Crochet Handbag by Paraligo number 3 and get ready for a really impressive project. The main stitch used to create this large Crochet Tote is the Balloon Stitch. That stitch resembles to the bobble stitch but It’s much richer and creates a really voluminous effect.
The pattern is a multiple of 8 stitches and completes in a repeat of 8 rows. The number of stitches of the ground row, shown in the video are 160. If you have a base with a different number of holes, you can adjust your stitches to get a multiple of 8.
To do that simply increase in the corner holes. In the video I am increasing by placing 3 single crochet (3 st.in 1 hole) instead of 2, into 2 holes of every corner. You could increase in 3 holes or more if you have to.
Note that each 3 stitch hole gives you one extra stitch. So just multiply the number of wholes on your base by 2, and ad one extra stitch for each 3single crochet corner hole.
This will give you the number of single crochet you must place in the 1st row.
To download the free printable pattern of this bag click here!
Supplies
- 9 skeins of polyester macramé cord 90g, 140m (153 yards)
- 1 Pair of pre perforated faux leather bag handles 58cm (23”)
- 1 faux leather bag base 33cm x 12cm (13”*4.72”)
- 1 Spool of sewing thread
- 2 magnetic snap closures
- 1 Zipper 35cm (14”)
- 1 crochet hook number 4 (US size F)
- 1crochet hook number 2.5 (US size C)
- 1 Darning needle (that fits your yarn)
- 1 Sewing needle
- 1 Tape measure
- 1 pair of scissors
- 4-5 Stitch markers
- Some Pins
- A Lighter
Tips
- Due to the rich volume of that stitch it’s best to use a really light yarn and crochet using a bit of extra tension, especially while completing your balloons.
- By using a thicker yarn you can avoid the double single crochet stitches in the very first row of the base. This will reduce the number of stitches, of the entire pattern, to half and save you time, effort and material. Note that the shape of the bag will be different.
- You can use a slightly smaller bag base of 32 and 30 cm that will produce a smaller slightly thiner bag and again will save effort and time. Just make sure to adjust the number of stitches of your first row, according to the number of holes of your base.
So we went through the details and the supplies and what’s left is to watch the video and create your own amazing Balloon Stitch Crochet Handbag!
