, join with sl st to the first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 25: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, Ehdc in the skipped st from 3 rounds below, *sc in the next st, Ehdc in the next skipped st three rounds below repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the first sc. Sl st to the next ehdc – 32 sc, 32 ehdc.

Note: In round 26 , the sc will now be worked on all the Ehdc of the previous round.

Round 26: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk next st, *sc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 27: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk ch1 sp, *sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, repeat from * around. Using MC, join with sl st to the first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 28: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, Ehdc in the skipped st from 3 rounds below, *sc in the next st, Ehdc in the next skipped st three rounds below, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the first sc. Sl st to the next ehdc – 32 sc, 32 ehdc.

Note: In round 29 , the sc will now be worked on all the Ehdc of the previous round.

Round 29: Ch1 ( does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk next st, *sc in next st, ch1, sk 1 st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 30: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in same st, ch1, sk ch1 sp, *sc in next sc, ch1, sk next ch1 sp, repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the first sc – 32 sc, 32 ch1 sp.

Round 31: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in each st and ch1 sp around. Join with sl st to the first sc – 64 sc.

Rounds 32 and 33: Ch1 (does not count as st), sc in each st around. Join with sl st to the first sc – 64 sc.

Fasten Off. Weave in the ends.

Finishing

Attach the canvas bag straps by inserting one end through the fifth ch1 sp from the beg of round 29. Bring it up to the edge of the tote. Seam this end of the strap to the outer strap. Making sure that the strap is not twisted, insert the other end of the strap in the tenth ch1 sp of round 29. Bring it up the edge of the tote. Seam this end to the strap.

Refer to the picture.

Repeat on the other side and take your tote out to meet everyone!

On the day of the pattern feature, head over to Susanna’s blog to get the coupon code , come back here and click the button below . This will take you to my Ravelry Store (this link takes you to the whole store, click on the button below to get straight to the pattern) where you can apply the coupon and get the download for 50% off. But hurry as this offer is valid only for 24 hrs!!!!