Purses, Bags & Totes Project of the Month: October

Jute Bag

Design by Wanda Jean Mayhall

Who knew jute could be so classy and sophisticated when combined with the magical manifestations of a crochet hook? This bag has high-fashion looks with or without the optional jewelry accents.

Skill Level
Intermediate

Finished Measurements
11 1/2 x 17 inches, excluding Straps

Materials

• 3-ply jute (220 feet per ball): 5 balls
• Lily Sugar’n Cream medium (worsted) weight cotton yarn (2 1/2 oz/120 yds/71g per ball): 1 ball #00001 white
• Sizes H/8/5mm and J/10/6mm crochet hooks or size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry needle
• Sewing needle
• Sewing thread to match fabric
• 1 yd lining fabric
• Hook-and-loop tape
• 3 pairs earrings or buttons: optional
• Chain bracelet
• Stitch marker

Gauge
Size J hook and jute: 3 sc = 1 inch; 3 sc rows = 1 inch

Pattern Note
Work in continuous rounds; do not turn or join unless otherwise stated.
Mark first stitch of each round.
Work in back loops unless otherwise stated.
Join with slip stitch as indicated unless otherwise stated.

Bag
Rnd 1: With size J hook and jute, ch 35, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across with 5 sc in last ch, working on opposite side of ch, sc in each ch across with 4 sc in last ch, do not join (see Pattern Notes). (74 sc)
Row 2: Now working in rows and in back lps, 2 sc in first st, sc in each of next 32 sts, 2 sc in each of next 5 sts, sc in each of next 32 sts, 2 sc in each of last 4 sts. (84 sc)
Row 3: 2 sc in each of first 2 sts, sc in each of next 32 sts, 2 sc in each of next 10 sts, sc in each of next 32 sts, 2 sc in each of last 8 sts. (104 sc)
Rows 4–35: Sc in each st around. At end of last rnd, fasten off.

Trim
With size H hook, join white with sc in any lp of 14th rnd from top edge, sc in each st around. Fasten off.
Rep Trim on next rnd up 7 times for a total of 8 rnds of Trim.

Strap
Make 2.
Rnd 1: With size J hook and jute, ch 100, sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across with 5 sc in last ch, working on opposite side of ch, sc in each ch across with 4 sc in last ch, join (see Pattern Notes) in beg sc. Fasten off.
Rnd 2: With size H hook, join white with sc in first st, sc in each st around, join in beg sc. Fasten off.
Sew Strap to Bag as shown in photo. Attach earrings or buttons to ends of Straps as shown in photo.

Lining
Measure inside of Bag, allowing 3/4-inch seam allowance on all edges.
From fabric, cut front and back, and then side and bottom.
With RS of fabric pieces tog, sew front and back to sides and then to bottom.
Place Lining inside Bag, turn top edge under 3/4 inch and sew in place.
Cut piece of hook-and-loop tape, and sew or glue to inside center of Bag.

Small Purse
Rnd 1: With size J hook and jute, ch 20, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across with 5 sc in last ch, working on opposite side of ch, sc in each ch across with 4 sc in last ch. (44 sc)
Rnds 2–12: Sc in each st around. At end of last rnd, fasten off.

Trim
With size H hook, join white with sc in any lp of 5th rnd from top edge, sc in each st around. Fasten off.
Rep Trim on next rnd up twice for a total of 3 rnds of Trim.

Lining
Measure inside of Purse, allowing 3/4-inch seam allowance on all edges.
From fabric, cut front and back.
With RS of fabric pieces tog, sew front and back tog around 3 side edges leaving top edge open.
Place Lining inside Purse, turn top edge under 3/4 inch and sew in place.
Cut piece of hook-and-loop tape, and sew or glue to inside center of Small Purse.
Attach 1 end of bracelet to top edge of Bag and the other end to top edge of Small Purse.
Attach earrings or buttons to 1 side of Small Purse.

DOWNLOAD
Click here to download the PDF (337.3 KB)

Other project series:

• Afghan Project of the Month
• Scrap Project of the Month
• Doily Project of the Month