The Crocheter’s Messenger

This adorable bag sold for $145 at Crochetville’s 2007 auction! Features include a hook holder, yarn eyelets, and accessories pockets.

Finished Size: 12″ wide x 10″ high x 4″ deep

Pattern Level: Intermediate. Some sewing skill also required.

Materials:

• MC: 3 skeins (765 yd) Bernat® Soft Bouclé or 5/bulky weight yarn
• CC: 1 skein (255 yd) Bernat® Soft Bouclé or 5/bulky weight yarn
• Size J-10 (6.0 mm) crochet hook
• 1 yd 1” wide grosgrain ribbon
• 1/2 yd fabric in coordinating color for lining
• 3 3/16” eyelets Stitch markers
• Yarn needle
• Sewing thread in coordinating color
• Sewing needle

Front Panel – make 2.

Worked from bottom to top.

With MC, ch 43.

Row 1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 dc, tr in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in next 2 ch, *sc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in next 2 ch; rep from * across. 42 st.

Row 2. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Row 3. Ch 4 (counts as tr); turn. Skip 1st sc, dc in next 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, dc in next 2 sc, tr in next sc, *tr in next sc, dc in next 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, dc in next sc, tr in next sc; rep from * across.

Row 4. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Change to CC.

Row 5. Ch 1; turn. *Sc in next 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, dc in next 2 sc, tr in next 2 sc, dc in next 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, sc in next 2 sc; rep from * across.

Row 6. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Change to MC.

Rows 7 & 8. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Rows 9 & 10. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Change to CC.

Rows 11 & 12. Rep rows 3 & 4. Change to MC.

Rows 13 & 14. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Rows 15 & 16. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Change to CC.

Rows 17 & 18. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Change to MC.

Rows 19 & 20. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Rows 21 & 22. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Change to CC.

Rows 23 & 24. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Change to MC.

Rows 25 & 26. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Rows 27 & 28. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Finish off.

Side Panels – make 2.

Worked from bottom to top.

With MC, ch 15.

Row 1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 dc, tr in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in last 2 ch. 14 st.

Row 2. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Row 3. Ch 4 (counts as tr); turn. Skip 1st sc, dc in next 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, dc in next 2 sc, tr in last sc.

Row 4. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Change to CC.

Row 5. Ch 1; turn. Sc in next 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, dc in next 2 sc, tr in next 2 sc, dc in next 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, sc in last 2 sc.

Row 6. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Change to MC.

Rows 7 & 8. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Rows 9 & 10. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Change to CC.

Rows 11 & 12. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Change to MC.

Rows 13 & 14. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Rows 15 & 16. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Change to CC.

Rows 17 & 18. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Change to MC.

Rows 19 & 20. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Rows 21 & 22. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Change to CC.

Rows 23 & 24. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Change to MC.

Rows 25 & 26. Rep rows 5 & 6.

Rows 27 & 28. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Finish off.

Back Panel/Front Cover Flap

Worked from back to front.

With MC, ch 43.

Rows 1-28 make up back of messenger bag.

Rows 1-28. Work as for rows 1-28 of front panel. Place stitch markers at both ends of row 28.

Rows 29-35 make up top of messenger bag.

Row 29. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Row 30. Ch 3 (counts as dc); turn. Skip 1st sc, dc in next sc and ea sc across.

Row 31. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Row 32. Ch 1; turn. Sc in 1st 7 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next sc; space made for eyelet. Sc in next 11 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next sc; space made for second eyelet. Sc in next 11 sc, ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next sc; space made for third eyelet. Sc in ea rem sc across.

Row 33. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea sc and ch-1 sp across.

Row 34. Rep row 30.

Row 35. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea dc across.

Rows 36-62 make up front cover flap of messenger bag.

Rows 36-53. Work as for rows 1-18 of front panel.

Row 54. Ch 3 (counts as dc); turn. Skip 1st sc, dc in next sc and ea sc across.

Row 55. Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch-1 sp); turn. Skip 1st 2 dc, dc in next dc, *ch 1, skip next dc, dc in next dc; rep from * across to last dc, dc in last dc.

Row 56. Ch 3 (counts as dc); turn. Skip 1st dc, dc in first ch-1 sp, dc in ea rem dc & ch-1 sp across.

Rows 57-62. Work as for rows 23-28 of front panel.

Finish off.

Bottom

With MC, ch 43.

Row 1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and ea ch across. 42 sc.

Row 2. Ch 3 (counts as dc); turn. Skip first sc, dc in ea rem sc across.

Rows 3-6. Ch 3 (counts as dc); turn. Skip 1st dc, dc in ea rem dc across.

Row 7. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea dc across.

Finish off.

Accessories Pocket

Worked from bottom to top.

With MC, ch 15.

Row 1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in last 2 ch. 14 st.

Row 2. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Row 3. Ch 4 (counts as tr); turn. Skip 1st sc, dc in next 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, sc in next 4 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, dc in next 2 sc, tr in last sc.

Row 4. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Row 5. Ch 1; turn. Sc in 1st 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, dc in next 2 sc, tr in next 2 sc, dc in next 2 sc, hdc in next 2 sc, sc in last 2 sc.

Row 6. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea st across.

Rows 7-10. Rep rows 3-6.

Rows 11 & 12. Rep rows 3 & 4.

Finish off.

Hook Pocket

With MC, ch 15.

Row 1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and ea ch across. 14 sc.

Rows 2-6. Ch 1; turn. Sc in ea sc across.

Finish off.

Strap

With MC, ch 15.

Rows 1-28. Work as for rows 1-28 of side panels, with MC only. Place stitch markers at both ends of row 28.

Rows 28-56. Work as for rows 1-28 of side panels, with MC only.

Row 57. Work as for row 1 of side panels, place stitch markers at both ends of this row.

Rows 56-84. Work as for rows 2-28 of side panels.

Finish off. Fold strap in half lengthwise between stitch markers; whipstitch in place. This will both double the thickness and half the width of the strap in the center.

Lining

Lay the following pieces flat on fabric to be used for lining: 2 front panels, 2 side panels, 1 bottom panel. Use the pieces as templates, and cut the fabric around the pieces leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance. Sew the two side panels between the two front panels, creating a tube of fabric, and then sew the bottom into place. Hem the top.

Finishing

Accessories Pocket

With MC and yarn needle, sew the accessories pocket into place in the bottom right corner of one of the front panels, sewing around the sides and bottom and leaving the top open.

Hook Holder

With MC and yarn needle, sew the hook pocket into place in the bottom left corner of the same front panel as accessories pocket, sewing around the sides and bottom and leaving the top open. Then pin the remaining ribbon into place about 4” above the hook pocket. Sew into place down both ends of the ribbon. Using sewing thread, backstitch ribbon at ½-inch intervals to front panels. This will create separate sections of ribbon to hold individual hooks.

Pattern Book Pocket

Place the front panel with pockets on top of the second front panel. Whipstitch around sides and bottom, leaving top open; this will create a third pocket for pattern books.

Yarn Eyelets

Affix one eyelet to each ch-1 space made for eyelets in row 32 of back panel/front cover flap, following the instructions that came with the eyelets.

Decorative Ribbon

Cut one 18” length of ribbon and one 12” length (6” of ribbon will be leftover; this will be used for the hook holder). Beginning from left to right, weave one ribbon piece in and out of the ch-1 sp of row 55 of back panel/front cover flap; stop when desired position for bow is reached. Sew into place. Repeat with second piece of ribbon, weaving in and out of the ch-1 sp from right to left. Sew into place. Tie ribbon into a bow where they meet in the middle. Trim ends evenly.

Assembly

Sc one side panel to each side of front panel pocket. Then sc back panel/front cover flap into place between the two side panels, working only from bottom of back panel up to where stitch markers were placed at row 28. Sc bottom into place; leave top open. Whipstitch strap into place at top of side panels. With sewing thread, sew lining into place in main compartment. Fold front cover flap over front panel pocket.

Edging

Sc evenly around opening of messenger bag. Sc evenly around un-worked edges of front cover flap. Finish off; weave in all ends.

Abbreviations

• CC (contrasting color)
• ch (chain)
• dc (double crochet)
• ea (each)
• hdc (half-double crochet)
• MC (main color)
• mm (millimeter)
• rem (remaining)
• rep (repeat)
• sc (single crochet)
• sp (space)
• st (stitch)
• tr (treble crochet)
• yd (yard)