Blue Crochet Bag

[kerravonsen]

At last, I have FINISHED the blue crochet bag that I've been working on for the last six months.

Pattern? What pattern? I don't like using them, I'd rather make it up as I go along. Which in this case meant a fair bit of undoing and redoing, but it did settle down eventually. I did have fun experimenting with shell stitch and a sort of zig-zaggy stitch following that. Then the stitch is plain double-crochet with the occasional row of single crochet for variety. The bottom of the bag is a spiral, crocheted over dark blue rope. If you look really closely, you can see the rope, but I don't think it shows in the photos.

Bag, showing spiral bottom:
Bag, with drawstring closed:

With this bag, I was using this lovely dark blue polyester string which I found in one of those $2-store kind of shops, and I grabbed all I could, and went back and grabbed more later when they had more, because it's the only place I've seen that string in. The string is actually darker than it appears in the photos, because the flash made it shiny.

I made the bag a shoulder-bag with a draw-string closure. It isn't lined. I tried to make it plenty roomy, so that it would hopefully be more useful than the tiny bags that people usually get given. (Yes, this destined for a Christmas present for a particular person). I also experimented a bit with some decorative beading near the top; just a few beads, not very many.

Bag, detail of drawstring, strap, and beading:

(edited to point to different offline album)

Comments

[kalypso]

That's nice. Someone should have a good Christmas.

[kerravonsen]

I hope so!

[watervole]

I love the spiral on the bottom.

[kerravonsen]

Me too. (grin)

[evilawyer]

Yay! (And right there with ya on the "Patterns? We don't need no stinking patterns!")

Oh, and --- The bag is lovely.

Here from crochet, by the way.

[kerravonsen]

And right there with ya on the "Patterns? We don't need no stinking patterns!"
Patterns make it into Work, and I want my crochet to be Play.

Oh, and --- The bag is lovely.
Thank you!

Here from [community profile] crochet, by the way.
It wasn't until I got here that I realized that you were supposed to be a stranger. But your handle is familiar... because I have read fic by you. And now I find you like crochet!

[evilawyer]

...you like crochet

Yes, I do! Knitting, too, but there are things that work so much better in crochet than in knitting.

[kerravonsen]

I haven't (yet) taught myself to knit... and I'm not in a big hurry to, because I'm finding crochet is enough fun. 8-)

[evilawyer]

It's also less of a strain on my hands. Both crochet and knitting help keep my joints limber, but there are days when my left thumb knuckles just ache too much to hold the knitting needles.

[capri0mni]

\o/ Hooray for completed projects! May it serve you well for a long time, as a good bag should...

[kerravonsen]

I hope it serves the recipient well, at least.

[miamadwyn.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!

[kerravonsen]

Thank you!

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

That is pretty, but a size reference would help. I take it the prospective recipient isn't on your Friends list?

[kerravonsen]

Ah, right. (goes off and measures)
The width of the top of the bag is 13 1/2 inches. The height of the bag is about 16 inches. Does that give you a better idea?

No, the recipient isn't on LJ or DW.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

So a shopping bag then?

[kerravonsen]

That sort of size, yes.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

That's great art, beautiful and practical...

[kerravonsen]

8-)

[lynnylou.livejournal.com]

I just love it! Would be willing to make another one? I would love to buy one from you. Just an idea to think over!

[kerravonsen]

Just consider this: it took me six months to make that bag. How many hours do you think that is? Let's be conservative and say that I only worked on it for an average of four hours a week, for 26 weeks. That's 104 hours of work. Suppose you paid me less than the minimum wage, that you paid me $10 an hour for that. That's $1040. I really don't think you would be willing to pay that, would you? And yet that is what my labour is worth.

Just an idea to think over.

So, no, I am not willing to make another one. I do this for love, not money. I do it for fun, not labour.

[lynnylou.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to to insult you. I just really liked the bag and thought it was unique. Sorry

[dreamflower]

That's awesome!

I'm trying to visualize how you crocheted over the rope to make the bottom--and in my head am coming up with something similar to a rag rug technique, working over two coils at a time? Is that it? It's certainly a great way to reinforce the bottom without having to resort to inserting something! Very clever!

It's also very beautiful!

Do you keep notes on how you do things when you make them up? (I generally do when experimenting with crocheted or knitted items). That way if someone likes something, I can give them a pattern to make it themselves.

[kerravonsen]

and in my head am coming up with something similar to a rag rug technique, working over two coils at a time? Is that it?

Since I don't know rag-rug technique, I can't say if that's it.
I just did single-crochet over the rope, in a spiral.

It's also very beautiful!

Thank you!

Do you keep notes on how you do things when you make them up?

No, I'm afraid I don't make notes; that would be extra work.