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Firecracker Felted Crochet Bag
The Firecracker Felted Crochet Bag (or purse). Let me answer your questions…
- Yes, that is eyelash yarn;
- Yes, that is a felted crochet bag;
- No, I do not live in Texas 🙂 LOL.
The Firecracker Crochet Felted Bag is one of those patterns that I designed and turned out EXACTLY how I envision it.
I love the shape, I love the closure, I love the handles, I love, love, love the use of eyelash yarn with felted wool to create a lot of texture.
If you have never felted crochet before don’t be scared! It is super easy. Here are some fool proof instructions for how to do it.
(Disclaimer, Affiliate Links Used in this post so I can make some money and give you a pattern for FREE)
Because I want many of you to know how wonderful this bag is I am offering it to you as a FREE PATTERN! Please share this pattern page URL ( https://marlybird.com/firecracker-felted-crochet-purse ) with others who might like a bag like this 🙂
Firecracker Bag
Finished Size
Post-felt: 16” wide and 12” tall; base 13” wide
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Yarns, “220” (100% Peruvian Wool; 220 yds [200 m]/100 g): #9568 Twilight Blue (MC), 3 hanks; #8414 Bright Red (CA), 3 hanks. **NOTE: any 100% wool will work for this project**
Yarn Bee Yarn, “Gilt Eyelash” (65% Polyester, 35% Lurex Glitter; 125 yds [3 ounces]): #60 Tinsel Sky (CB), 1 ball; #30 Twinkle (CC), 1 ball; #50 Star Ruby (CD), 1 ball.
Hook: Size J/10 (6 mm)
Notions: Stitch markers(m), tapestry needle, sewing needle and matching thread, purse handles
Gauge
12 sts and 9 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in Half Double Crochet double stranded.
Pattern Notes:
- You don’t want the stitches to be too tight or the fabric will not felt as well as it should.
- Bag is worked hold two strands of wool together throughout pattern, when the eyelash yarn is used hold is along with the two strands of 100% wool.
- The bag is made inside out therefore, the inside of the bag will look like it has more eyelash but once it is flipped right side out it will look GREAT!
- Work over the ends of all the yarn used (even the eyelash) as you work along. Doing this is fine for a felted bag, as the ends cannot work loose once the finished bag is felted.
Special Stitches
flp (front loop only): in stitch indicated, insert hook into front loop only and work stitch as indicated.
hdc (half double crochet): Yarn over hook, insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop; yarn over and draw through all three loops on hook.
hdc2tog (half double crochet 2 stitches together): [Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over and draw up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 5 loops on hook.
Color Sequence
MC 4 rnds
MC and CB 3 rnds
CA 2 rnds
CA and CD 3 rnds
CA 2 rnds
CA and CC 3 rnds
CA 2 rnds
CA and CD 3 rnds
CA 2 rnds
MC and CB 3 rnds
MC 2 rnds
CA 2 rnds
Pattern
Base
With MC, CH 52. hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 2, turn—50 hdc’s.
Row 1: Hdc in first hdc and in each hdc across, ch 2, turn—50 hdc’s. Repeat row 14 more times, do not finish off—16 rows.
Prepare for round
Row 1: *3 hdc in first st, hdc to last st, 3 hdc in last st. Turn work 90 degrees to work along the side of the base. Hdc 21 sts evenly along the side. Turn work 90 degrees* to work along the chain edge; rep from * to *. Join with a sl st to first hdc, ch 2. Do Not Turn—150 sts around.
Place a marker in the middle of each 3 hdc corners and move the marker up as you make the bag.
Body of Bag—in the round
Follow the color sequence
Rnd 1: Hdc in first hdc and in each around, join with a sl st to first hdc, ch 2. Do Not Turn.
Repeat rnd 1to the last rnd of the color sequence. Last Rnd: Hdc through the front loop only this rnd, finish off.
Top of Bag
Work each side separately on each row
Row 1: With the short edge facing, estimate the center and place a stitch marker. Now, fold the sides to the center marker so that all the markers match up at the center of the bag (forms a letter W or M).
With CB, join with a sl st to the outside edge and sctog two layers together to the marker, then sc the long side to the markers on other side and sctog two layers together to end, finish off.
Join yarn to opposite side of bag and repeat from * to end, Do Not Finish Off.
Row 2: Ch 2, sctog two layers together at the sides (these are what you just created) to the marker, then sc the long side to the marker on other side and sc tog two layers together, finish off.
Join yarn at markers edge and sc around opposite long side edge to opposite marker, finish off.
Turn the bag Right Side Out
Handle tabs: laying your bag out flat and place the purse handle you plan on using at the top of the bag so that you can see where the tabs need to be placed. Use removable stitch markers to mark specifically where you want your tab to begin and end so that the purse handle is centered.
Between your markers is where the tab will be made. Make sure the tab is long enough that when it is felted and folded it will still be good for the handles you plan on using.
At one marker, join MC with a sl st to the exposed loop of the row you did the front loop only hdc. Work a row of sc wide enough for your handles, turn. Working only on the stitches just created *Ch 1 and sc across, turn; repeat from * until tab is desired length, finish off.
Finishing
Weave in all loose ends.
Felting
Place the bag in a pillowcase or pillow cover and either zipper it shut or close it with a heavy duty elastic – this will help to prevent clogging your machine with fibers coming off in the washing process. Place the pillowcase in the washer and add a very small amount of detergent. Set the washer on hot water/cold rinse cycle, minimum size load, and wash garment. Check the felting process every 1-2 minutes depending on your machine, detergent, and local water conditions. If using spin cycle to remove excess water, set on lowest setting – folds caused by the spin cycle are hard to remove. After the piece has finished washing, shape to desired form. Then, let dry overnight.
Using sewing thread and needle sew the handles on to bag.
Really make your bag shine! Choosing the right handles can really take your bag from a craft item to a WOW, YOU MADE THAT?!? I like the handcrafted handles made of leather. You can find some really great handles here.
Looking for more? I love making quick projects and even wrote a leaflet with Leisure Arts on how to do some fun things! If you too are looking for fun and quick projects go and check out the some of Marly’s Books!
Categories: Crochet, Our Free Patterns, Pattern, Uncategorized
Marly! What a fun bag. I have never felted a crocheted piece before but this looks fun and like a great way to combine fun fur with wool. Thank you for the idea and pattern.