Do you know these coffee mugs that have an “ I really do not need all this yarn” sign printed on them? Well in my case I should order one saying “ Yes I do need all these crochet bag accessories and yarn”. And while crocheting is supposed to be great for you since it helps with stress, It keeps your brain active, It’s creative and it’s a great way to fight depression I wouldn’t swear on the latter one.
Many times the calculation of the final cost of one of my bags actually caused me depression. This is why I was forced to discover ways to reduce the cost of creating crochet bags and I will share my precious discoveries with you in this article. And though I took my years to learn from my mistakes most of the tips I am about to give you are pretty plain and simple.
Think small
Yes, oversized bags are a trend and yes a big purse is much more practical than a tiny one. But when it comes to making a cost-effective crochet bag, the smaller the better. Clutches, small messenger bags, and purses that can be made using just one skein of yarn (like the Crochet Wristlet Purse and my Crochet Purse Square) can be also practical and high on demand from a commercial point of view.
Use see-through stitches
Apparently, transparency is great quality also in crochet. See-through stitches like fillet stitch, drop stitch, broomstick stitch, and similar types of simple lacy stitches are guaranteed to consume less yarn. So If you are comfortable with lining your bags and since lining fabric is much cheaper than yarn vote for transparent.
Walk tall
By using extended crochet stitches you can cover long areas with fewer stitches and consequently use less yarn. Similar to see-through stitches, tall stitches like double, treble, double treble, and triple treble will save you money. The only disadvantage is that tall crochet stitches create dead spaces (simply put holes) and demand the use of lining.
Avoid textured stitches
As much as alluring cluster typed stitches like puff, bobble, and popcorn stitch may look, the price paid in the yarn is really high. If you want to keep your budget low stay away from any kind of stitch that requires repetitive insertions into the same stitch. If you do insist on texture there are simple and solid stitches like the crunch stitch, Suzette stitch, and the moss stitch that produce a nicely textured crochet fabric without eating too much yarn.
Use stiff yarn
Reinforcement for crochet bags is in my humble opinion the greatest invention since man discovered fire. But it must always come together with lining and the combination of materials ads to the final budget of a crochet bag. To avoid all that use stiff yarn types that keep their form without the need to attach plastic mesh and, consequently, lining. Several polyamide and polyester cords do that even in their thinner versions and there of course there is always T-shirt yarn.
Use thick yarn
A low-cost thick yarn like a recycled T-shirt yarn is the ultimate solution for low budget crochet bag. Just a few rows give you the desired dimensions of a crochet fabric stiff enough to hold its form. This way you save on yarn but also on reinforcement and lining. One of my most popular bags the Zig Zag Puff Stitch Purse was created by using just one 700gr skein of recycled T-shirt yarn that only cost me 6 Euros. The low cost of yarn allowed me to complement the bag with a metal chain, D rings, and closure. The use of metal elements combined with the beautiful color of the otherwise humble yarn resulted in a very impressive crochet bag that cost me only 16 Euros.
Use base shapers
Weird as it may sound almost half of the yarn used in a bag goes to the bottom. To create geometrical shapes like ovals, rectangles, and circles, you need to work with increases resulting in a dense fabric constructed of many stitches. Though some readymade bag bases might be expensive If you do some research you will discover a great variety of low-cost premade vegan bag shapers that will save you time and money.
Become vegan
Leather parts like flaps, straps, and side panels, can definitely transform the style of a crochet bag. Sadly they are very often ridiculously expensive. Artificial leather, also known as Vegan leather, looks very similar to real leather but is much more inexpensive.
Avoid metal elements
Metal tags, rings, and chains are details that switch up the look of any crochet bag but they will also inflate the cost of construction. Wooden or leather labels can also mark your designs, while a crocheted shoulder strap may not look a shiny as a golden chain, but it will spare you the cost not only of the chain but also of the D rings, Spring Rings, and lobster clasps.
Use zippers
Metal closures are great functional and also decorative elements that add class to any crochet bag. Unfortunately, they don’t come cheap. Zippers on the other can make wonders in terms of design and a great example of that is my Crochet Backpack but are also absolutely inexpensive. So overcome your fears and start attaching zippers to your bags.
Use magnetic power
Ok, I understand. There is no possible way that you’ll be convinced to learn how to sew zippers even if they came for free. Worry not because I have the next best thing and it’s called magnetic snaps. They cost nothing and they come in a no-sew version but also a sew-on version that requires the sewing skills of a child. They are discreet, they are flexible, they are safe and they are cheap and cheerful.
Take care of the interior
By weaving your tales nicely, sewing your zippers or magnetic snaps neatly, and working the interior of your bag elaborately you will result in a uniform crochet fabric outside and inside. This will release from the need to use a lining or self-adhesive patches to hide any sloppiness and at the end of the day, it will save you money.
