Spring Flower Granny Square Shoulder Bag

Part 2: Making the Bag

Sorry, it took me a bit longer than anticipated  to post the pattern for the bag. I've been a bit under the weather and a little slow in getting things done. This is a cute bag to take to the beach or the pool. It consists of 16 Granny Squares with center flower (see previous post). For my bag I used Hobby Lobby's I love this yarn in several colors. I used 4 different colors for the flowers in the square and the coordinating Ombre (Seaside) to compliment my colors. The white was worked with Red Heart Super Soft. I used a size H hook. Gauge is not important. This is a great stash bust project.

My finished bag measured: 16 inches deep (from top of peak to bottom of bag) and 13 1/2 inches wide.      

The most difficult part is the assembly of the squares. I took a lot of pictures of this process to make it as easy as possible. 

Work 16 squares, weave in loose ends.

Assembly:

This bag is assembled in a pin wheel fashion. First, sew 4 of your squares together to create the bottom center square. Lay out your pattern as pictured below.

Sew the center 4 pieces together. When laying out your pattern, keep in mind that the 2nd square in a row will be folded and attached to the empty space of your center square. The center square will the the folded bottom of the bag when it is fully assembled. This is helpful to remember, when laying out different colored squares. 

Hint: Before sewing the pieces together I recommend pinning or basting the squares with large running stitches of a contrasting color. It is easier to pull one unsecured piece of string than it is to take apart securely stitched squares.

Test the layout of your squares before sewing them together. If you are satisfied with your color layout. Securely attach the squares. I do a flat seem by holding squares right side together and whip stitch only the outside loops of the sc's on both squares. See: http://www.patonsyarns.com/images/glossary/FlatSeamCrochet.jpg 

You can also crochet a flat seam using this tutorial: http://www.crochettoday.com/how-to/how-seam-together-crochet

Once you have all of the squares secured into the pinwheel, it is time to attach the rows. Start by folding one row onto the next in this manner. (see picture above). The square in the center will be folded in half. Remember, the finished bag will have peaks and is not a rectangle. The extra square in the row will create one of the peaks. Again, I  recommend basting all of the rows before sewing. 

This is how your bag should look with 3 of the seems attached. Remember, when assembling the rows, the 4th square of the row, will become the 3rd square in the next row. 

Wrong side of bag with all of the squares fully attached. 

Once all of the squares a securely sewn together, remove all basting stitches and dew in any loose ends. Now it is time to attach the handles and finish the top of the bag. 

Handles and top of bag: Attach yarn to center single crochet of any peak. (see photo below).

Chain 55 and attach to center single crochet in next peak. Break yarn. Repeat for other side (handle). Do not break yarn. At this point I do need to offer an apology. I am unable to give any stitch counts from this point on. My notes on this were written on the back of a pattern instead of my notebook. I cleaned off my desk and sent a bunch of papers through the shredder. Since the top of the bag is very easy to do and I have photos for the instructions, I didn't have the heart to undo all of my hard work and re-write the pattern for this. 

The top of the bag and the handles are worked in continues rounds. Once you attach the chain 55 to the top of the last peak, continue with single crochets down the square until you reach the valley ( were 3 squares meet. Single crochet together the last stitch of the square you are working on and the first stitch of the next square coming back up. (See photo below.)

Single crochet all stitches. Single crochet in all 55 chain stitches of the handle, catching in one loop only. Repeat this pattern until the end of the row. (The section of squares between each handle will remain unworked for now.) 

Rd 2: Repeat row 1, as before, sc together the last and first stitches of the squares in the valley. In this round you will also sc together the last stitch of the peak of the square and first stitch of the handle. Single crochet all the way around (over both handles and all of the squares worked in the previous round.)

Rd 3: Slip stitch through all stitches of the previous round, break yarn. 

Previously unworked section and other side of handles:

Rd 1: Attach yarn to unworked section at the top of peak where handle meets the square. Repeat as before. Single crochet around all unworked stitches, Sc together in valleys of bag and sc all stitches of handle (working in both loops of other side of starting chains).

Rd 2: Repeat round 1, sc around all stitches.

Rd: 3: Slip stitch into all sc of previous round. Repeat all steps for other unworked section and handle. Break yarn and finish all loose ends. 

Part 3 in this series is the matching Spring hat using the flowers and a modified version of the square. Hoping to post this pattern before the end of this week. 

Easy Granny Square with Center Flower

Part 1: The flower and square

This is a simple granny square measures about 5 X 5 inches. The center flower is about 2 inches in diameter. used a medium worsted weight yarn and a H hook. The flower consists of single crochet center and 8 popcorn stitches making up the pedals. I wanted a square small enough to be used in several projects, with the flower being the center piece. After making a large number a small flowers, I chose this simple popcorn flower because I love the way in stands above the square and adds a lot of dimension to the finished product. By itself it is small and plain but using it in conjunction with the square, it really pops. 

Special Stitches

Beginning popcorn: Chain 3, wk 4 dc into same stitch. Drop the loop from hook, insert hook from front to back into top of chain 3. Pick up the dropped loop. Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook. 

Popcorn: 5 dc into same space. Drop loop, insert hook from front to back into top of first dc. Pick up dropped loop, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook.

Helpful hint. Since there are a lot of color changes, it is helpful to work over as many loose ends as possible to cut down on the number of ends that need to be worked in later. 

Insert hook from front to back into first  stitch

The Flower:

For the center I chose yellow and worked the pedals in a different color.

Rd 1: (center) Like any project worked in the round, there are several ways to work this round. Choose the one you prefer. Work either 8 sc into a magic loop, slip stitch into first sc. 

2nd method: Chain 4 slip stitch into first chain. Chain 1 and sc 8 into ring. Slip stitch  to top of first sc.                           

3rd method: Chain 2, work 8 sc into 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch to first sc. Fasten off or change color for pedal  round. 

Finished Center

Rd 2: (pedals) I prefer to fasten off and start joining the new color with a sc to any sc of the first rd. This gives this flower a neater finish. (You can also with alternating color chain 1, sc into first sc.) Chain 3, sc into next stitch, chain 3, sc into next stitch. Repeat until you have 8 chain 3 loops. Slip stitch into first sc and into first chain 3 loop. 8 chain 3 loops.

Rd 3: Work beginning popcorn (see top), chain 1, into next chain work popcorn (see top), chain 1. work popcorn, ch 1 into each remaining chain. Slip stitch to the top of chain 3 of beginning pedal. Fasten off. 8 pedals made.

Back of pedals

Finished Flower

Working the square:

Rd 1: I used mint green for this round. With sc attach yarn to any chain one space between pedals. Chain 3, sc into chain 1 space of next pedal. Repeat for a total of 8 chain 3 loops. Slip stitch into first loop made. 8 chain 3 loops total.

Rd 2: Chain 3, 2 dc into same space. Chain 1, in next chain 3 loop work corner (triple crochet, chain 1, triple crochet, chain 1, triple crochet), chain 1. In next chain 3 loop work 3 dc cluster, chain 1. repeat corners, chain 1 and clusters,chain 1 (ending with corner, chain 1) Slip stitch into top of beginning chain 3 space. Fasten off. 4 leaf corners and 4 clusters made. 

Rd 3: With color of your choice (I used white) attach with slip stitch to any chain 1 space between corner leaf and first cluster of previous rd. Chain 3, 2 dc into same space. (Beginning cluster made)

Work cluster into next ch 1 space. (Skip next triple crochet and chain 1 space). Into center triple crochet of previous round, work corner (3 dc, chain 2, 3 dc). Into next chain 1 space between leaf and cluster of previous rd (skip next sc and triple crochet), work 3 dc cluster, work cluster into next chain space, work corner into next center triple crochet. Repeat pattern for end of round. Slip stitch to top of beginning chain 3. 8 clusters and 4 corners made.

Rd 4: Slip stitch into next 2 dc and into next space. Work as for previous rd. Clusters into spaces between clusters and corners into ch 2 corner spaces. Slip stitch to top of beginning chain 3. 12 clusters and 4 corners made. Fasten off.  (If you would like to make a bigger square continue rounds in this manner until square is desired size.)

Rd: 5 Using contrasting color (I used an ombre yarn matching the colors of my flowers) attach with sc to any corner space,(leaving a long tail to stitch squares together). sc in corner and in each stitch across, with 3 sc in each corner space. In last corner space work 1 sc, slip stitch to top of first sc. Fasten off, leaving long tail for attaching squares. 

Like any granny square, this square can be used for a lot of projects. I think this would make a very pretty afghan. I have already worked it into a cute summer hat and I am currently working on making a matching Tote or Shoulder bag. Will post the patterns very soon. I am in the process of assembling the Tote. Need to rework the hat. When I did my original calculations, I forgot to take the dept of the circle into account. This hat comes down to my eyes. Live and learn! 

Omitted last 2 rounds of the square. This hat has a total of 6 squares. 

Close up of the flower in the hat. 

Since these are my original patterns, please don't claim as your own. You have my permission to post the patterns on your Blog or Website as long as you link back to my Blog, giving me credit as the designer and original source. 

How to Crochet a Simple Granny Square

Melani, here are the instructions on how to do a simple Granny Square. It is crochet in the round. The nice thing about this pattern is, once you have the first couple of rows done, the pattern repeats itself into infinity. My Mother in Law learned how to crochet in her 50's. Doing this version of the Granny Square is the only pattern she knew. After a few years her house was covered in colorful Afghans of Granny Squares.

There are several ways of starting the ring. One way is to crochet into a Magic circle. Another one is to make a ring of chains joined into a circle. 

Either make a Magic Circle or Chain 5, slip stitch into 1st chain to create a circle.

Row 1: Chain 3 (counts as first double crochet), in same space (2 Double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets), chain 2. In next 3 chain 2 spaces (3 double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets, chain2) . Slip stitch into the top of beginning chain 3. Now you should have a total of 12 double crochets and 4 chain 2 spaces.

There are several ways of working the beginning corner. I think the easiest way for a beginner is the following...

Row 2: Slip stitch over the next 2 double crochets and into the center of the first chain 2 space. Chain 3 (first double crochet), work 2 double crochets, chain 2, 3 more double crochets into the same space (first corner made), chain 2, (3 double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets)* into the next 2- chain spaces, chain 2. Slip stitch to the top of beginning chain 3. (Total of 24 double crochets, 8 chain 2 spaces.)

Rd. 3: Chain 3, 2 double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets into first corner, chain 2,* 3 double crochets into next space, chain 2, work corner (3double crochets, 2 chains, 3 double crochets), chain 2*. repeat from *-* 3 times. Slip stitch to top of chain at the beginning of the round. (Total of 36 double crochets and 12 chain 2 spaces.)

Continue in this pattern. With each consecutive round you should gain 1 double crochet cluster and 1 chain 2 space on each side of the square. (Adding a total of 12 double crochets and 4 chain 2 spaces in each round.) Hope this helps.