Made my 1st handbag!

I'm am just thrilled... this is my new Tote/Handbag, made of (17) 6X6 squares attached with a front single crochet stitching, lined, and with a great idea for enforced handles - voila, my bag is done. How exciting this is for me to have accomplished! It didn't take very long either... I really like the sc stitching that makes a 'ridge' between squares on the outside instead of them being sewn together flat.

The one square with the red in it was put there on purpose, I had 2 of them, so there is one on the other side too. Thx to a good friend who gave me the material last year because she developed eye problems and her sewing machine had been needing repairs, she thought I might be able to use it some day... well I sure did! I think it matched nicely for the lining. I feel so badly for her though because sewing was her lifelong specialty. The green trim seemed to work as a good break in so much gold, as pretty as the gold is of course. It's Carons Simply Soft maize color.

If it had been 4X4 squares I might have used a 24 square layout, but I like it nice and big as it is! The entire tutorial for the bag pattern will be on a near future blog post for those of you who might like to make one like it.

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What a great looking bag. I like the one different square on each side, gives it its own personality. I have made little basic rectangular bags for my friend's great-niece and also lined them too. And doubled the strap so it would be stronger (that is always my fear that the straps aren't stronger). I have bought handles and looking at your bag, the handles may fit. I would like the pattern (in your spare time, LOL) when you post it on your blog.

Happy crocheting.

Roe

You did such a wonderful job on your first handbag. Congratulations!

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Originally Posted by cessie

You did such a wonderful job on your first handbag. Congratulations!

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Thank you, I was surprised myself how easy it seemed to be to do this!

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Originally Posted by LI Roe

What a great looking bag. I like the one different square on each side, gives it its own personality. I have made little basic rectangular bags for my friend's great-niece and also lined them too. And doubled the strap so it would be stronger (that is always my fear that the straps aren't stronger). I have bought handles and looking at your bag, the handles may fit. I would like the pattern (in your spare time, LOL) when you post it on your blog.

Happy crocheting.


Roe

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Thank you Roe! I cut and put a strip of a super strong leathery/rubbery type of material that we had here at home inside a sc casing, and then sewed them in tightly in the corner of the squares. They won't stretch for sure!
Someone else recommended using that mesh-like material that you can cross stitch and latch hook in, also to use that in some hat brims as well. There is also a material that people use to make belts that you can use inside crochet handles. Just FYI for ideas for reference!
Sent you a p.m.

looks nice Susan

Susan..That is a great looking bag. I really like how you display it!

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Originally Posted by Jean Marie

looks nice Susan

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Thank you Jean :)

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Originally Posted by drruth

Susan..That is a great looking bag. I really like how you display it!

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Thx so much drruth! This was something I watched a lot of videos about, whether to buy or make and reinforce crocheted handles, making the squares and laying them out in a pattern, and then the attaching them, lining an odd shaped bag like this that's not perfectly square - there was a lot involved but I didn't have any trouble with it at all. Seems like sometimes I can do the more difficult and involved projects easier than some of the seemingly easy stuff, lol! I plan to make more handbags, no reason not to have choices of some to pick from, right?!

Oh Susan, you did a fantastic job on your first handbag! I love it! I especially was interested in how you made the handles. You did a really wonderful job on it! It's beautiful!

Shelley

Great looking bag! Good ideas about making strap stronger. We need these good ideas about making items stronger to last longer. Thank You very much!

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Originally Posted by SunnyRainbows

Great looking bag! Good ideas about making strap stronger. We need these good ideas about making items stronger to last longer. Thank You very much!

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You're welcome! I'm always open to other people's ideas too, then I get my own inspirations. Here are more tips FYI... a friend mentioned to me to use some material they have in craft stores that you make belts from for handbag handles, which I didn't know about, and also that mesh like you can do cross stitch or latch hook rugs in. She also put that mesh inside of some cap brims or visors.

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Originally Posted by LI Roe

What a great looking bag. I like the one different square on each side, gives it its own personality. I have made little basic rectangular bags for my friend's great-niece and also lined them too. And doubled the strap so it would be stronger (that is always my fear that the straps aren't stronger). I have bought handles and looking at your bag, the handles may fit. I would like the pattern (in your spare time, LOL) when you post it on your blog.

Happy crocheting.

Roe

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Sure, I always share any pattern finds, and I collect many patterns of many items! I thought too about the possibility of buying cheap thrift store handbags if they had good handles if I didn't want them crocheted, and I left a couple of other tips for handles on sunnyrainbows post too.

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Originally Posted by cessie

You did such a wonderful job on your first handbag. Congratulations!

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Thx, I was pleased that I had no frustrations on this project at all, cannot say that about all of them!

Wow Susan! What a beautiful handbag. You did a great job on it!! Thank you for sharing it with us. Now I know who to come to if I ever want to tackle a handbag. :) xoxoxo Lynda

Nice job!!! I love it!

Judi G

Very nice!

Wow, Susan, what a great job you did on your bag!!! I'm glad it went so easily for you. I like the handle.
Thanks for sharing with us.
~~ Hugs, Jo ♥

You did an awesome job. You have accomplished something I have never done. Making granny squares and then sewing them together. That is the accomplishment I am talking about and making a purse. I am very proud for you.i love the colors. I hope this doesn't sound sarcastic because I don't want it to be that way. I really think anyone who has the patience to do what I call piece work in crochet is better than me. Again awesome job.i am personally jealous of your beautiful work.

That is a lovely bag; I have always wanted to make one but am discouraged by the joining of the squares. Beautiful!!!

Could you share how you did your handles for the bag?

Very nice work Susan.

Nice job, did you have any trouble with the lining? I have not tried to line any crocheted bags, and was wondering if it was hard, or if there is some tricky way to make it easy.
Thanks
Pat

It is a great looking bag; right down to your choice of the lining material. The handle looks to be the perfect length ... long enough for a shoulder bag, but not so long to bump off the hips. Great job.