Four separate pieces come together to make this a sturdy little purse. The inner circle adds a feature of its own, with colour peeping through the outer mandala. The flowers are made as you go and not sewn on later.
Instructions are also included in the pattern to make your own polymer clay beads and button. This is quite easy. I don't use any fancy tools to make these as I am always one to improvise and use what you have on hand. Items such as a crochet hook and a lipstick lid are used to get the holes and shapes.
This purse works up quickly and I know several of my testers had family members claiming their finished purses the minute they were finished. Definately a popular item for teenagers.
My testers made this purse in a variety of yarns and colours, each one unique to them. The results were stunning!
A few of my testers bags. 1. By Christy Schuler. In navy and cream and looking fabulous with a two-tone fringe. 2. By Jane Wynne. I love this in the cream with just a hint of blue. 3. By Sharon C. Coys Elderton. I joked with Sharon as anyone who knows me, knows I really don't like green, but Sharon won me over with her beautifully neat stitches. She also made her own polymer clay beads and button (instructions for this are in the pattern ).
This is an advanced beginner to intermediate level project. Instructions include how to make your own polymer clay button and beads if you choose to. Materials: 3.5mm/E hook 5mm/H hook for I-cord 3 x balls Lincraft Dk cotton in black. 100m/109yd per ball. 3 x balls Lincraft Dk cotton in Red. 100m/109yd per ball. 7 x Beads 10mm/0.38-inch or larger. 1 x 40mm button 2 x d-rings or bead circles. 2 x Metal necklace caps/tassel ends. Tapestry Needle. Craft Glue (optional). Polymer Clay (optional if making your button and beads). Acrylic Varnish for craft (optional if making your button and beads.
I made the 'Billy Thunder' Tote and was pleased with that (and I got to play with beads, which is always a good thing.)!
Billy Thunder Tote
Next was my Re-mojonation purse/bag and I was super happy with that one.
Re-mojonation bag
Then I moved on to 'Field of Flowers' (which is a mess of flowers on a bag and a fantastic stash buster). I do love flowers! I also got to play with polymer clay with this one. Clay is fun to play with, as long as you remember to keep the oven to a slow temperature. Not a lot of fun if you forget. Toxic fumes are not fun!
Field of Flowers is at present in the hands of my long-suffering testers and will hopefully be listed early next month. I am forcing them to work day and night to get it done, so it should be good!
Field of Flowers Tote
I showed Field of Flowers to one of my non-crocheting friends (Yes, I do have one!). This friend is mad, crazy, obsessed with the colour 'RED'. Red is not a colour that I am totally drawn to. I prefer purples and oranges. Anything on the spectrum of those colours and I'm drawn like a moth to a flame.
If I was asked to get rid of a couple of colours in the world, never to be seen again. I would probably get rid of GREEN first, as I hate green. I told my red obsessed friend the other day that green should only ever be seen on a plant or grass. She did agree!
There I would be acting as colour designer to the world and banishing Red and Green. I can imagine them both sulking and refusing to leave! Begging me to let them stay. But I would be firm in my decision as they headed for the exit door offering excuses as to why they should stay! Although I guess Red Roses would be missed! Maybe I could be generous and make a dispensation for Valentines day!
I could make a proclamation: Here yee, here yee. I hereby declare that there may be Red (and I guess Green too) on Valentines Day! But only on Valentines Day!
The world could do without green for sure. Imagine a world full of Purple and orange trees and plants! Throw in a bit of pink and this is a world I could dance in! That would rock!
We could do without red! Couldn't we? My red obsessed friend would vehemently disagree with me and I do have to admit it would seem rather odd not seeing this person dressed in red and driving her red car.
And I guess it could be an issue, due to the fact that I am a redhead.
Yes, yes, this sounds like a contradiction as I love my hair colour, but red hair is totally different to the actual primary colour red, so don't start there! I guess if I ended up with purple hair it would not be the end of the world. Look at how many nannas rock the purple dyed look!
My father would have hated a world without red in it. Red was his favourite colour and he loved his red truck. But this is my imaginary world and RED has to go!!!
I wonder where my dislike of Green and Red comes from. Red is just such an, in your face colour and doesn't go with that many other colours all that well. And always having people suggest I should wear green, probably didn't help the colour green. 'It will go with your hair' they say. Yeah sure, if you want me to look like a potplant! Yes, I love flowers, but I don't want to look like a potplant! Every time I put on something green I just hated it.
But bags, back to the subject of bags! After showing off my Field of Flowers Tote, I decided (after talking to the red obsessed friend) that I did need to produce one with red flowers in purse size. I added a red lining inside so the red peeps through from the back, adding an extra touch to the design. This little beauty is in the capable hands of my testers!
Poppy Meadow Bag
I have two other bags in the works. One is part done, and the other is just stewing around as an idea in my head (and no, in my head it is not red or green in colour, but a lovely shade of lilacs and blues).
I have a ton of ideas for different crochet bags! And I have the stash to do them all (insert evil laugh here)!!! I will take over the world one crochet bag at a time!
Keep an eye out for my latest two coming soon to a ravelry/etsy/love crochet pattern store near you (well at least a computer click away).
It is always a fabulous feeling when you get to publish a pattern. Months and sometimes more, can go into the making and testing of a design. It becomes a collaboration with the testers making sure it works for everyone (well hopefully, fingers crossed).
I won't go into the story behind the name as you can view that in another of my blog posts (crochet ramblings section).
Now down to business:
This is a functional fun bag. It features beads on both sides.
Beading on both sides. Don't stress it's easy!
The links to the pattern are at the bottom of the page.
It is made from two mandala type pieces worked in the round. The beading is added as you go. If you have never done beading then that is ok. It may look hard but not the way I do it. Pictures are there to help.
The Tote has stiffening in the base and outer edges to help hold the shape.
It is not a lined bag as I have left it more of a market bag style look.
Tension is important with this bag and measurements have been listed with stitch height to ensure success.
There is a wide variety of stitches used: Us terms right/Uk left
Chain Slip Stitch Treble/Dtr- Double Treble Treble 2 together/Double Treble 2 together Treble 3 together/Double Treble 3 together Treble 4 together/Double Treble 4 together Treble 5 together/Double Treble 5 together Back Loop Treble/ Back Loop Double Treble Linked Double Crochet/ Linked treble crochet Back Loop single crochet/ Back loop double crochet Reverse double crochet (also known as Crab Stitch).
Now for the bits I just have to add (although boring).
You are purchasing/downloading a pattern only- Instant download of PDF pattern. You will require a PDF viewer to open pattern.
The pattern is available in Uk terms and USA terms
Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern, You are purchasing/downloading this pattern for personal use only. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern as your own or otherwise. Please do not resell my patterns.
You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale.
Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items.
This pattern has been tested by a large group with varying abilities in crochet.
Please do show me your finished bags and if you can add them to ravelry as projects. I love to see your finished work.
