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