UPDATE:
The Hello Summer Beach Bag pattern is now available in both my Ravelry shop as well as in my Etsy shop! You can also click on over to the posts for additional resources for each step of the bag below.
Happy crocheting!!
Ah, sand in between your toes, warm sun shining down on you, a gentle breeze across your bare skin, and the sound of ocean waves caressing the beach in the background. Do you have a good book? A surfboard? A drink in your hand? Or how about some crocheting? Yes, I took my crocheting to the beach!
But I didn't take it to work on. Not this time. This time I took it for a photo shoot!
After several years of considering making a new bag pattern, I finally took the plunge and committed to it. And it's a beach bag, y'all! Okay, well, it CAN be a beach bag. The pattern includes instructions for four sizes and two filet crochet alphabets to choose from to customize your bag in pretty much whatever way you'd like. The possibilities are practically endless!
Preorders are open now in my Ravelry shop at https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hello-summer-beach-bag and we officially kick off August 4th! In your preorder file, you'll get basically all the information from the first few pages of the pattern, to include suggested materials, gauge, sizes, and stitches used.
I also created some SPOILER links to images for my fellow curmudgeons who don't like mystery projects! You can find those at https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/crochet-cetera-by-connie-lee/4210659/1-25#2 but DO NOT CLICK unless unless you really want to see the full reveal! I didn't hold back, y'all, and you can't unsee it!
Okay. So let's talk yarn!
For my original samples I used Hampton by Cascade Yarns, which is 70% pima cotton and 30% linen. It has a nicer drape to it than kitchen cotton does and is a little bit finer at a DK weight. So essentially it makes a softer bag, gives us a little bit more real estate for customization in the filet crochet body section, and is a little nicer to work with, BUT if you want a super sturdy nearly forever type bag? Go with the kitchen cotton and choose one size down!
Here's what I used:
My size 4 sample used 2 skeins C1 (Ecru) and 3 skeins C2 (Opal). My size 2 sample used 1 skein C1 (Coral) and 2 skeins C2 (Ecru). Depending on the stitch pattern you choose for the main body of the bag in particular, as well as your gauge, you may need more or less yarn than is suggested, so I always recommend rounding up for yarn if you think you may need a little extra wiggle room! You can now order the same same yarn as I used from my old LYS Yarn Matters on their website as well as in person. Marina has also generously offered to donate a prize for the CAL!
If you'd like to hear (and see!) more about the yarn that I chose for this design, here's the color/yarn livestream I did!
Next week we'll dip into the first step of the pattern, so stay tuned for that!
If you haven't already, please join in the Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/crochetcetera; you can also post WIP pictures in the Ravelry Group or tag me @crochetcetera with #hellosummerbeachbagCAL to participate!
If you have any questions at all, drop a comment below!