More Exchange Fun!

Waiting for me when I got home tonight was my exchange package from Minky (Kathy) from CFL. She was my partner for the Fall / Halloween exchange that I spoke about in the previous post. And lookie how she spoiled me!



I got a very cool sling drawstring purse with a pocket-laden lining, yummy teas, a precious octopus, matching notepads, sticky notes and pen and a very cute Halloween card! I feel so very, very spoiled! So if you know Minky and have the opportunity to be her exchange partner someday, be excited. Be very excited!

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Because there aren't enough projects on my list, I'm working on a Ripple Bag. The colors are pea green and honey, and I'm making it with Vanna's Choice. This pattern works up very quickly and would make a great last minute gift when you only have a short amount of time to get something worked up.

Here's a pic of the body of the bag. I probably won't pick this up again until the weekend, at which point, I expect to be finished with it. I'll be sure to post a finished pic.



Keep those hooks and needles flying!

Small FOs

The last swap I had to prepare for this weekend was a bookmark swap. Here be what's going to the lucky recipient (along with a few books and other assorted goodies.)



All were made with size 5 perle cotton (ok, so I'm on a perle cotton kick.) The patterns are from left to right:

Fancy Filigree Bookmark by Cheri Mancini, Fan Bookmark by Crochetroo and Quickie Bookmark by Priscilla Hewitt

So that completes all of my 'deadline' projects! Now back to CALs, Christmas gifts and other normal programming ~ until the next exchange anyway!

Spidey Bag

I finished this one up today for another exchange partner (who shall remain nameless until she receives it.) The theme was Halloween and ya know, with all the Halloween patterns out there, this one should have been a snap. But I decided to get creative and not use a pattern. So the creativity was flowing fast enough as I was crocheting the bag, but once it came to embellishing it, I hit a block wall :o\ But as exchanges have deadlines, it had to go out. I think I'll continue to work on this one a bit more to see what I can do to improve it. It's not bad, but I'd like for it to be better. Any ideas?



The purse is made with worsted weight cotton yarn. For the spider web, I used size 5 perle cotton. I might like it better if the web was larger but I only had one skein of white perle and I figured it would be enough (not that I don't have megatons of white size 10 which would have worked just as well.) But you know how it goes once you've set your mind on something. I was convinced it had to be size 5. The eyeballs on the bottom are some earrings I got at the cheapie costume jewelry store in the mall (Claire's I think it's called.) I lined it with the pirate skull fabric you see on the right there. The handle is a 36" length of chain I found in the beading/jewelry department at Joann's.

I have one more exchange project to finish this weekend, so I'm going to get back at it. Have a great day!

Tweedle-Dee Bag

As promised, here be the instructions for making this bag. Enjoy!



Skill Level


Materials

Approximately 350 yds Bulky weight yarn
Crochet Hook Size L / 8mm
25” Pre-made Purse Strap
2 Magnetic Purse Snaps
Fabric for Lining (optional) – 1/2 yard
Matching Thread for Lining
3 Large Wood Buttons (or embellishments of your choice)
1 Sheet Plastic Canvas

The bag in the picture was made with Moda Dea Tweedle Dee in Ocean Breeze and an ‘Exclusively You’ purse strap. Buttons were handmade by a local artisan. For the lining fabric, I chose a sturdy poplin to add body to the purse.

Special Stitches
Extended Half Double Crochet (ehdc): YO, insert hook in st indicated, YO and pull up loop, YO and draw through one loop, YO and draw through remaining 3 loops on hook.
InstructionsBag is made in one piece.

Notes
Monitor ending rows to ensure last rows result in the same crocheted edge appearance.

Front
Ch 30.

Row 1: 1 ehdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (29 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1 loosely, turn. 1 ehdc in each ehdc across.

Repeat row 2 until piece measures 9 inches. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Sides and Bottom
Ch 25, 1 ehdc in each ehdc across front section.

Next Row: Ch 26, turn. 1 ehdc in 2nd ch from hook and in the next 29 ehdc, 1 ehdc in each ch to end. (79 sts)

Continue in pattern for 5 inches. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Back and Front Flap
Skip the first 25 sts of the side. Join yarn with a sl st to the next ehdc. Ch 1, 1 ehdc in the same sp as the last sl st, 1 ehdc in each of the next 28 sts, turn. Leave remaining sts unworked.

Continue in pattern for 16 -17 inches for a longer flap (as in photo) or 13 - 14 inches for a shorter flap.

Finishing
Reference the diagram below and sew sides to front and back sections. (I slip stitched the sides together and slip stitched across the side top edges.) Finish off, weave in ends.



With RS facing, reverse sc around edges of front flap. Finish off, weave in ends.

Attach magnetic snaps according to the diagram below. If your snaps do not include a metal washer, cut a small piece of heavy fabric to place on the back side to stabilize the snap.



Make loop holders for the purse strap by either crocheting small strips or using your lining fabric. Sew to the middle of the sides between snaps. Be sure to loop around ring of the purse strap before you sew.

Line and embellish as desired! Cut a piece of plastic canvas to the length and width of the bottom section to use as stabilizer.

The fine print: Copyright 2007. Feel free to make these for yourself, as gifts, for charity bazaars or craft shows to supplement your income. You may not use this pattern for large-scale commerical profit. Do not distribute this pattern outside of providing a link to this site.

From My Exchange Partner :)

Many thanks to Kim for the wonderful package she sent to me. She was my exchange partner for the Crochetville Autumn Purse exchange and her package definitely exceeded what was called for!



For these exchanges, you complete a survey with your likes, wishes, etc. I had asked for a medium tote for my mobile projects and I got exactly that. The colors are perfect for dragging around in a car, etc. I love colors that won't show 'wear'. The pattern she picked was great as it has lots of pockets. Cuz there's no such thing as too many pockets! She did an excellent job on it. The goodies she sent along were awesome too. A tea sampler, bath salts, incense, hand salve (yummy hand salve), a small cross-stitch kit and a button that says 'I [heart] Dragons'. Cuz I do!

This is a perfect example of a perfect exchange ~ way to go Kim and thanks so much!!