Free Crochet pattern: Star Bag

Hello my lovely readers. How have you all been? After quite sometime, I am here to share an awesome and chic crochet bag pattern shared by one of our Guest Post Contributors, Bageshri. The bag is so pretty and perfect for those shimmer parties and functions. Let's see what the talented artisan has created and the detailed procedure of how to make this yourself. 

Bageshri writes - Hello everyone! Today I am going to share the pattern for a crocheted party/evening bag. It is a very simple and easy pattern. All you have to do is to make two identical doilies and attach them together and voila! Your bag is ready. I have used silver and gold variegated purse thread.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

1.      Two cones of variegated (gold and silver) purse thread

2.      3mm crochet hook

3.      One pair of handles

4.      Half a meter of matching lining cloth (I have used shimmer lining)

5.      Quarter meter of iron-on canvas

6.      One pair of zippers

7.      A pair of scissors

8.      Tapestry needle to weave in ends

9.      Needle and thread to sew the handles

ABBREVIATIONS:

• Ch – Chain
• Ss – Slip stitch
• Dc – Double crochet
• Sc – Single crochet
• Hdc – Half double crochet

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Beginning:

• Chain 6, ss with the first chain to form a ring.
• Round 1 – ch 3, 13 dc in the circle. Join in the 3^rd chain of the ch 3 (14 dc).
• Round 2 – ch 3, 1 dc in the same stitch. 2 dc around in each stitch till the end. Ss with the first ch 3 (28 dc).
• Round 3 – ch 3, 1 dc in the same stitch. 1 dc in the next stitch. 2 dc in the next stitch.
• Continue (1 dc, 2 dc) till the end of the round (42 dc). Ss in the first ch 3. 

• Round 4 – (ch 5, skip two stitches, single crochet in the 3^rd stitch). Continue () till the end of the row (20 loops).
• Round 5 – ss into the next loop. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the first loop. Skip the second loop. Jump to the third loop and do 3 dc, ch 2 and 3 dc. Continue till the end of the row. You should have 10 sets of 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. Ss in the ch 3.
• Round 6 – ss across two stitches to reach the first ch 2 space. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, and ch 1. Jump to the next ch 2 space and do 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc and ch 1. Continue till the end of the row. Ss in the ch 3.
• Round 7 – ss across two stitches. Ch 3 in the same stitch as the last ss. 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the ch 2 space. 1 dc in the next stitch. Ch 2 and skip five stitches to reach the next cluster and do 1 dc in the sixth stitch followed by the 3dc, ch 2, 3 dc sequence. Ss in the ch 3.
• Round 8 – ss across one stitch, ch 3 in the same stitch. 1 dc in the next stitch. 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the ch 2 space. 1 dc in the next stitch and again 1 dc in the next stitch. Ch 2, skip 6 stitches and repeat 1 dc, 1dc, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. Continue all through till the end and ss in the ch 3.
• Round 9 – ss across 1 stitch, ch 3 in the same stitch. 1 dc in the next stitch. 1 dc in the next stitch. 3 dc, ch2, 3 dc in the ch 2 space. 1 dc in the next stitch and again 1 dc in the next stitch and again 1 dc in the next stitch. Ch 2, skip 6 stitches and repeat 1 dc, 1dc, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. Continue all through till the end and ss in the ch 3.
• Round 10 – 14 – these are exactly the same as round 8 and round 9. The 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc sequence will be a regular feature across every cluster of every row. Every pointed cluster will increase by 2 dc (one on each side of the ch 2 space) in every row.

• The 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc sequence will a regular feature across every cluster of every row.

• Every pointed cluster will increase by 2 dc (one on each side of the ch 2 space in every row).

2.   Joining: Make two identical doilies and line them. The lining should enclose the iron-on canvas on both the sides. This means you have four sides to line in total. At this point you can add a pocket to one of the sides. Once you sew on the lining, add a zipper and join and sew together 6 points of the 10 pointed star and leave the rest of 4 points open for the opening of the bag. 

3.   Finishing: Do one round of single crochet across both the sides. It is slightly difficult to pick up stitches after joining, you could do it any of the one loops if you cannot get through both the loops for the single crochet. Join together both the sides with single crochet to give a neat look. 

4. Attaching handles:

• To make tiny crochet loops for the handles: Chain 16, 2 hdc in the 3^rd chain from the hook. Continue hdc in every stitch till you reach the last but one chain. In the last chain, do 6 hdc and continue over the other side doing 1 hdc in every chain till you reach the first chain. In the first chain do 3 hdc and ss and join to the ch 2. 

• Stitching the loops to the bag: Insert the loops into the metal triangular spaces provided at the end of the handles and sew them to the bag with a needle and matching thread.

About the author

Bageshri, a 46 year old from Hyderabad, is a psychologist by profession and has taken a sabbatical for two years and hence plunged full time into crochet. She shares her crochet projects in her Facebook page 'Crochet Barn Handmade'.

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Isn't this an absolutely gorgeous looking evening/party bag ? Do let us know in the comments below if you want to see more of Bageshri's beautiful creations and patterns.