Welcome to Part 2 of the Wildflower Shoulder Bag CAL! Today we’ll be joining our squares and working on the body of the bag.
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. (Big thanks to Natalie Beresford for offering to translate!) It is originally published in American Standard Terms (click here).
The schedule for the CAL is as follows:
June 25: Start Here! Intro Post and Materials List
July 2: Part 1, Flower Squares
July 9: Part 2, Body of the Bag (this post)
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!
Ready? Grab your six wildflower squares, and let’s get to it!
TUTORIAL VIDEO
Visual learner? Use the tutorial video! (Please note, the terminology in the video is in American Standard Terms.) If you’re only going to use the video as a reference, here’s a helpful breakdown:
0:18 Seaming the Squares
3:39 Building the Body – Round 1
6:26 Building the Body – Rounds 2-3
9:59 Building the Body – Rounds 4-14
13:31 Building the Body – Rounds 15-19
14:05 Building the Body – Round 20
19:11 Building the Body – Round 21
Can’t see the video? Try refreshing the page, and if that doesn’t work, click here.
SEAMING THE SQUARES
To seam the squares together, place two together, wrong sides touching, right (flower) sides exposed. Attach yarn (through both squares) in a CH2 corner from the final round of the squares. Working only in the two loops that are touching in the middle and ignoring the outside loops, SL ST down the edge of the square. Place your final stitch in the CH2 corner at the end of the line. (If you’re still confused about which loops I’m talking about, it’s easier to just show you — so here’s a screenshot from the tutorial video! You’re seaming the pink loops, and ignoring the yellow ones.)
Seam all 6 squares together, but BEFORE you add the final seam that will make the squares into a circular shape, take a moment to weave in all your ends:
Then seam the last two together to form a circular (tube) shape, but DO NOT cut your yarn this time. You’re going to need it ready to go for the next part, as we continue building the body of the purse.
CONTINUING THE BODY OF THE PURSE
Notes:
(1) From this point on, we will be working in a seamless round. Do not join unless instructed to do so.
(2) The photos are screenshots from the tutorial video, which was done in American Standard terms. Don’t get confused!
Round 1: CH1; DC in same ST and in each ST around, skipping over seams and corners. (120**)
**The outer edge of each square has 20 double crochet stitches. You will be DCing into each one of these, and skipping over the corners and the seam between squares. This is how you will end up with 120DC (6 squares x 20 stitches = 120), which is important. So COUNT to make sure you’re getting 20 DC per square!
Rounds 2-3: DC in each ST around. (120)
Round 4: (DC+TR in next ST, SK next ST) around. (120)
Rounds 5-14: Repeat Round 4. (120)
Here’s a screenshot from the tutorial video of what it should look like as you complete Round 14, just before you move on to Round 15:
Rounds 15-19: DC around. (120)
Next we’re going to attach the split rings, so have them handy.
Round 20: DC in each of the next 4 STS. DC the first split ring over the next 7 STS (watch the video if you need help). DC in each of the next 26 STS. SL ST to the next ST, CH12, SL ST to the same ST (this is the loop for your button). DC in each of the next 26 STS. DC the second split ring over the next 7 STS. DC in each of the next 49 STS to finish out the round.
Round 21: DC around. When you get to the CH12 button loop, fold it down toward the inside of the bag and put 1 DC into the ST in which you built the CH12. (Do not DC around the loop, just ignore it.) Continue on to the end of the round. (120)
To finish, SL ST into the first 3 STS of the next round. Fasten off and weave in ends.
