Tutorial: The Amelia Bag

For full instructions with pictures please download this pdf Download the_amelia_bag.pdf

Simple Base

1. Chain 55 stitches and a turning stitch
2. Single crochet for 28 rows keeping 55 stitches on each one (using a turning stitch on each row)
3. Cast off
4. Now you have the base

Slightly More Complicated Base

1. Shape a more oval base by starting with 20 rows
2. Then add an extra row of single crochet from 4 to 49, and then from 13 to 46,  then 19 to 37,  then 22 to 34 on each side.
3. Then crochet single stitch in each chain from 1-55 to give a smother edge.

Key Tips

• The stitch guide on the left helps you keep track, the + are anchor stitches and the – are skipped stitches
• If you feel like you need extra treble stitches just add them in as you want. Some wools may take more to get the half circle effect. Just try to add in evenly.

First Side

First Fan (First Round)

1. On chain stitch 28 (the centre stitch) chain 3
2. Now treble stitch (yarn is wrapped twice round the hook) into the same stitch (chain stitch 28)
3. Do 7 more treble stitches into chain stitch 28 - This should total 9 treble stitches (we will call the 3 chain a treble)
4. Now skip 2 chain stitches (29,30) and single stitch into stitch 31
5. Turn the work
6. Single stitch into the first chain of the fan.
7. Single stitch into each other chain of the fan (you may need an extra single stitch between the (last treble and the 3 chain)
8. Single stitch into chain stitch 25

Second Round

1. Now chain 3
2. Turn the work
3. Make 2 treble stitches into each chain stitch of the fan
4. Then single stitch into chain stitch 34 (skipping 32,33)
5. Turn work
6. Now single stitch into every chain stitch of the fan
7. Skip 2 chain stitches (24,23) and single stitch into chain stitch 22

Third Round

1. Now chain 3
2. Turn the work
3. Do 1 treble stitch in the first chain of the fan then do 2 in the second, 1 in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th and so on (doubling up treble stitches on every other chain stitch)
4. Skip 3 chain stitches (35,36) and single stitch into chain stitch 37.
5. Turn work
6. Single crochet in each single stitch of the fan.
7. Skip 2 chain stitches (21,20) and single stitch 19.

Fourth Round (As Round 3 but  only double up treble crochets on every third stitch) – anchor single stitches to base in16, 40

Fifth Round (As Round 3 but  only double up treble crochets on every third stitch) – anchor single stitches in base in 13, 43

Sixth Round (As Round 3 but  only double up treble crochets on every third stitch) – anchor single stitches to base in 10, 46

Seventh Round (As Round 3 but  only double up treble crochets on every third stitch)

anchor single stitches to base in 7,49

Eighth Round (As Round 3 but  only double up treble crochets on every third stitch)

Anchor singles stitches to base in 4, 43

Ninth round (As Round 3 but  only double up treble crochets on every third stitch) – anchor single stitches to base in 1, 55

Now just single stitch in each chain stitch (just a turning stitch each time) for 14 rows (half the rows of the base) rows. You can anchor each row in the base or just sew it up afterwards

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Side 2 (Repeat side 1)

Finishing

Now Just add handles ( Mine were made with leather thong, single crocheted for one row) I then made a rectangle 12 stitches long and three wide and sewed round the base of the handles and on to bag.

Add zip or buttons

To make the bottom of the bag rigid cut a slightly smaller version of the base in card, pad with wadding cover in cloth then sew into bag.

You could also fully line.

Adapt to any size

This bag can be made in any size just remember

• Always start with multiples of 6 stitches plus 1 (the centre stitch)
• Increase half circles by doubling up on all stitches on round 2, every other on round three, on ever third on round 4, every 4 the on round 5 and so on.
• The number of stitches you need for the top tube part are half those you need for the base.