Many times in my YouTube channel, I received video comments asking me to suggest methods and patterns to replace parts and accessories I used, to create specific bags. During the years, I also noticed that my video tutorials that demonstrated how to make crochet bags with basic material requirements were far more popular than others with more complicated supply lists.
I am not sure if the onset of fear concerning the use of bag accessories should be attributed to availability issues that exist in many parts of the world. What I am sure of, is that with the abundance of supplies that are nowadays available on the internet it is a real pity that crocheters who love to create bags deprive themselves of the endless possibilities that bag accessories have to offer.
So after my series of blog posts dedicated to shedding light on the mysteries of bag yarn, I decided to start a new series of articles determined to convince fellow bag crocheters from all over the world, to indulge themselves in the magic of designing and creating crochet bags with the use of bag parts and accessories.
Bag parts enclose a huge variety of components among which adornments with a solely decorative role, like bag scarves, charms, labels, and decorative zipper pulls and fittings that serve both utilitarian and design purposes such as, base/bottom shapers, flaps, handles, straps, locks, chains, hooks, etc.
In the articles that will follow within this month, I will make extended reference to the use of specific accessories that I regard as essential, such as bag bottoms, metal frames, locks, chains, etc. In this introductory post, I will try to give you a general idea of why you should consider applying bag parts and accessories to your crochet bags.
Pros
- Bag Structure: No matter how rigid you work a bag base or a flap, a faux leather bottom or cap is always the optimal choice when it comes to shape and functionality. A laser-cut perforated bag bottom is guaranteed to give the entire item a much better shape than any crocheted base would.
- Less effort: The complicated patterns of an oval base or a semi-oval flap take a lot of time, counting, sweat, and sometimes tears. A perforated flap and or bottom will save you almost half the time and effort required to complete a bag.
- Less yarn: Except for certain types of plant fiber, a crocheted bag part is heavier than a faux leather one. As a result, using faux or genuine leather parts produces significantly more lightweight crochet bags.
- More style: The right combination of yarn, pattern, and bag accessory can absolutely switch up the look of a crochet bag.
Cons
- Costly: Though there is a huge number of suppliers and a great variety of products some bag accessories are ridiculously expensive.
Tips
- Do some market research. There is a huge variety of bag parts available in the market. Do not purchase the first item that will appear on your screen. You will be surprised with the price range a product is sold.
- Prefer faux leather bag accessories. Artificial leather also known as faux leather, Vegan leather, and pleather (plastic leather), comes in numerous forms and qualities from PVC and PU to cork, and Pinatex (comes from the wastage of pineapple plants). Faux leather bag parts look very similar to leather, they come much cheaper.
- Choose your colors wisely. A Tabac color flap can look divine with an ivory shade of beige but not with an ochre shade of beige. Similarly, gold color metallic accents are a great match with yarn whereas silver color fittings could make a bag look cold and lifeless.
- A faux leather bag base is a great solution for yarn eater patterns. A perforated bottom will save you yarn and effort and a certain percentage of weight since a crochet bottom is in most cases much heavier than a faux leather one.
- Try bamboo, wooden, or rope handles, and bone or acrylic chains with plant fiber yarns like paper yarn, raffia, or jute to create heavenly summer totes and beach bags.
- The use of metallic accents combined with the right type and color of yarn will add a touch of class and produce amazingly elegant and stylish clutches and evening purses.
Don’ts
- Do not mix too many metal fittings in one bag. It’s very easy to pass from tasteful to tacky. A big metal lock combined with a chain inserted into D rings or Sping hooks is more than enough to decorate even the simplest pattern. Leave metal corners, and bag charms alone and use them in a different pattern.
- Do not combine faux leather accessories with plant fiber yarns intended for use in items that imitate woven straw bags or need to have a more natural exotic look. For bags like these it’s best to crochet bases or flaps or use wooden parts, or if you insist on using leather accents prefer small pieces of weathered look leather.
