This Little Bag Went to Market
We had fun with this crochet little market bag a few years back. It has an interesting stitch which I hadn't seen before that allows the bag to expand in a geometric mesh formation. It's pretty spectacular.
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If you are in the 'market' for a new market bag, you should try this pattern. The tutorial is below to help you with the special stitch that is required.
We have actually done a Challenge with this bag a few years ago. You can see all the different bag colour combinations that were submitted for this same pattern. View The Submissions Gallery
Video Tutorial - Follow Along
Right handed video version is only available for this bag.
Linda H says
I'm frustrated. I have frogged the bag from row 20, because row 9 didn't give me the right amount of stitches when I got to the band (using the pattern), and again from row 3 because it was getting bigger around than I think it is supposed to be (after watching the video). My other frustration is that I posted a question here, got a response, came back to reference the response, and it all seems to be gone.
I'm usually not one for giving up; I'm too stubborn for that (ask my husband). But this is just not working out too well as far as the bag is concerned. I have the stitch pattern down, and it looked really good, but it wasn't going to hold much when I finished.
Reposting my original question: how many crossbars are there supposed to be on each row? Is it the same number going up (shouldn't it be if you repeat row 10 for rows 11-25?)? I went from 30 (I think) on row 9 to 32 on row 10. I really would like to finish the bag, but I can always use the base as a potholder....
Chrystalkay says
Linda, I think this project has caused more problems for more people than any others! First, if you followed the original pattern, it is wrong! Every third stitch on row 8 (96 stitches) should have 2 double legs coming out of it in a v pattern. This gives you 32 cross spaces around on row 9. The written pattern, skips 2 st between each double leg. This gives you 16 cross spaces and sides as large as the base.
The first three pattern rows will keep spreading out. If you think about this, it is logical. You would need the exact same number of stitches on each row, to go vertical. This pattern has double the number of stitches in each bar as the number used on the base, So it takes about 3 rows of v pattern to start going up, and you end up with about double the base diameter (not quite). There is no adding of cross spaces from row 9 to the top. So you will end up with 32 cross spaces at the top same as for the bottom. Perhaps you looked at row ten the wrong way?
Pretend you are starting row 10, the same as for row 9. chain 5, do a DT in the same hole the chain started in, pull a loop through both loops on hook. Chain 5, go back into the loop this chain came out of and make another DT in IT.(first cross bar in this row made,) Now come back down to the same stitch the beginning leg came out of on row 9 and make 2 DT's there. Now you have an inverted triangle again, go to the very next gathering place from row 9, and make another double leg there. Gather all 6 loops on hook with one loop and you are ready to make another cross space pair. Now look at what you have made. The cross space of that first inverted triangle is directly over the gather place of the row below. Every space is over a matching gather place below, every gather place on the new row, is over a cross space below. It will proceed evenly all the way up. It must, because you need 32 cross spaces at the top to make the handle area. (10 spaces between each handle on each side, and 6 spaces under each handle) I hope this has helped you a bit. I enjoy crochet so much and like to see others enjoy it too.
You sound as stubborn as I am. I don't give up either! I do not like how big the bag is though, I am using 4 weight worsted and need smaller diameter sides. I have reduced the cross spaces to ch 4 and a TC and like the size much better with a G or F hook. I made one per instructions for the challenge and then frogged it back to the base to make it MY way! LOL I just can't keep my fingers out of the recipe! But these ARE lovely and I will be making several with different materials. Good Luck, and happy crocheting!
Chrystalkay says
One more thing.... in case you looked at this wrong. When you get back to the beginning of the row, you should have 4 loops on your hook, 2 from the cross space and 2 from the last forward pointing leg pair. This is where you connect to the projecting corner of the inverted triangle you started with. If you mess up this step, you will end up with adding or subtracting cross spaces. Sorry I didn't add this above!
Kimmy says
Wow, Chrystalkay, you have a wonderful way of explaining the pattern... way to go!
Linda H says
Thank you, Chrystalkay, for your response. I read through your instructions a couple of times to make sure I understood what you were trying to explain. Your instructions were good. I am pretty sure I was doing it the way you explained because I had watched the video and understood what Mikey was doing. It just didn't look right because those first three rows of the stars looked like it was getting bigger and bigger, and that didn't seem right either. My husband commented on it's
"growth", too.
The key for me is being able to count, stitches, spaces, clusters, whatever is relevant to the pattern, and there is not a lot of help with counting once you leave row 8. Knowing that I am supposed to have 32 cross spaces will help tremendously. I think that you had given me that information in a previous post, but it got lost somewhere.
Thank you, again, for taking your time to help me along. I can't think of a project I have ever done, that I didn't complete the project, whether I liked it or not when I was done! (If I didn't like it at the end, I gave it away.) I've been hooking a long time, and I was hoping this project would not be the first. I think you have provided the missing link. 🙂
Chrystalkay says
Wow! Thank you for your return comment! I am glad if i was able to help. I too, will follow a challenge and then take it apart if I don't like it. But I LOVE the challenge!
L Bottino says
Maybe this will help you. If you are a member of Ravelry ....... I have a photo with captions showing the progression of the stitches. I'm Lnb804.
Link to photo: http://bit.ly/1uDsDQ1
Linda H says
I have added you to my friends on Ravelry, and left you a comment on your market bag. I also checked out the link to the picture. I do believe I was doing it right the second time, I just frogged before I asked my question. At least it was only two rows the second time. There is hope for my market bag!
Linda M says
I got lost after finishing the second row of the star. I wish you would have showed us that next piece. Very frustrated and don't want to have to ditch the project. Any Help would be appreciated.
Mikey, The Crochet Crowd says
Each round is the same for the stopping and starting Linda.
Chrystalkay says
Linda, read the answer I gave Linda H (above your question) and it might help. It is the exact way you start and finish every row. ( I added the way to end them in my reply reply to that thread)
Don't get frustrated. You are smarter than that lump of yarn and you will get the better of it!
Alexandra Wright says
Hi. I have entered this giveaway, twice so far, but have been unable to view the gallery to check as to whether they are there. I have tried viewing the gallery in Safari, Firefox, Chrome, on my computer and my ipad. I must have tried x30 times. The same thing happened with the giraffe mystery challenge... any ideas why it's happening and how I can get to view the gallery? Ta.