Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for supplying the yarn for this sample!
It’s not lost on me that this probably seems a little late in the game to be releasing a Teacher Thank-You Gift idea, considering it seems most of the country has already been on summer break for a couple of weeks. But here in Michigan, we have this silly little state law that prohibits public schools from starting before Labor Day; and with a late start date comes a late end date. (I don’t mind it, really… it’s especially nice when all the Ohio kids go back to school in August and we Michiganders get all the rides at Cedar Point to ourselves. But I digress.)
So, since I’m a procrastinator, I’m just now figuring out what to give my son’s awesome Readiness Kindergarten teacher. Luckily for you, this pattern could be used for a number of things (and I’m hoping that Mrs. Huntley will find other uses for it as well)!
For Mrs. Huntley, I stuffed it with glue sticks and glue bottles (which were a constant need in the classroom throughout the year), and I also plan to add some candy and a small gift card for coffee. Hopefully she’ll love it… we sure love her!
About the Yarn
24/7 Cotton is a #4 medium weight yarn, although I’d definitely put it on the lighter side of the #4 family. It’s 100% mercerized cotton, which means it’s been treated with a process that brings out its brightness and sheen and helps it withstand multiple washings without losing that sheen. It comes in 186-yard skeins in a range of 24 gorgeous colors, from striking brights to natural-looking neutrals. It produces a stiffish (that’s probably not a real word) fabric, has a great balance of sheen and stitch definition, and doesn’t split at all during use. I’ve been seriously impressed with Lion Brand’s recently released yarns, and 24/7 Cotton is really no exception.
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HUNTLEY GIFT BAG
Level: Easy
Size: 9″ long x 3″ wide x 6″ tall
Hook: H (5.00mm)
Yarn: About 295 yards total of a #4 medium weight 100% mercerized cotton yarn. I used 24/7 Cotton (by Lion Brand) in color blocks of Lilac, Café Au Lait, and Ecru. You will be holding two strands together, so you can either buy two skeins of each color (if you’re using my color changes), or you can buy 1 skein of each and roll half of each skein into its own center-pull ball.
You’ll also need: Yarn needle
Gauge: 12 rows of 10SC = 3″ square
Abbreviations Used:
ST (stitch)
SL ST (slip stitch)
SK (skip)
CH (chain)
SC (single crochet)
HDC (half double crochet)
SC+HDC (this just means to put a single crochet and a half double crochet in the same stitch)
Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
(2) Starting CHs do not count as stitches.
(3) You are holding two strands together throughout the pattern.
(4) Made at the correct gauge, this bag is stiff enough to stand on its own, but still has quite a bit of give. For a stiffer bag, use a smaller hook size or consider triple-stranding your yarn.
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To begin:
With first color double-stranded, CH 26.
Round 1: 3SC in 2nd CH from hook. SC in each of the next 23 CHs. 3SC in last CH, working around the tail to the other side. SC in each of the next 23 CHs. Join with a SL ST to 1st SC. (52)
Round 2: CH1 (does not count as a stitch, here or throughout). 2SC in same ST, 2SC in each of the next 2 STS. SC in each of the next 23 STS. 2SC in each of the next 3 STS. SC in each of the next 23 STS. Join with a SL ST to 1st SC. (58)
Round 3: CH1. 2SC in same ST. SC in next ST. (2SC in next, SC in next) two times. SC in each of the next 23 STS. (2SC in next, SC in next) three times. SC in each of the next 23 STS. Join with a SL ST to 1st SC. (64)
Round 4: CH1. SC in each of first 2 STS. 2 SC in next ST. (SC in each of next 2 STS, 2SC in next) two times. SC in each of the next 23 STS. (SC in each of next 2 STS, 2SC in next) three times. SC in each of the next 23 STS. Join with a SL ST to 1st SC. (70)
Round 5: CH1. SC+HDC in same ST, SK next ST. (SC+HDC in next ST, SK next ST) around. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. (70)
Rounds 6-13: CH1, turn. SC+HDC in same ST, SK next ST. (SC+HDC in next ST, SK next ST) around. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. (70)
Note: You should be back on the right side of your work at this point. If you find that you are on the wrong side, it’s not a big deal, you probably just miscounted a row, but you’ll need to turn on the next round to get yourself back to the right side.
Change colors if desired.
Rounds 14-20: CH1. SC in first ST and in each ST around. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. (70)
Change colors if desired.
Rounds 21-23: CH1. SC in first ST and in each ST around. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. (70)
Round 24: CH1. SC in first ST and in next 19 STS. CH14. SK 11 STS. SC in next 24 STS. CH14. SK 11 STS. SC in next 4 STS. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. (48 SC + two CH14s)
Visual of Round 24, creating the bag handles with the CH14:
Round 25: CH1. SC in first ST and in each ST around, putting 1SC in each CH from the two CH14s of the previous round. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. (76)
Rounds 26-27: CH1. SC in first ST and in each ST around. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. (76)
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Hi! I absolutely love this bag! The textures and colour possibilities are awesome. Thank you so much!
I love this!!! How would I enlarge this to make a bigger bag?
Hello! I’ve been looking for an idea for end of the year gifts for my kids teachers but I’m not very confident on my “design” skills. I need to make 6 baskets and was wondering if you had any ideas for the other color palettes for the other 5?
Thanks
Stacy
Hello,
I’m not sure if my first comment sent. So hear I go again. In round 1, when it says to work around the tail to the other side does that mean that your work is still facing you the same way (right side) and then you do the other 23 sc in the foundation chains. If so, should it be bringing you to the last (first) foundation chain and then you sl st to the 1st sc? Your help would be greatly appreciated 🙂
Hi Ann-Marie! Imagine if you were to lay your starting chain down flat on a table, and use your finger to trace around it starting at where your hook left off, and tracing all the way around it until you come back to the same spot. That’s what you’re doing with the stitches; going all the way down one side of the chain, then coming back down the other side (so each stitch has a stitch across the chain that “mirrors” it) until you come back to the very first stitch you made. The spots where you do 3SC are what will help you to get around to the other side and still keep your work nice and flat. I hope that helps!
Hello,
I’m fairly new to crochet and was wondering about round 1. I don’t know what it means to work around the tail to the other side. How do I do that? I’m assuming it’s not a turn? Any help would be appreciated 🙂
Do I only use double strand for the first part of this or for all of this pattern?
All of it.
Hi Rebecca
I made this item and the rows from 14-20 are not in a straight line they are on an angle.
When you say ch 1 sc in first stitch, is that the stitch that the previous row we slp st and ch 1 or is it the next stitch?
I do want to make a few more and I would like to have it done with the joining in the same line
hoping i make sense in my question
Delores
Hi Rebecca, Do I have to turn on each row for Rows 6-13? Thanks!
Yes 🙂
Hi Rebecca! I’m starting to make this for end of school year gift for my daughter’s teacher. Do I have to turn on each round for rounds 6-13? thanks!