The Weekend Bag :: Ta-dah!

I am sat writing this lovely chatty post after spending days and days (and more days) working on the most humungous tutorial you ever did set your eyes on, gosh it really has been a labour of love. In fact, everything about this bag has taken a ridiculously long time to pull together, and I am stunned to tell you that I made the first prototypes of this bag more than two years ago now. Two years!!! It seems that this bag has been stuck in rather a long pipeline, but finally, at long last we are no longer stuck and there are no more blocked pipes! Yippeeeee!!! So without further ado, here is the story of the Weekend Bag..... 

I do have a soft spot for crochet bags, being that my original yarn bag was the very first pattern I wrote and shared here on my blog way back in 2008. A few years ago I made a smaller, chunky version of the original bag (that's it in the above photo, looking rather jolly and useful as it holds my yarn so beautifully). I use these two bags all the time for holding yarn and carrying my crochet projects about in, but I've always wanted to make more of an Everyday sort of a bag that can be used and worn almost like a hooky accessory. The design and shape of this bag has been swishing around inside my Creative Mind for what seems like ForEvEr. I knew this bag would need to start with an oval base, but honestly my brain just couldn't really seem to work out how to make this happen. Eventually I got fed up thinking about it all the time and simply got stuck into attempting to make it. The very first bag I made was way too small. The second bag I made was too long and skinny. But the third bag (beginning it's life in the above photo) came out just right. There might have been a bit of a happy dance here in the Attic!

The Weekend Bag is made from Stylecraft Special Chunky yarn and a 5mm hook to keep the stitches nice and tight. The body of the bag is worked in rounds of UK half trebles (thats hdc stitch in the US), beginning with a flat oval shape to form the base, then moving up in quick easy stripes.....

.....oh such delicious stripyness!! The curvy shape is rather pleasing I have to say :)

The bag flap is worked directly into the top edge of the bag body which is neat as there is actually very little stitching up involved with this design.

The handle is made using long rows of UK double crochet (that's sc stitch in the US) - this makes the strap very tight and sturdy, meaning that even with constant use it won't stretch out too much. I know this as I've been road-testing one of these bags for over a year now and it has held up remarkably well. Especially considering the amount of junk essential everyday items I feel the need to carry around with me.

I managed to source a rather fabulous magnetic fastening for my Weekend Bag - it's quite hard to find ones that you stitch in rather than clip in place, but these ones are really great. The holes are big enough that I could use a darning needle and chunky yarn to stitch them in place which means that the stitches virtually disappear.

I knew I would definitely need to make some sort of floral detail for my bag, I just adore stripes and flowers together. Chunky yarn isn't particularly great for making flowers though, so after a lot of experiments I decided to re-work and simplify my Triple Layer flower to suit the thicker yarn. I think it turned out pretty good.

At one time, Stylecraft Special Chunky yarn existed in a very limited colour palette compared to the DK. Luckily for us, Stylecraft listened to the collective voices of the yarn loving public and has been steadily increasing the number of colours available in both the Aran and Chunky weights of the Special range. In fact, I'm pretty sure there are even more new shades just launching this month, bringing the total up to 36.

I played around endlessly with the colour possibilities for my Weekend Bags, and after choosing quite light, bright Springtime shades for my first bag....

....I decided to try the pattern out with some richer, more Autumnal colours.

Even the deep, dark Burgundy looks fab in these stripes,  which surprised me as it's not a colour I would usually feel comfortable with.

My third colourway is a bit like my beloved Coast Ripple blanket and uses shades of blues and greys which remind me of being by the sea in winter. I named it Seaspray, and it really does make me think about wild, rough seas, pounding waves and salty sea air.

Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I must say I've thoroughly enjoyed  the whole idea of taking one pattern and making it using different colour combinations, what fun for my colour-loving soul!

I used 8 colours in each Weekend Bag, but actually it takes less than 300g (3 balls of yarn) to make one of these bags. It's a great stash-buster if you have odds and ends of chunky yarn left over from other projects.

I named this bag the Weekend Bag as truthfully I can easily make one of these over a weekend, they are speedy little numbers to whip up. Well, it's chunky yarn and a 5mm hook, plus the pattern is pretty simple to grasp I promise you.

I'm so sorry about the utterly rubbish nature of the above photo, very lame of me I know. But I wanted to give you some idea of the size/scale of the bag and how it can be worn across the body. I always prefer bags to be worn/carried this way as I do a lot of walking in my day to day and find that bags with shorter shoulder straps never seem to stay put on my shoulders. However, if you prefer shoulder bags, there is nothing to stop you making the strap shorter and wearing it your own way.

I've decided not to list out the colour stripe order for each bag here - I'm hoping you'll be able to use the images and have the confidence to create your Weekend Bag your way. But I thought it would be helpful if I gave you a list of the colours I used to create each colour palette to give you a starting point....

Heatwave :  Burgundy, Plum, Pomegranate, Copper, Spice, Gold, Teal, Meadow

Seaspray : Graphite, Silver, Aster, Denim, Teal, Aspen, Lavender, Cloud Blue

Springtime : Pomegranate, Fondant, Spice, Lemon, Cream, Aspen, Cloud Blue, Aster

If you buy any of the Weekend Bag yarn packs from my shop at Wool Warehouse, there is a printed pattern included in the pack which does list all the colour information.

Each pack contains ::

♥ 8 x 100g chunky yarn

♥ 1 x sew-in magnetic bag closure

♥ a full colour printed pattern (including colour stripe order).

You will need your own 5mm hook

I've written up a full tutorial for the Weekend Bag, and boy oh boy I really do mean FULL!!!!!!!!

Over 5000 words and 109 photos. Yup, really that many!!! It is a very, very thorough walk through of the whole pattern, as I hope more than anything that it will give newbie crocheters the confidence to give it a go.

 

♥ WEEKEND BAG TUTORIAL ♥

 

Wishing you a very Happy Weekend my lovelies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Comments

[Margaret Murie]

Are you taking ordersfor the wool, for the week end bag to post out to australia

[Christiane Klein]

Hello Lucy, I was asked to put something chrochet in a big present-basket and it should go with the words "aktiv" and "colorfull". So I think your weekend-bag will be the thing I make. But I have so much Stylecraft Special DK in my stash.... I don´t want to order the chunky. Is there any way to use the DK? Maybe doublestranded? Please excuse if my english is bad, because I´m german.

[Linda J Going]

You have the most beautiful crocheted items I have ever seen! You talent is truly a Gift from God!Just looking at your work makes my day! My Mom taught me crochet,knit, & embroider when I was 7 yes.old!I am so glad she did now I mostly just crochet,& you truly an inspiration to me! Thank You for you sharing your beautiful ART!💟

[LISE.]

Dear Lucy, I love the weekend bags, and I am making the heatwave version.I got your yarn pack from Wool Warehouse. (One week from ordering to receiving the yarn in Denmark👍) I don't use a lot of acrylic yarn, but I like this Chunky Speicial by Stylecraft.
Would you ever design a clutch bag/ hand bag? With a zipper closing?
Love from LISE.

[Lynne Gill]

Lucy you've done it again - pulled me out of my doldrums and got me excited about crochet again. I'm about to order a pack… decisions decisions… as though I could probably SELL Stylecraft DK I have no chunky yarn at all.

I need some yarn colour in my life! And, let's face it - who DOESN'T need another bag in their life!

[Ella Byron]

Hi Michelle, you can get the magnetic closures from LittleFreckle.co.uk online store.

[Hazel]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Lynne Armstrong]

Derrrrh me!! I posted this comment on the wrong post....sorry Lucy :( Posting it again here where it should have been to begin with!

Hi Lucy,

I've just made your Jolly Chunky Bag in left-over DK Cosy colours...LOVE it!! I also posted a tutorial on how to make a lining for the bag, in case anyone would like to have a go at that. This is the post on my website.... http://www.craftylittlered.com/home/jolly-chunky-bag-with-lining-tutorial

I'm going to make another Jolly bag in another colourway. This is a brilliant project bag!

I've ordered two of the Weekend Bag kits and can't wait to start on them when they arrive :)

Hugs from Lynne in Aus xx

[Liz]

Lovely! The blues are my favorite.

[Sandy B (Australia)]

G'day Lucy, Thanks for your great tutorials...so detailed! You know exactly the questions to answer and show us the little details that help make our little hooky projects brilliant. I just finished off a granny square woolly blanket with your linen stitch edging and it turned out really sweet. Thanks for being you Lucy! (BTW my 14 yo son wanted to learn to crochet so I taught him and he's making his first simple beanie. He loves it. His sister (who does NOT want to crochet) has asked for fingerless gloves! So that's next. One more hooky person in the world..Yay!) xxxxxx

[Anne]

Cute, cute bag! Love springtime!

[delphine 44]

thank you so muchLucy !

[Robin W.]

Hi Lucy,
WOW!!! These bags are so pretty and useful. I like Heatwave the best but truly they are all just wonderful.
One project to add to my list for sure.

[Angel Jem]

I made my own, ages ago, and they are really useful bags. I love the variety of colours you can get in a bag and I'm glad that Stylecraft have introduced more colours to chunky and Aran!

[Zoe - floral and feather]

The perfect weekend bag as the colours are so happy too! I really love the heatwave combination in particular.
Zoe | floral and feather

[Angela-Southern USA]

It's a lovely bag(s) Lucy! Nothing more satisfying as an idea coming to life. One of my first ever designs was a bag, something about a hooky bag that is just so fun. I agree, a smaller hook to make a tight fabric is best so it will hold up over time. Learned that one the hard way! lol I'm working on mandala hoops for a Niece's nursery(not as big as yours). Now I MUST make some for my craft room!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Winwick Mum]

I love these cheerful chunky bags, they're just the right size to carry around comfortably and they look great in the different colourways! xx

[Carol]

I am making one now. I bought three packs at Yarndale to make one each for my granddaughters for Christmas and then they will be filled with all sorts of little lovely things. Hooking up well and though not made in a weekend should finish the first in a couple of days.

[Brenda Cupryna]

the sea spray one is my favourite but they are all pretty. I am sock knitting and quilting at present so cant see me getting around to one for a while

[Michelle]

Yay! I cannot wait to make this! Can you share where you got the sew-on magnetic closures?

[Chel @ Sweetbriar Dreams]

Oh the heatwave bag has the colours I adore, especially for autumn. The colours also give me an idea to make a crocheted basket for beside the fireplace (not real flame - health and safety!) to store my current projects. Brilliant as always Lucy :)

[Brooklyn Murtaugh]

Wow these bags are beautiful! My favorite is Heatwave, but Sea spray is a VERY close second.

www.justbeingbrooklyn.com

[Julie]

Oh dear, another project to add to the list after I finish the cosy blanket and maybe some socks and then this bag or maybe another blanket and here in Sydney summer is quickly coming so I had better get a move on. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Sheery]

Lucy, thank you SO MUCH! It's such a gorgeous bag and I can't wait to get into making some of them. I'll be making at least three as each of my daughters and I want one! You're the best and so generous with your patterns and talent. THNAK YOU!

[Jenny Jones]

absolutely brilliant:) LOVE them!