A crochet pattern of modern modular designer squares to maximise yarn use with minimal wastage.

By swaping over two of the colours used in your small bag, allows you to make the most from this quantity of quality yarn, to then be able to make a matching accessories case too.  Keeping the base colour the same throughout gives coordination to this set of practical projects.

3 colours each in 100g hanks can be used for:

Option 1 – to make a cross-body bag with a long handle and a contrasting iPad case cover.

Option 2 – to make a bigger over the shoulder bag.

Any left over yarns can then be used to make a contrasting phone or glasses case.

The options are endless with this modular pattern to make lots more colour combinations, in many different sizes with further yarn purchases from the By Laxtons range.

Using yarn C –

On both sections, work 67 htr
sts along one side of 4 squares.

Start with either 2 ch or a standing htr in the bottom corner
space, with right side facing.  Work 1
htr into each dc and each corner ch-2 space. 
Skip over and don’t work into the centre sl st on each square that
joined in the loops.   Work 1 htr into
the surface chain that joins the squares together.

Then continue for each shorter over the shoulder handle
work 145 foundation htr (approximately 80cm)

Or simply adjust the number of sts to the size required for your own bag
handle.

With Yarn A join these
sections together, starting at the bottom brining the two handle strips
together and back down the other side, using a surface chain join worked into
the blo of each htr st.

Boarders -

Using yarn C –

Starting at the top corner of
your bag with right side facing.

Work 67 htr sts along the side
of 4 squares.  Skip over and don’t work
into the centre sl st on each square that joined in the loops.   Work 1 st into the surface chain that joins
the squares together.  In each corner
space work 2ch between the htr and dc sts. 

Work dc sts along the bottom
edge starting with 1 dc in the corner space.

Note:  There are 16 sts per square and 3 dc are
worked over the panel seam section, so for 3 squares wide and 2 panel seams you
will have 54 dc on the bottom edge.

Continue to work 67 htr sts up
the other side.  Fasten off the yarn.

Sides and base -

With yarn C starting from the top corner of your bag, work
ch2, with right side facing then htr in blo and under the loop behind each st,
along the side (67 sts) with just 1 htr into the corner spaces, work 54 htr in
blo and under the loop behind each st along the bottom and 67 htr up the other side.
(188 sts)

By working without increasing in the corners and leaving the
front loop unworked will allow this row to fold over at right angles to the
front panel and give your bag depth.

Using yarn B – work 2 rows htr, starting with wrong side
facing at top of the bag with 2 ch and work 1 hr into each st, down the side
across the bottom and back up the other side. 
(188 sts)

Ch2 and turn, then with right side facing work 1 htr between
each st this time, down the side, across the bottom and back up the other side.
(188 sts)

Join the front and back panels together -

With Yarn A join the 2 panels
together, using a surface chain join worked into the blo of each htr st.

Top edges –

With yarn C work 1 row of dc sts and then 1 row of sl st
along each of the top edge sections.  Sew
in all ends.

If you find you have any yarns left over these can be used to make -

Phone / Glasses case

This can be made in any colour
combination using just 32g of yarn. 

Made with just 2 sets of 2
squares, with a row to boarder them, which can then be seamed with a dc st
worked along 3 sides holding both with the wrong sides together.  

• 3 x 100g (different colours) 
  Sheepsoft or Wooltrace
• 3.5mm Crochet hook
• Large eye blunt wool needle

Each square measures approximately 8cm wide.  Although tension is not critical for these projects, alternatives could impact on the yarn usage and change the overall size of the finished items.

A firm fabric tension gives the bag more stability, which is why a smaller 3.5mm hook is recommended here with this DK yarn. 

Size: approximatley 28cm wide x 33cm and 5cm deep. 

Step 1 - For each side make 12 squares joined in 3
rows of 4.

Step 2 – work the two panel seams however continue
with the handles from this row to make over the shoulder handles

Step 3 – boarder around the sides and bottom edge.

Step 4 – continue for the sides and base

Step 5 – join the front and back panels together

Step 6 – finish off the top edges