Princess Crocheted Workbag

To call this Crocheted Workbag a “work bag” does not do this beautiful bag justice. This crocheted purse would not only be presentable as an everyday handbag but equally lovely with evening wear. This pattern presents all crocheters a wonderful gift idea. What lady, young or not so young, wouldn’t be thrilled to receive such a beautiful gift?

Crocheted Workbag (work bag)

Materials required to make this crocheted workbag

Two balls of Princess Pearl Crochet Cotton, Size 5, and one No.8 Steel Crochet Hook.

Explanation of Terms and Abbreviations Used

ch. — Chain; sl. st. — Slip Stitch; st. — Stitch; d. c. — Double Crochet; s. c. — Single Crochet.

Instructions for the Crocheted Workbag

A 9 ch. ring, ch. 5, s. c. in ring, make 3 more of these 5 ch. loops.

2d row — Five ch., 4 s. c. over first 5 ch. loop in preceding row, 5 ch., 4 s. c over next 5 ch. Repeat twice more.

3d row — Five ch., 4 s. c. over 5 ch, loop, 2 s. c. in 2 s. c. of group of 4 s. c., 5 ch., 4 s. c. over 5 ch., 2 s. c. in 2 s. c. of group of 4 s. c. Repeat twice more thus having 4 groups of 6 s. c.

4th row — Five ch., 4 s. c. over 5 ch.loop, 4 s. c. in 4 s. c. of 6 s. c. group. Repeat this 3 times.

Continue for 10 more rows. After making a 5 ch. loop increase the number of s. c. in group by 4 at the beginning, and decrease 2 s. c. at end, thus increasing the group by 2 in each row.

Then make 2 rows straight around with s. c. in s. c. and 5 s. c. over 5 ch. Then 1 row of d. c., 1 d. c. in each s. c. Then 1 row of d. c. with 1 d. c. in each d. c. Finish the bottom with 1 s. c. over 2 strands of the cotton. in each s. c.

For the side of the bag: S. c. in s. c., 2 knot st., s. c. in fourth s. c., skipping 3 s. c., 2 knot st. s. c. in fourth s. c., skipping 3 s. c., so on around 2d row of side. Carry thread up to knot in the middle, make an s. c. on each side of this knot, 2 knot st. s. c. on each side of the middle knot of next mesh. Make 18 rows of knot st. Knot st. is made by drawing 1 st. through one third inch, leaving it on hook, insert hook under thread back of this loop of one third of an inch, throw thread over, draw through as usual, thus having the long st. or loop, and one of the usual length on the hook at same time. Throw thread over and draw through the 2 st. at same time. In drawing this st. through, bring it up one third of an inch, and proceed as for first, then an s. c. in the 4th s. c. of preceding row. The first row of the side of the bag is made in this way. The succeeding rows are made as described above.

For the openings through which to pass the cords: An s. c. on each side of middle knot st., 11 ch, s. c. on each side of next middle knot st., 13 s. c. over each 11 ch., s. c. in middle st: of the 13 s. c., 11 ch, s. c. in middle s. c. of next 13 s. c. Complete the row and cover each 11ch. with 13s. c.

For finishing the top of bag: Two s. c. in middle of 13 s. c., 4 ch., 2 s. c. in middle of next group of 13 s. c. Continue around.

Next row — Four s. c. over 4 ch., 1 s. c. in s. c. in middle of loop for cord, 6 ch.; turn, sl. st. in first s. c.; turn, 7 s. c. over 6 ch., s. c. in s. c. in middle of cord loop, 4 s. c. over 4 ch., 6 ch.; turn, sl. st. in first s. c.; turn, 3 s. c. over 6 ch., 6 ch.; turn, 51.st. in middle s. c. of 7 s. c. over 6 ch. loop; turn, 2 s. c. picot of 4 ch., 2 s. c. picot, 2 s. c. picot, 2 s. c. over 6 ch., 4 s. c., over 6 ch. This finishes the figure of the top of bag. One s. c. in middle s. c. of cord loop, 4 s. c. over 4 ch., 6 ch.; turn, sl. st. in first s. c.; turn, 3 s. c. over 6 ch., 6 ch,; turn, sl. st. in middle s. c. of 7 s. c. over 6 ch.; turn, 2 s. c. picot, 2 s. c. picot, 2 s. c. picot, 2 s. c. over 6 ch., 4 s. c. over next 6 ch.

Balls: Four ch. ring, 8 s. c. in this. Next row, 2 s. c. in each s. c., next s. c. in s. c.; next row, 2 s. c. in each alternate s. c. and s. c. in s. c. between; next 2 rows, s. c. in s. c., next 2 s. c. in 2 s. c., skip 1, 2 s. c. in 2 s. c.; next skip alternate s. c. and s. c. in s. c. between. Then stuff with cotton and draw up the top with sl. st., 22 ch., fasten off. Leave enough thread to fasten end at beginning of ch. for a loop. Attach to cord for drawing up. Cover joining place with a little cap made of 5 rows of s. c., 8 s. c. in each row.

The cords are made by twisting 6 strands of the cotton very tight, then hold the two ends together, the middle being fastened firmly to something or held by another person. Then when loosened the two parts will twist up together, thus making a cord of 12 strands.

For the lining: A circle of cardboard to fit the bottom of the workbag should be covered with a contrasting shade of silk. To this sew a puffed lining for the side, tacking it to the last row of Knot stitch, being careful to leave the cord free, so as not to interfere with drawing up the bag. Run the cord through the opening before joining the ends.

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