(UK TERMS) Wildflower Shoulder Bag CAL – Part 1 of 3

Welcome to Part 1 of the Wildflower Shoulder Bag CAL! I’ve been working on this for quite a while and am really pumped to finally get started. Over the next 3 weeks, we’re going to be making a gorgeous crochet purse together. If this is the first time you’ve heard of the CAL, be sure to check out this post that lists all of your needed materials. Even if you’re a little late to the party, you can still join in!

You are currently viewing the UK version of this pattern. To view in American Standard Terms, and to see a list of other translations available, please click here.

A HUGE thanks to Natalie Beresford for converting the pattern to UK Terms!

And, don’t forget to join the Wildflower Shoulder Bag CAL Facebook Group to share your progress, get tips from others, and maybe answer a question or two yourself. We’re in it together, and that’s what makes it fun!

The schedule for the CAL is as follows:

June 25: Start Here! Intro Post and Materials List
July 2: Part 1, Flower Squares (this post)
July 9: Part 2, Body of the Bag
July 16: Part 3, Base, Embellishments and Strap

Each pattern post will include clear instructions, helpful photos, and a great tutorial video. When you’re done with each week’s assignment, head over to the Facebook Group to share your progress. And don’t forget to enter yourself in the giveaway, down below the pattern. There will be new opportunities to add entries each week, so pay attention!
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So grab your chosen hook and yarn, and let’s get started! (Scroll down for the pattern and tutorial video!)

TUTORIAL VIDEO

Visual learner? Here’s a helpful video. Please note, the terms used in the video are American Standard. I actually make the entire square on camera, since I know this will be the first time that many of you have made a square motif before. If you’re only going to use the video as a reference, here’s a helpful breakdown:

0:39 Round 1
3:48 1st Round of Petals
7:46 Round 2
10:28 2nd Round of Petals
13:03 Rounds 3-7

Video not showing up? Try refreshing the page, and if that doesn’t work, click here.

WILDFLOWER SHOULDER BAG PART 1: WILDFLOWER SQUARE MOTIFS

This pattern is written in UK Terms.
For American Standard terms, click here.

Hook: H (5.00mm) OR whichever hook you’ve chosen for this project
Yarn: Cotton-Ease (more than 1 skein) OR whichever yarn you’ve chosen for this project
Difficulty: Easy
Gauge: Not really important. Make sure you are using a hook that gives you a tighter stitch rather than a looser one.
You’ll also need: Yarn needle and scissors

Notes:
(1) You’ll need 6 of these squares.
(2) Beginning chains do not count as stitches.
(3) Note that some of the instructions call for FLO (Front Loop Only) and BLO (Back Loop Only). This is crucial for building the center flower.
(4) You will not turn at any point.
(5) The photos below are screenshots from the video and are in American Standard terms. Sorry for any confusion 🙂

To begin:
Make a Magic Circle; CH2.

Round 1: 12TR in magic circle. Join to first TR with a SL ST. (12)

1st Round of Petals (FLO): CH2. In same St, 2TR, CH2, SL ST. This is your first petal. (SL ST to next St. In same St, CH2, 2TR, CH2, SL ST to same St) around. SL ST to base of 1^st CH2. (12 petals)

Round 2 (BLO – You’re now going to work around Round 1 again, this time working in the loop that you ignored during the first round of petals): SL ST to 1^st back loop of Round 1. CH2. 2TR in same ST. 2TR in each ST around. Join with a SL ST to first TR. (24)

These screenshots from the tutorial video show the circle of back loops you’ll be using (1st photo) and the completed round from the back (2nd photo):

2nd Round of Petals (FLO): CH2. TR in same ST. In next ST, TR, CH2, SL ST. (SL ST to next St, CH2, TR in same ST. In next ST, TR, CH2, SL ST) around. SL ST to base of 1^st CH2. (12 petals)

This is the completion of the flower center. We now move on to turning it into a square.

Round 3: SL ST to 1st back loop of Round 2. CH2. In same ST, 2TR, CH2, 2TR. HTR in each of the next 2 STS. DC in next ST. HTR in each of the next 2 STS. (In next ST, 2TR, CH2, 2TR. HTR in each of the next 2 STS. DC in next. HTR in each of the next 2 STS.) Repeat ( ) 2 more times. Join to first TR with a SL ST.

Round 4: CH1. HTR evenly around the square, putting (2HTR, CH2, HTR) in each corner chain space. Join to first HTR with a SL ST. (You’ll end up with 12 HTR stitches per side.) 

Round 5: CH1. HTR evenly around the square, putting (2HTR, CH2, HTR) in each corner chain space. Join to first HTR with a SL ST. (You’ll end up with 15 HTR stitches per side.)

Round 6: CH1. HTR evenly around the square, putting (2HTR, CH2, HTR) in each corner chain space. Join to first HTR with a SL ST. (You’ll end up with 18 HTR stitches per side.)

Round 7: CH1. DC evenly around the square, putting (DC, CH2, DC) in each corner chain space. Join to first DC with a SL ST. (You’ll end up with 20 DC stitches per side.)

Fasten off and weave in ends. (You can attach your buttons at this point, if you’ve chosen to embellish your flower centers.)