Let’s get started on the inaugural Marly Bird First Fall Make-Along with a felted crochet weekender bag! This is lesson four and we are adding the final finishing and felting the bag!

Read more: First Fall Felted Crochet Weekender Bag – Lesson Four

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REMEMBER…

This is a ???? free make-along ???? and will remain free until the end of Nov. 2022.

After that, the pattern will only be available as a paid pdf.

Important Dates of the First Fall Make-Along

This make-along will take place over four weeks.

Oct. 19, 2022 – Base of Bag

Oct. 26, 2022 – Body of Bag

Nov. 02, 2022 – Body of Bag Continued

Nov. 9, 2022 – Finishing and Felting

Special How to Line Class released on Nov. 16, 2022 <– VIP ONLY

The Marly Bird First Fall Make-Along | Felted Crochet Weekender Bag

ABBREVIATIONS

Ch – Chain(s) 

FPSC – Front Post Single Crochet

Hdc – Half Double Crochet

RS – Right Side 

Sc – Single Crochet

Sp(s) – Space(s) 

St(s) – Stitch(es)

Tch – Turning Chain

WS – Wrong Side

FIRST FALL WEEKENDER PATTERN — Lesson Four

EDGING ON BODY

With color C held double and smaller hook, sc around the final round of the body of the bag. This will pull the final edge in a little tighter so it will not flair out during the felting process. 

Fasten off. 

TABS FOR STRAPS (create 4)

Right Tab

Set-up Row: With RS facing, color C held double, and a larger hook; place slip knot on hook, work around the post of stitch 38 on row 34 of chart, make a front post single crochet (fpsc) in this stitch (insert hook from outside of bag to inside of bag around post of stitch and back to outside of bag again), fpsc in the next 4 stitches, ch 1, turn. 

Row 1 (WS): Sc in first sc and in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Row 2 (RS): Sc in first sc and in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Repeat rows 1 and 2 three times more, then row 1 once. 

Fasten off. 

Left Tab

Set-up Row: With RS facing, color C held double, and a larger hook; place slip knot on hook, work around the post of stitch 38 on row 34 of chart, make a front post single crochet (fpsc) in this stitch (insert hook from outside of bag to inside of bag around post of stitch and back to outside of bag again), fpsc in the next 4 stitches, ch 1, turn. 

Row 1 (WS): Sc in first sc and in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Row 2 (RS): Sc in first sc and in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Repeat rows 1 and 2 three times more, then row 1 once. 

Fasten off. 

CHART FOR TAB PLACEMENT

indicated the stitches worked with a fpsc in orange:

CROCHET PURSE HANDLES/STRAPS (MAKE 2)

If you are not using leather handles with o-rings or any other type of premade handles, you need to make straps for your bag.

With colors B and C held double (4 strands total) and a larger hook, ch 121, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each chain to end of row, ch 1, turn — 120 hdc. 

Drop color C, continue with color B, 3 sc in first hdc, sc in each hdc to end of row, 3 sc in last hdc, rotate strap to work into free loops of foundation chain edge, 3 sc in first chain, sc in each free loop to last chain, 3 sc in last chain, join with a slip stitch to first sc — 248 sc.

Fasten off. 

Weave in ends, and prepare for felting. 

PREPARE FOR FELTING

Weave in any loose ends. 

Seam closed any gaping holes

FELTING INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: We recommend you test felt your yarn. Crochet a swatch using the same yarn in the same colors shown and test felt it before proceeding with your project. 

You cannot predict the effects of all washing machines, detergents and local water conditions. Felting is irreversible. It is easy to felt “just a little more”, but impossible to undo the effects of over-felting. 

Place the project in the washer and add a very small amount of baking soda or detergent (1⁄4 cap). 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. After the piece has finished, remove from washer and remove extra water from the fabric with a dry towel (DO NOT TWIST). 

Lay project flat or shape piece to measurements to dry. 

Do not put in the sun or use a clothes dryer. 

Allow the project to dry thoroughly. 

ADD HANDLE/STRAPS

Leather handle/straps with O-ring on handle: thread one tab through one end of the o-ring, and the other tab on the same side of the bag through the other end of the handle/strap o-ring. 

Using color C and a tapestry needle, seam the tab closed to the bag thus encasing the o-ring and securing the handle/strap. 

Repeat on other side with second handle/strap.

Crochet handle/straps: With color C and a tapestry needle, seam the tabs closed to form a circle. Working on one side of the bag, thread the felted handle through the tabs to form a circle. Now sew the two ends of the strap together to form a circle. 

You now have a double handle strap on one side of the bag. Repeat for the other side of the bag. 

MARLY BIRD FIRST FALL MAKE-ALONG CROCHET WEEKENDER BAG IMAGES

I am so excited to no line the bag and add a zipper to the top!