small crochet mesh shopper

hello! happy new week!

sorry, it took a while but here are the explanations to make the first bag of the set (see my previous post). more to come in nearby future 🙂 

below are my notes, it is not a detailed pattern, but i hope it’s sufficient to crochet your own small mesh shopper. would you prefer a comprehensive crochet tutorial, you can take a look here: how to make a mesh bag.

 

 here we go!

 

used yarn:

scheepjes stone washed XL, for the body green agate and blue apatite, for the top and handles smokey quartz, 1 ball of each color. more info about the yarn here.

UPDATE! this is the correct link to the info about the XL version of the yarn

 

i worked with crochet hook 4 mm.

stitches used in american terms:

1. chain = ch
2. slip stitch = ss
3. single crochet = sc
4. half double crochet = hdc
5. double crochet = dc

 

 

body of the bag

crochet mesh shopper bottom

small crochet mesh shopper inside

 

the height of the body of my bag is about 27 cm.

• start with a magic ring
• row 1. 1 ch, 8 sc into ring, ss into first sc
• row 2. 1 ch, 1 sc in first sc, *3 ch, 1 sc in next sc*, repeat between * and * until you have  7 loops, end with 1 ch and 1 hdc into the first sc = 8th loop
• row 3. 1 ch, 1 sc over the hdc, *4 ch, 1 sc into next loop*, repeat between * and * until end of row, but end with 2 ch and 1 hdc into first sc
• row 4. 1 ch, 1 sc over the hdc, *4 ch, 1 sc into next loop, 4 ch, 1 sc into same loop*, repeat between * and * until end of row, but end with 2 ch and 1 hdc into first sc
• row 5. 1 ch, 1 sc over the hdc, *5 ch, 1 sc into next loop*, repeat between * and * until end of row, but end with 2 ch and 1 dc into first sc
• row 6. 1 ch, 1 sc over the dc, *5 ch, 1 sc into next loop*, repeat between * and * until end of row, but end with 2 ch and 1 dc into first sc
• row 7. 1 ch, 1 sc over the dc, *5 ch, 1 sc into next loop, 5 ch, 1 sc into same loop*, repeat between * and * until end of row, but end with 2 ch and 1 dc into first sc
• row 8. 1 ch, 1 sc over the dc, *5 ch, 1 sc into next loop*, repeat between * and * until end of row, but end with 2 ch and 1 dc into first sc
• row 9 and further. repeat row 8 until your bag has the height you like to have.
  note: better don’t make the body to large because it really stretches (see photo below).

 

 

top part of the bag

top of small crochet mesh shopper

crochet small mesh shopper by elisabeth andrée

 

the top part of my bag measures about 5.5 cm.

• row 1. 1 ch, *1 sc into next 5 ch, 1 sc into sc*, repeat between * and * until end of row, ss into first stitch
• row 2. 1 ch, 1 sc into first sc, *1 ch, skip 1 sc, 1 sc into next sc*, repeat between * and * until end of row, end with 1 ch and ss into first sc
• row 3. 1 ch, sc into first sc, 1 ch, skip 1 ch, 1 sc into next sc*, repeat between * and * until end of row, end with 1 ch and ss into first sc
• row 4 and further. repeat row 3 until you like the height of the top part. 

 

handles

 

 

 

the handles of my bag are circa 26 cm long and are located about 5-6 cm from the sides, there is about 17-18 cm between start and end points of the handles.

hold or lay bag flat and measure where you like to have your handles, the ‘scar’ (that is where you start and end the rows) will be at the side.  

 

• row 1. 1 ch, sc into first sc, *1 ch, skip 1 ch, 1 sc into next sc*, repeat between * and * until you reach the starting point of your first handle, crochet sufficient chains to create the length you like to have for you handle (remember the number), 1 sc into sc at the ending point of your first handle, continue with the stitch pattern, until you reach the starting point of your second handle and crochet the same number of chains as your first handle, 1 sc into sc at the ending point of your second handle, continue with the stitch pattern until end of row, end with 1 ch and ss into first sc
• row 2. 1 ch, sc into first sc, *1 ch, skip 1 ch, 1 sc into next sc*, repeat between * and * until end of row, end with 1 ch and ss into first sc
• row 3. make 1 ss into all the sc, skip all the 1 ch spaces, work loosely, the slip stitches look large!
• weave in yarn ends
• attach yarn at left beginning point of one handle and make 1 ss into each of the chains until you reach the end of the handle, continue working at the top part of the body between starting and ending points of the handle, make 1 ss into all subsequent sc, skip all the 1 ch spaces, work loosely, ss into first ss. weave in yarn ends.

 

make the second handle in the same way.

 

 

optional

keyring on side crochet mesh shopper

band around top crochet mesh shopper

 

make a small band/strap that fits around the top part of the bag to hang a keyring onto (or something else). 

crochet chains to required length, turn, 1 ss into second ch from hook and into all subsequent chains, turn and work on the other side of the chains, 1 ch, 1 ss into first ch and into all subsequent ch until end of row, cut yarn, hang keyring onto band, fold band around the top of the bag and sew ends of band together.

 

you are done!

 

hope you like to use your little mesh bag very often!

until next time!

 

 

how to make a mesh bag

how can i crochet a mesh bag myself? i received this question a couple of times in response to the week of mesh bags. i promised to write down a how to for a basic mesh bag with which you can make your own variations. 

 

a few notes

• the type of yarn you work with has its own character and will influence the appearance of the bag
• it is important not to crochet too loosely
• when attaching a new ball or a different color attach it extra tightly, weaving the threads in, make a knot and weaving in again. this is because the tension on the thread when you use the bag
• do not be tempted to make your bag too big because there’s a lot of stretch in it. especially if you’re a smaller sized person it happens that you drag your bag on the floor when it is filled

–

in this mesh pattern

• you make chains and sc, but if you like you can replace the sc for dc
• at the beginning of a row you always start with 1 ch and 1 sc over the last stitch of the previous row
• to increase you make the rows with a different number of chains and at the end of a row you finish into the first sc with a stitch that makes you end at the top of a chain space (see photo’s):

1. 3 ch end with 1 ch and 1 h dc
2. 4 ch end with 2 ch and 1 h dc
3. 5 ch end with 2 ch and 1 dc
4. 6 ch end with 3 ch and 1 dc
5. 7 ch end with 3 ch and 1 tr
6. 8 ch end with 4 ch and 1 tr 
7. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. if you make larger chain spaces (10, 12, 20 chains) you end a row with a sc into the first sc and ss to the top of the next ch space

used materials and stitches

for this tutorial i have made a small sized bag (though he reaches my ankles, but i’m only 160 cm)

• cotton 8 (that is a basic cotton yarn)
• 1 skein for the main color, i used lilac
• and a selection of other colors, no whole skeins necessary
• crochet hook size 3 mm
• used stitches (american terms): 

1. chain = ch
2. slip stitch = ss
3. single crochet = sc
4. double crochet = dc
5. treble = tr

–

pattern for the bag

start with a magic ring

• row 1. 3 ch (= first dc and 1 ch), *1 dc, 1 ch*, repeat between * * until you have 11 dc and 11 ch (= total of 12), ss to 2nd ch addition: this row forms the basis for you bag, but you can make this basis as large as you like. you can use any round pattern small or large and then start with the mesh pattern. a larger round basis creates a rounder shaped bag. the pattern you are reading now creates a little more narrow shape.

• row 2. 1 ch, 1 sc in the first 1 ch space, *3 ch, 1 sc in the next space*, repeat between * * till second last space,
  see notes about how to start and end every row

• row 3. 4 ch
• row 4. 5 ch
• row 5. 6 ch
• row 6. 7 ch
• row 7. 8 ch

• row 8. 4 ch, *1 sc, 4 ch, 1 sc, 4 ch* repeat between * * in every 8 ch space till end of row

 

• row 9 – 12. repeat rows 4 – 7

• if you like to make your bag wider repeat rows 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

• continue crocheting row 7 until the body of your bag has the size you want.

 

top part of the body

• row a. make 5 ch, 2 sc, 5 ch, in every ch space, end the row with 1 sc next to the first sc, ss into first sc
• row b. no ch but make a sc into the first ch space, make another 4 sc in the same space, 1 sc in next two sc, make 5 sc into all the other spaces and 1 sc in every sc
• tie off yarn 
• row c. attach another color, 2 ch, 1 h dc in every sc until end of row, tie of yarn 
• row d and e. attach another color, 2 ch, 1 h dc in every stitch until end of row, tie of yarn
• row f. 3 ch (= first h dc and 1 ch), *skip 1 stitch, 1 h dc in next stitch*, repeat between * * till end of row, tie of yarn
• row g. attach another color into first 1 ch space, 2 ch and 1 h dc in same space, *2 h dc in next 1 ch space*, repeat between * * till end of row, tie of yarn
• row h and i. attach another color, 2 ch, 1 h dc in every stitch until end of row, tie of yarn

–

handles

• measure the width of the top edge of your bag and decide where you would like to have the handles, my handles begin en end 9 cm from each side.
• to be sure i’ve used row f. as my reference: i counted the spaces between the handles at the front and back side (18 spaces) and i counted the spaces between the handles on both sides (24)

 

attach main color on a side of your bag

• row 1. 2 ch, h dc in every stitch until the stitch where you want to start the first handle, make a number of chains until your handle has the length you want, 1 h dc into the stitch where you want to end you first handle, 1 h dc in every stitch until you reach the stitch where you want to begin your second handle, make the same number of chains as for your first handle, 1 h dc into the stitch where you want to end your second handle, h dc in every stitch until end of row, ss to first stitch
• row 2. 2 ch, 1 h dc in every h dc and every ch, end with ss in first sc
• row 3. repeat row 2
• tie of yarn as describes before

–

attach another color

• ss in every h dc in the back loops only
• tie of yarn as describes before

• attach another color in the first stitch of the part between the beginning and end of a handle and ss in every stitch in the back loops only until end of row
• tie of yarn as described before
• repeat this on the other side of the bag

• weave in remaining ends.

–

your bag is now ready for use!

.

a week of mesh bags – friday

pink and yellow

this bag is smaller than the others mesh bags and I have crocheted it in a different way, therefore it is less stretchy. for me this is an unusual color combination but i was happy with it so i continued.

and some more photos…

 

 

end of mesh

 it is the last day of this week of mesh bags. i hope you’ve enjoyed it!? 

 

i wish you a pleasant weekend!

 

 

…….

you can click on the day to see the bag

monday

tuesday

wednesday

thursday

a week of mesh bags – thursday

mesh and spikes

just punto color and catania again, with hook sizes 3 and 3,5 mm.

 

tomorrow it is already the last day of this week of mesh bags. hope you will visiting my blog again!

…..

you can click on the day to see the bag

monday

tuesday

wednesday

friday

a week of mesh bags – wednesday

mesh and stripes

this bag i made from only catania yarn. ecru is the base color while i used a rainbow of colors for the stripes.

   

–

 

same colors for a little girl or boy

 

shopping together

tomorrow mesh bag number four, here on my blog.

……

you can click on the day to see the bag

monday

tuesday

thursday

friday