The thing is, his blanket is a rainbow plus black, so it's 7 colors, and it's taking up a LOT of room in my yarn bag. I don't mind, but it left me needing a place for my hooks, stitch markers, and scissors. So I came up with a quick weekend hook to solve the problem.
Inspired by the LL Bean Boat and Tote bag, I made a not a bag not a pocket for my yarn bag. It hangs off the handles of my big bag, so that my notions and hooks can go outside rather than inside the main bag with my yarn. The bonus is the hooks and markers and scissors don't sink and get tangled on the skeins. Yes, I work out of skeins as long as possible.
Seeing as this one is my own design, dear readers, I am going to give you a pattern so you can try it for yourself. For this pocket bag, I used worsted weight yarn, the new Mainstays $2 yarn from Walmart. I thought I would give it a go on something that was just for me. Honestly, I was impressed, but that's a whole different post there. Mainstays, like other worsted, is your standard 4, so it takes to an I hook beautifully. It's a little thinner, so if you want a tighter bag you may need an H hook.
A note about this pattern. It's not flat, the base is an oval worked on both sides of a starting chain. This makes it roomy enough to hold your little hooky odds and ends. This works out best in 2 colors. I used a nice nautical blue, and a pale oatmeal gray that looks like dark canvas, to keep with the true Boat and Tote style.
Onward to a pattern!
Inspired Ocean Bag
Yarn is worsted weight (4) Mainstays, Red Heart Super Saver, I Love This Yarn or similar. Hook is standard Boye I hook.
Gauge, I am not sure and will have to fill in later, my ruler is on the lam.
Stitches used, and abbreviations
sl - slip
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
hdc - half double crochet
blhdc- back loop half double
In this pattern all Chain 2s count as the first HDC of the next row.
Begin by chaining 32
Row 1 - In second chain from hook, hdc. HDC the full length of the chain, 30 stitches. HDC 3 more into the ending chain, 2 for the oval end and 1 to start the next side. Continue half doubling along the back side of the starting chain, 29 more chains. HDC 2 additional stitches into the final stitch, slipping into the 1st stitch to join, completing the oval base. Chain 2.
Row 2 through 5 - In each stitch, HDC one, working all the way around the oval. Total stitches 64, including the chain 2. Slip into the first stitch and chain 2 to step up.
Row 6 - Changing color to a second color, in the back loop only, blhdc one in each stitch, 64 total including the chain 2.
Row 7 through 14 - Repeating row 2 HDC in each stitch around, 64 total with the chain 2.
Row 15 - Repeat row 14, but do NOT chain 2 at the end.
Row 16 - Slip into each stitch all the way around the bag, 64 total, finish off.
This is what it looks like before the straps are added.
Straps (make 2)
Chain 75, leaving a LONG tail. It will be used to sew the strap down to the bag.
Row 1 and 2 - SC in every stitch, 75 stitches in each row. Finish off, leaving another long end.
Joining instructions.
To join the straps to the bag, first, make sure they are laying flat. Keeping the last row on top, bend the strap into a downward arch. Counting 9 stitches in from one side, sew the strap to the bag starting at the color change, making sure the strap pushes against the slight ridge created by the back loop only. Make sure to stitch it down well. I went all the way up and all the way back each strap, as if I were sewing on cotton fabric rather than yarn.
Do this again, counting in 9 from the opposite edge to ensure even placement of the straps. Repeat with the second strap, securing it to the back side. And that's all she wrote!
Please note, if you see any errors in this pattern, please leave a comment and I'll do my best to correct it.
Anyway, I have a long way to go and not a lot of time, so back to the blanket I go.
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