Bagalong big stash bag square 2

Steam and almost smoke is coming off my crochet hook this week as I’m making two bags and glued to Facebook and Instagram with all the lovely updates from people joining in with the Bagalong! So many different squares appearing and so many colour schemes.

This is a quick update about my second square for my seaside inspired big stash bag. I’m using exactly the same retro granny square pattern (UK terms) and you can find a detailed tutorial here and a mini-tutorial here in the post about my bagalong stash bag square 1. I’ve also just added a pdf pattern download in USA terms.

For this second square I’ve chosen 5 sandy beach colours from the Stylecraft Special Chunky pallette – cream, camel, copper, gold and parchment. They look fabulous together and really make me think of sitting on the beach in the sun. Precious little of that around at the moment though – the weather has been shocking the first two days of June and I am sitting writing this in my furry slippers with the heating on (again!).

The colours  used in order from the centre to the outside are:

• Camel
• Cream
• Gold
• Camel
• Copper
• Parchment
• Gold
• Cream
• Copper
• Parchment
• Camel
• Gold

As before these are all shades from the Stylecraft Special Chunky range bought from Deramores and I’m using a 5mm hook. I’m working on the right side for the first four rounds then alternating working from the wrong side and then right side up to round 12. This is a top tip from Heather of The Patchwork Heart to stop the square twisting and looking a bit skewed when you’ve finished. With this square that isn’t toooo much of a problem as the centre is a circle up to the end of round 3. But every little helps!

Blocking?

With chunky yarn for a bag I am not blocking but if you are not happy with the squareness of your square that is always an option to improve the look of the squares before joining. It might make the joining process easier too.

To block wool or cotton, pin out on an old towel on carpet or on an ironing board or blocking board to the correct size. Spray lightly with cool water and leave to dry – at least 24 hours.

To block acrylic, I find steam blocking best. Pin out as above, then hold a steam iron producing steam 2-3 cm above the square so that it gets warm but not too hot. Leave to cool for 30 minutes. DO NOT TOUCH THE IRON TO THE ACRYLIC – because it will melt onto the iron, ruining the square and possibly also the iron 🙁

Loads of new squares are appearing and I’m posting more in the Facebook Album each day so take a look for more inspiration. I’ve not done two squares of my big bag and nearly four of my small project bag and I am having FUN! Hope you are too xxx

 

Enjoying the bagalong?

This pattern and tutorial is free and you can use it to make bags for yourself or for others. You can sell your bags but it would be nice to credit me for the design. Please do not take the photos or the text of the tutorials and publish them, even with a link back to my site, as that is against UK Copyright Law. Pinning my pics on Pinterest is fine – as long as you pin from here.

If you find the tutorial useful please consider donating £2 to the Just Giving page below – I raised over £10800 for Marie Curie Cancer Care recently and I want to keep up the good work!!

You can text a donation to 70070 adding YARN55 and then your donation amount if you prefer xxxxxxxxx