What's a crocheter to do with yarn left over? In my case, I had extra pieces left over from my crochet shorts. I didn't put pockets in my shorts, but holding a cell phone with me would be much easier if I had a crochet cell phone pouch tote. Crochet diagrams for the simple crochet square are available, as this is an interlocking pattern that may be harder to visualize without them.
In This Article
Why This Granny Square?
In an effort to free-form my own crochet shorts for my shape and size, I developed an interlocking granny-square pattern. Using Red Heart With Love Better Half yarn, the colours are magnificent. For my shorts, I am wearing gray spandex boxer underwear for a discreet look.
I designed my square with only seven rounds, and the final round uses an attach-as-you-go method, meaning you don't sew the squares together.
I made too many motifs. For the pouch, I used the same colour for the seventh round on eachof them.
Yarn Details
Red Heart With Love Better Half, 100 g / 3.5 oz, 159 meters / 174 yards.
Hook: 3.5 mm / E/3
Gauge: Just under 3.5” diameter by the end of the 5th round.
Full disclaimer: I’m not a clothing designer, but I will show you how I ‘free-formed’ my shorts using existing shorts for sizing. I will not be able to tell you how to adjust my shorts for different sizes.
Abbreviations
- Beg = Begin(ning)
- Ch(s) = Chain(s)
- Dc = Double Crochet
- Hdc = Half Double Crochet
- Rep = Repeat
- RS = Right Side
- Sc = Single Crochet
- Scbp = Single Crochet Back Post
- Sl st = Slip Stitch
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- Tr2tog = Treble 2 Together
Instructions
There are 5 colours per square.
- A = Colour 1
- B = Colour 2
- C = Colour 3
- D = Colour 4
- E = Colour 5
With A, ch 2.
1st rnd: RS. 8 sc 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st to beg sc. Break A.
2nd rnd: With B, join with sl st to any sc. Ch 2 (counts as dc), 1 dc in same st as join. *Ch 1. 2 dc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to the top of beg ch-2. Break B.
3rd rnd: With C. Join with sl st to any ch-1 sp. Ch 4 (counts as treble), tr2og in same sp below. Ch 4 and sl st in same sp below. *(Sl st. Ch 4. Tr2tog. Ch 4. Sl st) all in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * around. Sl st in beg sl st. Break C.
In the next round, work behind the petals without interfering with them. The ch-3 spaces you will create will be behind the petals.
The diagram shows the petals are missing; please ignore them and keep them in front of your work.
4th rnd: With D. Join with sl st between 2 dc posts. Ch 1. 2 sc in same space between dc posts. Move the petal in front of the work. Ch 3. *2 sc in between the next group of 2 dc. Move the next petal in front. Ch 3. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to beg sc.
5th rnd: Sl st to next sc and next ch-3 sp. Ch 1. 5 sc in same ch-3 sp. *5 sc in next ch-3 sp. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to beg sc. Break D.
Try A Different Tote?
In the 6th rnd, we are going to pin back the petals and secure them with the stitch to hold the petals to the square. The crochet diagram shows the pinned-back single crochet in red.
6th rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in first 2 sc. Sc in next st, but go through the top tr2tog st of the petal first to catch it, then single crochet as normal. *1 sc in next 4 sc, sc in next sc by catching the tr2tog stitch and single crochet as normal. Rep from * around. 1 sc in last 2 sc. Join with sl st to beg sc. Break D
If you are doing join-as-you-go techniques, I would stop each square here until you are ready to start assembling your project and do the final round.
No Joining 7th rnd: Ch 2 (counts as dc), 1 dc in same st as join. Ch 3. 2 dc in same stitch as join. 1 dc in next sc. Ch 1, sk next sc, 1 hdc in next st. Ch 1, sk next sc. 1 sc in next sc. Ch 1, sk next sc, 1 hdc in next st. Ch 1, sk next sc, 1 dc in next sc. *(2 dc. Ch 3. 2 dc) all in next sc. 1 dc in next sc. Ch 1, sk next sc, 1 hdc in next st. Ch 1, sk next sc. 1 sc in next sc. Ch 1, sk next sc, 1 hdc in next st. Ch 1, sk next sc, 1 dc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch-2. Fasten off.
Joining Strategy
If you are joining, chain 1 spaces are substituted for (Ch 1. Sl st to the chain space of the matching square. Ch 1). On corners, chain 3 is substituted with the same information (Ch 1. Sl st to the chain space of the matching square. Ch 1)
I completed the first square as shown above, then attached the 2nd square to it. Then, attach the 3rd square to three sides. Then attach the 4th square to three sides. Be sure the squares, when joining, are facing outward (wrong sides together).
Handle
Using 4 strands of yarn, attach with a slip stitch to the ch-3 sp space. Ch 130. Join with slip stitch to the opposite ch-3 sp. You can check at any time to see if the handle is too long. Keep in mind, the handle will stretch a bit more over time. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
The bag is not lined, as I don’t think it needs to be for a phone. Line the bag if you prefer to hold other items.
Have you completed this project. Show me!