The Japanese knot bag has been a crowd favorite, but there were a few things I wanted to improve on to make what I would classify as a more dependable everyday bag. There's nothing wrong with the lightweight original, but this one uses doubled yarn for durability. It's about the same size as the original, but I've now tapered the body so that there's less sagging around the opening when you interlock the straps- giving you a tightly closed bag.
For the Valentine's theme, I used two yarns by Mainstays (Walmart brand): Purple Blend and Pink. One skein of each was enough to make this bag with some yarn left for a little pouch or bag charm.
Project Time: ~4-6 hours
Materials:
US size L/8mm hook
#4 medium weight yarn- (2) 7oz skeins in contrasting or complementary colors
tapestry needle & scissors
Things to Keep in Mind:
You can use whatever hook size and yarn weight you like, and I encourage you to experiment with that so you can familiarize yourself with gauge, which is stitch size based on thickness of yarn, size of hook, and tightness of stitch because you will organically learn how to adjust a pattern to get your desired fit.
Abbreviations:
ch- chain, sts- stitches, sc- single crochet, sl st- slip stitch, 2sc- work 2 single crochets into same stitch
("sc2"= 1 sc into 2 individual stitches), sc2tog- decrease by single crocheting 2 stitches together
Size: 9" tall x 11" wide, longer strap 12.5" & shorter strap 7"
Pattern
You're going to crochet a cylinder base, then work in the round to create the body of the bag like in this pattern: . The difference is amount of stitches and working decreases evenly as we get to the top of the bag. Make one long strap and one shorter strap then attach.
Base:
(Worked in the round without turning.) Create a slip knot and chain 9.
2sc into second chain from hook, sc 6 sts, 3sc into last stitch, (working on other side of chain) sc 6 sts, sc into first stitch where you put 2sc and sl st to beginning. (18 sts)
2sc first st, 2sc next st, sc 6 sts, 2sc next 3 sts, sc 6 sts, 2sc, sl st to beginning. (24 sts)
(sc 2, 2sc) twice, sc 6 across, (sc 2, 2sc) x 3, sc 6 across, (sc 2, 2sc), sl st to beginning. (30 sts)
(sc 3, 2sc) twice, sc 6 across, (sc 3, 2sc) x 3, sc 6 across, (sc 3, 2sc), sl st to beginning. (36 sts)
(sc 4, 2sc) twice, sc 6 across, (sc 4, 2sc) x 3, sc 6 across, (sc 4, 2sc), sl st to beginning. (42 sts)
sc in back loop only around, sl st to beginning. (48 sts)
Body
7-20. sc around, sl st to beginning. (48 sts) Because you're working in the round without turning, you'll want to consider how your seam will look. Below I have a diagram for how I end/begin each row.
Now you're going to work 4 decreases evenly, every other row, for the next 6 rows.
21. (sc 10, sc2tog) to end, sl st to beginning. (44 sts)
22. sc around, sl st to beginning. (44 sts)
23. (sc 9, sc2tog) to end, sl st to beginning. (40 sts)
24. sc around, sl st to beginning. (40 sts)
25. (sc 8, sc2tog) to end, sl st to beginning. (36 sts)
26. sc around, sl st to beginning. (36 sts)
Straps
Don't fasten off. 6 sc across.
Turn work, ch 1, sc 6. Repeat til you have 44 rows total.
Fasten off, leaving a tail to sew the other end of the strap to the body.
Skip 2 sts and whip stitch on the wrong sides to attach end of strap.
Skip 4 sts. Attach yarn and 6 sc across.
Turn work, ch 1, sc 6. Repeat til you have 22 rows total.
Fasten off, leaving a tail to sew the strap to the body.
Skip 2 sts and whip stitch on the wrong sides to attach end of strap.
Weave in ends and you're done!
For my visual learners, here's video to make sure you're on the right track.
This pattern is my own, so I ask that you please do not sell it, although you are free to sell your creations and save the pictorial for future reference. Please follow @handmadeby_le on TikTok for more videos.
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