Hello everyone. I saw the Japanese knot bags on Pinterest and wanted to give it a try in crochet. I decided to go with pumpkin colors since we are getting closer to Thanksgiving here in Canada and lots of fellow crocheters are looking for new Fall / Thanksgiving themed projects. You can definitely try it in any color you want.
I find this bag really helpful when you are on the go and wanting to have your mask and hand sanitizer handy during pandemic.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find cotton yarn in orange and green before shooting the video so in the tutorial, you will find me working with acrylic yarn. If it’s your first time crocheting bags and wondering about the material to be used, acrylic yarn has a stretch in it and that’s why it’s always advisable to either use cotton yarn or if you will got with acrylic then you need to add a lining to your bag.
I have written the directions for 2 sizes; the small one (featured in the video tutorial) and the bigger size. The pattern starts off the same for both then changes take place in round 5; as highlighted below.
For the handles, you will find 2 different numbers with one (between brackets for large size bag).
Gauge: N/A
Yarn: Cotton yarn of weight 4 (Orange and green) or your yarn of choice
Hook: 4 mm or hook size to match your yarn choice
Stitches Used: (US Terms)
Double Crochet 2 Together (Dc2tog): Yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through the stitch, 3 loops on the hook, yarn over and pull through 2 loops only, yarn over, insert the hook into the same stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through the stitch, 4 loops on the hook, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, 3 loops on the hook remaining, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
Notes:
– The pattern is written for 2 different sizes, small and large.
– The chain 1 at the beginning of each row is NOT considered a stitch.
– At the end of each round / row, the total number of stitches will be mentioned between brackets
– (No) Stitch name (e.g. 2 dc): Means 2 double crochet stitches in the same stitch i.e. increase
– Stitch name x (No) – e.g. dc x 3: Means one double crochet stitch into each of the next 3 stitches
– I used the invisible decrease method as explained in the video (11:40).
Abbreviations:
Ch: chain
St(s): stitch(es)
DC: double crochet
DC2TOG: double crochet 2 together (explained above)
Rep: repeat
Rd: Round
RS: Right side
Sc: Single crochet
Sc2tog: single crochet 2 together (used the invisible decrease)
Sl St: Slip stitch
St: Stitch
WS: wrong side
Pattern:
Using color 1, create a magic ring.
Rd 1: Ch 1, dc x 12 (12)
Rd 2: Ch 1, 2dc into each st (24)
Rd 3: Ch 1, *2 dc, dc2tog*. Repeat *__* till the end, sl st to join (36)
Rd 4: Ch 1, *dc2tog x 2, 2dc *. Repeat *__* till the end, sl st to join (48)
** For the small size bag**
Rd 5: Ch 1, dc2tog across the whole rd. Sl st to join. (48)
Repeat Rd 5 till you finish Rd 12.
Switch to color 2
Rd 13: Ch 1, *sc x 2, sc2tog*. Repeat *__* till the end, sl st to join (36)
Rd 14: Ch 1, sc across the rd. Sl st to join. (36)
***For the large size bag ***
Rd 5: Ch 1, *dc2tog, 2dc, dc2tog x 2*. Repeat *__* till the end, sl st to join (60)
Repeat Rd 6 till you finish Rd 15.
Switch to color 2
Rd (16): Ch 1, *sc x 3, sc2tog*. Repeat *__* till the end, sl st to join (48)
Rd (17): Ch 1, sc across the rd. Sl st to join (48)
Short Handle:
Row 1: Ch 1, sc x 7 (8)
Row 2: Ch 1 , turn, sc x 7 (8)
Repeat row 2 till you reach a length of 8” (9”). Cut off the yarn, leaving a long tail to sew the handle to the other side of the bag. Turn the bag inside out, working on the WS, start attaching the handle to the other side. Please refer to the video (16:58) for where to join the handle.
Long Handle:
Turn the bag inside out again. Now we are back to the RS. Lay your bag flat and pick the stitch on the other opposite side of where you started the short handle.
Join you yarn and repeat the same steps done of the short handle, till you reach a length of 10” (15”).
Sew the other side to the bag.
And now the bag is ready. Insert the long handle into the short one and your bag is closed.
Terms:
If you intend to sell projects made from my free patterns you find on my YouTube Channel (Erini’s Crochet Corner), Instagram account or blog, I would appreciate it if you link it back to any of my accounts on social media. Thank you and happy crocheting 🙂
