cherishables: Summer Granny Square Purse 3

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Summer Granny Square Purse 3

I went a little crazy with the granny squares. I made one of every color combo I had in this type of yarn. When I was done I had about 50 squares. More than enough to make a purse. So many, in fact, that I decided I would make a "proper" purse. Meaning, instead of lining up the front & back & sewing them together like a sack, I would use some of the squares to add a gusset along the sides & bottom. Here's what that looks like:

Side view

I used the same method to join the squares for the gusset as I did to join the squares together. I matched up the squares with the right side together & then slip stitched through the outer loop of the crochet stitch.

I took this while trying to make the stitch. Sorry it didn't come out better. Let me know if you have questions on how to do this & I'll try to explain better and/or take more pictures.

By crocheting through 2 loops only (instead of all 4) the bag lays flat. You also want to slip stitch through the two outer loops so that you have a nice even pattern on the front. I'm sure there are other, more technical, reasons but I don't know them. I just know it looks nice and the bag lays really flat. No bubbling squares.

See those two lines? Those are the inside loops I didn't use to join the squares together.

So, after I made the front & back panels (and wove in all the ends!) I joined the squares set aside for the bottom gusset. I attached the squares to the purse first & then went back & attached them to each other. After that was done, I decided it was easier to attach the squares in a strip. So for the side gussets, I first attached the squares to each other & made a set of three in a strip. I attached that strip to one side of the purse (right sides facing) and then did the same for the gusset on the other side.

After the side & bottom gussets were added, I added the back purse panel and attached it by slip stitching all the way around -- attaching the gussets to the panel. I did this by matching up the right sides & slip stitching through the 2 outer loops for each stitch. When that is done, you'll have a purse that is the same all the way around.

View standing up

View laying flat

The purse is 5 squares across and three high, so any other squares you see are the gussets. When this is lined, the purse will stand in a very traditional shape.

Can you find my mistake? I don't know why, but my granny squares aren't so square at the top. They're rounded, which gives the bag a, sort of, scalloped look at the top. I'm okay with that, because it still looks pretty. If someone can tell me what I did wrong, that would be great because I would like to try this purse again. I did try to block it (the purse is drying now) but that doesn't seem to make a difference. Oh well! We'll pretend I'm some sort of genius who purposely wanted the top to be scalloped. I won't tell if you won't!

Next up, lining the purse and figuring out the handle(s.) I haven't decided on purchased handles or created handles yet. If you have an opinion, please share in the comments.

Thanks & Happy Crafting!
Cherish

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Summer Granny Square Purse 3

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