Yoga Bag ~ Pt. 2: Finishing Off

Greetings =)
Hope you all had a great week ~ How is your yoga bag coming along? Got those hooks warmed up & ready to finish off your project? {Here's a link to Part 1 of the pattern for those who may have missed it}. We ended last week with fastening off at Rnd 36.

Top Band:
Rnd 37: Using Contrast Color B, repeat Rnd 24. Ss to top of beg-ch2. (95hdc)
Rnd 38: Ss around edge, ending with ss in last stitch beside ch-sp at beginning of rnd. Do not fasten off.
Rnd 39: Ch2 (counts as 1hdc). Work an extended hdc around edge by catching the hdc from Rnd 37 and ss from Rnd 38 into one hdc. Ss to top of beg-ch2. (96hdc)
Place a stitch marker at st #16, #32, #64 and #80 for quick reference of changes in next rnd.

Strap:
Rnd 40: Ch1. Sc in ea of next 16 st, ch1 at #16 marker, turn. 1sc in last 4 st of previous row. *Turn, Ch1, 4sc**.  Repeat from * to ** 56 times, ending with right side facing and ch-loop on left side of strap. 

Joining Strap:

Skip next 16 st. With right sides together, place hook through strap and hdc at #32 marker, yo, pull through band & strap chain loops, ch1.

                                     

 

 

 


Working to secure strap, sc in next 28 st to #64 marker, ch1, turn. Sc in last 4 st of previous row. *Turn, ch1, 4sc**.  Repeat from * to ** 56 times, ending with right side facing and ch-loop on left side of strap.

Joining Strap:
Skip next 16 st. With right sides together, place hook through strap and hdc at #80 marker, yo, pull through band & strap chain loops, ch1.

Working to secure strap, sc (12) to end of rnd. Ss to beg-ch1. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
  *This bag when created with cotton and acrylic yarn is machine washable in cool to warm with mild detergent. Hang or lay flat to dry.

Give yourself a pat on the back!! Put your hook down & your feet up with a cuppa... admire your handiwork =) Please feel free to post a photo, along with your variations or suggestions, in the comments below ~we'd love to see your hook work!!

May the yarn gods smile upon you & your projects... we'll see you next week...

...here, In The Parlour =)

*photos by SD Jackson, PixAppeal Photography & ccthompson

Yoga Bag ~ Pt.1: Building The Body

Welcome back to The Parlour for Part 1 of the Yoga Bag project. How was your week? Anxious to get started on your new bag? {Part 2: Finishing Off follows next week}

All went smoothly, including a couple of little tweaks following a test run for use. As SD pointed out to me the other night: cooking, sewing, crocheting... my creativity flows best when I'm in the zone "designing on the fly". It was lots of fun to create something other than an afghan or a shawl. I will for sure be making another one of these to use as a market bag.

Being as this is my first-ever written pattern to share, feel free to contact me with feedback or advice if something is not quite right, or if you have any questions or need clarification ~ I will be eternally grateful <3. In the future, I will be adding a chart to this pattern for those who like to work with charts as well. As for a rating, I'm giving it an ~advanced easy~ {rating patterns is another new territory for me}. If you have been crocheting for a while, i.e. have more than basic stitch knowledge, and you are able to read & understand patterns, you'll have a new yoga bag in under a day.







YOGA BAG PATTERN
©Carla Thompson


Pattern Notes: 
Beginning chains count as stitch unless otherwise stated.
Pattern is worked on right side only unless stated. 

Abbreviations:  
st      stitch                        sk         skip   
sp      space                       beg ch   beginning chain
ch      chain                        ss         slip stitch
sc      single crochet           hdc       half double crochet
dc      double crochet
v-st    v-stitch {1dc, ch1, 1 dc worked in same sp}

Yarn:  
Main Color: 175g/6oz Bernat Handicrafter Cotton {Sonoma}
*Contrast A:  20g/1oz Vanna's Choice {Espresso}
*Contrast B:  25g/1oz Red Heart Super Saver {Medium Thyme}
   *you will not use the total amount of yarn; it's hard to convert metric to imperial here =)

H8/5mm Susan Bates® Bamboo hook

Gauge: 
10cm x 10cm/4" x 4" = 14dc x 7 rows

Instructions:  

Bottom: Using Main Color, ch6. Ss to form ring.

Rnd 1: Ch4 (counts as 1dc, ch1). *1dc into ring, ch1**.  Repeat from * to ** 9 times. Ss to top of beg-ch3. Do not turn. (10dc, 10ch-sp)
Rnd 2: Ch3. *2dc in each ch-1sp**.  Repeat from * to ** 5 times. 3dc in next ch1-sp. Repeat * to ** 4 times. Ss to top of beg-ch3. (22dc)
Rnd 3: Ch3. *1dc, ch1, 1dc in next st {v-stitch completed}, 1dc in next st**.  Repeat from * to ** 9 times. V-st in next st. Ss to top of beg-ch3. (33dc)

Rnd 4: Ch3. 1dc in next st. *V-st in ch1-sp. Dc over next 3 st.**  Repeat from * to ** 9 times. 2dc in v-st. 1dc in last st. Ss to top of beg-ch3. (55dc)
Rnd 5: Ch3. 1dc over next 2 st. V-st in next st. *1dc in next 3 st, v-st in next st**.  Repeat from * to ** 11 times. Dc over last 3 st. Ss to top of beg-ch3. (68dc)
Rnd 6: Ch3. 1 dc in next 3 st. *2dc in ch1-sp of v-st, 1dc in next 5 st**.  Repeat from * to ** 12 times. Ss to top of beg-ch3. (95dc)
Rnd 7: Ch3. 1dc in each st around. Ss to top of beg-ch3. Do not fasten off. (95dc) 
   ~Bottom completed; approximately 35.5cm/14" diameter.

Body: 
Rnd 8: Ch3. 1dc in each st around. Work 1hdc in top of beg-ch3, ch1 to join rnd (1hdc, ch1 at beg of rnd counts as 1dc). Place stitch marker at beg-ch. (95dc)
Rnds 9-12: Repeat Rnd 8, moving stitch marker at end of each rnd. (95dc)
Rnd 13: Repeat Rnd 8. Ss to ch1 of hdc-ch1 at end of rnd.  
   

Rnd 14: Ch4 (counts as 1dc, ch1). Sk first st. *1dc into next st, ch1, sk next st**.  Repeat to end of rnd, ending with ch1. Ss to 3rd ch of beg-ch4. (48dc)
Rnd 15: Ss to ch1-sp in previous rnd. Ch4 (counts as 1dc, ch1). Sk next st. *1dc into next st, ch1, sk next st**. Repeat to end of rnd, ending with ch1. Ss to 3rd ch of beg-ch4. (48dc)
Rnds 16-23: Repeat *Rnd 15* 8 times. Fasten off. Mark with stitch marker.
Rnd 24: Using Contrast Color A, ss to join next to stitch marker, ch2. Working in ends to secure, hdc in each st around. Ss to top of beg-ch2. (95hdc)
Rnd 25: Ch3. Dc in each st around. Ss to top of beg-ch3. (95dc)
Rnd 26: Ch2. Hdc in each st around. Ss to top of beg-ch2. Fasten off. (95hdc)
Rnd 27: Using Main Color, repeat *Rnd 14*. (48dc)

Rnds 28-36: Repeat *Rnd 14* 9 times. Fasten off. (48dc)
   ~Body completed; approximately 40.5cm/16" tall. It will stretch considerably with the weight of your yoga mat and other contents. 

How is your new bag coming along so far? Need help with anything? Please do leave a comment below or message me at the email address on the sidebar with any questions or concerns about this crochet project, or crochet in general ~ I'll do my best to answer or find one for you. Next week, we'll be working a reinforced band around the top, working the attached straps and finishing off... until then...

May your yarns remain untangled...

...we'll see you here, In The Parlour

*photos by ccthompson

 

When I Can't Sleep...

Posting later than usual this week... after spending several hours yesterday, last night *and* this morning working with a couple different photo editing programs that tested both my patience levels with software limitations and my perfectionism/OCD issues. In the end, the editing programs won out ~ I'm learning when to say "when" and accept the achieved results that are, in reality, very good. It truly is much better for the stress levels as well... =)

Sometimes, no matter what, sleep will *not* happen when you want it to. I'm also learning to toss & turn less and work with it more, especially now that the years of no children to care for are upon me. I do keep to a regular schedule for the most part but that infamous "monkey-mind" decides to take over once in a while. Most times, I rise to my hooks. Crochet has a very calming effect for me ~ a meditative state as I focus on the movement of my hook as it twists the yarn or thread into form, counting the stitches as I go ~ relaxing my mind and putting those darn "monkeys" to rest!!  One, maybe 2 hours, of hooking yarn and I'm off to dreamland... I suppose I could count how many sheep I shear for their wool but then I'd be picking colors and projects and... nope ~ that adds to the "monkeys" lol

This latest project coming off the hooks will be added to the growing inventory for our Make It! Vancouver market in November ~ a hairpin lace shawl {free pattern link here} As it's been several years since I hooked this old-fashioned technique, I set off on my usual YouTube search for video tutorials for a refresher. There are quite a few and I found this one on Bernat Yarns to be the best for explaining in detail how to get started. Once started, you'll find your own rhythm for the simple repeat motions for creating the strips of loops. I haven't decided yet how I'm going to join the strips given all the possibilities... I have 2 strips to go before I get to that point... possibly 3 if I change that up, too... creative dilemmas ~ I love them!! {Check out Stitch Diva Studios for more inspiration and tutorials about hairpin lace} 

Adjustable hairpin lace loom. This one I bought in 1984 ~ a vintage original...

240 loops per side. Red Heart Soft Touch Yarn in Lavender 3720

Groups of 5,  joined with sc, ch6

What do you do when you can't sleep? Do you toss & turn and stress over it more? Or do you 'rise to the occasion' ?

Keep well!! May the sandman bring you sugar plum dreams!!

...we'll see you next time ~ here, In The Parlour =)

*photos by ccthompson

On To The Next One

A bit later in the day with this post... {dang! wrong button on the computer makes for another photo shoot and more time spent editing before posting}

First & foremost ~ our thoughts and blessings are with everyone affected in any way by the extremely nasty weather that has been hitting parts of the world recently... Our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones. ~To the many volunteers who have come together to assist, and to those who will soon, a huge "Thank You"  ~To the survivors, please know we all continue to keep you in our prayers...

On to happier topics... Are you beginning to enjoy the early summer harvest of fruits & vegetables? Fresh local produce and seasonal fruit tastes soooo de-lish!! All the late Autumn clean up finished for our Southern Hemisphere friends? 

We've been busy with stitching the octagons and squares together. After 23 hours of hooking & twisting a total of 830gms of yarn {a little over a pound}, it's complete and ready to be delivered... handmade with love...

We substituted Bernat Super Value yarn, purchased the amount recommended on the instructions, and used our Susan Bates J-10/6mm hook. The finished size is 117cm x 145cm {46" x 57"}, so the overall gauge turned out to be a very minimal difference. For those who have recently joined us, the pattern is Octagons & Squares, available as a free crochet pattern download from Red Heart Yarn. There's also 3 excellent video tutorials to go along with it at The Crochet Crowd site on YouTube.

On To The Next One...
The next project hawt off the hook is also from Red Heart Yarn {we love their patterns & Mikey is such an excellent teacher...} This time around, we are using Red Heart yarn, with the recommended hook and our own colour choices in the sequence of Frosty Green, Tea Leaf, Medium Thyme, Windsor Blue and Dark Sage. 

This is the start of our "Ocean Waves Afghan". You can follow the links on the right sidebar to download the pattern and get some assistance with this one. It's a bit tricky to get it going, and it's one of those patterns where you really need to pay attention to your stitch count, but it actually hooks up fast once you get your rhythm going.

That's all for this week... to all our fellow Canadians ~ Happy Canada Day! and to our neighbours a couple of hours south ~ Happy 4th of July! To all of our friends, everywhere, safe travels & keep well!! 

We'll see you next week... here In The Parlour =)

*photos by ccthompson