Crochet
Rainbow crochet tote bag: the free Stylecraft blog tour pattern
Hi there! Welcome to Crafternoon Treats if you are here following the Stylecraft blog tour. I was very excited to be asked by Stylecraft to contribute a new pattern to showcase the lovely new colours in the limited edition packs of Stylecraft Special DK that are now on sale – Deramores has the pack for £9.99.
A new free crochet bag pattern – from me to you
I’ve used my pack to make a new bag – and I’m really pleased with it. Its different. It looks a bit like knitting.
I loved making it because it uses an unusual stitch to achieve a really dense crochet fabric with DK yarn – so dense that this bag would be fine without a lining if you aren’t that into sewing. I’ve made some really fun crochet bags with my Bagalong Facebook group in the last few months – this is a bit more grown up and, dare I say it, quite sophisticated…
If you fancy making this bag for yourself, the links to all the tutorials you need are here.
PS – don’t forget to go click here to enter the Stylecraft competition to win a free pack of all 10 limited edition colours first!
- Head off to the detailed pattern and tutorial for the main part of the rainbow tote
- Go here for the pattern and tutorial for the rosette decorations
- Visit this page for the pattern and tutorial for the bag handles
- Click on the detailed tutorial on how to crochet waistcoat stitch
- Check out the detailed tutorial on how to crochet a crab stitch edging
More about the Stylecraft Special DK limited edition colours
The bag may be a bit more grown up but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t sing and zing with colour. The new shades in the Stylecraft limited edition pack are glorious and work so well together in this design.
In case you don’t know how this pack came about, the colours were developed as part of a competition to choose a new shade of Stylecraft Special DK. People sent in all sorts of things to show their perfect shade and the winning 10 was chosen by a panel including Lucy from Attic24. The winning colour from this shortlist was won after a public vote by duck egg blue.
The other nine colours, boysenberry (a rich dark pink), fuchsia (another rich pink but in a slightly lighter shade), cypress (a lovely sage green), grass green (bright and grassy), empire (a deep turquoise), pistachio (a pale yellow green) and mustard (a very mustardy yellow) were so gorgeous that Stylecraft have manufactured them all!! All 10 will be released in October as part of a limited edition pack. If you are going to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in London (7-11 October 2015) you will see them showcased on the Stylecraft stand.
About the blog tour and the COMPETITION!
Stylecraft approach several crochet bloggers and asked them to come up with a new, free pattern using the colours in the pack to show you just what you can do with them. Yesterday was the turn of Emma Varnum and tomorrow its The Twisted Yarn – but today, its me!
The competition is now over and it was won on my blog by the lovely Vanessa from Australia!
The rainbow crochet tote bag pattern
I hope you will love making this bag as much as I did. Its not a difficult project but its not going to fly off your hook in an evening. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of the stitch but once you do and once you get going, each row is quick to make, the stitch becomes more rhythmic and, best of all, there is no counting.
The way the colours work next to each other keeps your interest going and although this compacted form of the double crochet stitch grows more slowly than rows of standard dc, it works up pretty quickly compared to a blanket!
Go to the pattern and tutorials
PS – don’t forget to go click here to enter the Stylecraft competition to win a free pack of all 10 limited edition colours first!
- Head off to the detailed pattern and tutorial for the main part of the rainbow tote
- Go here for the pattern and tutorial for the rosette decorations
- Visit this page for the pattern and tutorial for the bag handles
- Click on the detailed tutorial on how to crochet waistcoat stitch
- Check out the detailed tutorial on how to crochet a crab stitch edging
Think you’ll need help? If you are a relatively new crocheter or you’ve just not attempted anything like a bag before, I’ll be featuring this the rainbow crochet tote bag as the bag of the month for October in the Bagalong Facebook group. You are very welcome to join us and chat about the pattern, troubleshoot, get advice and have a lot of fun in the process.
Take a closer look
This is a closeup of the lovely effect you get for the main bag by making waistcoat stitch in rounds, each in a different colour from the Stylecraft Limited Edition pack.
And another close up showing the rosette decorations…
And the handles – I’m really pleased with these handles. I think they are the most professional looking crochet bag handles I’ve done so far!
I had great fun doing a photo shoot with the bag once it was finished. Three lovely friends and I went out for lunch then they took it in turns to model the bag to show its size and scale.
You’ll also have loads of yarn left
At least half a ball – join me over the next couple of weeks as I’ll be thinking of a few smaller items to make with these gorgeous colours.
Customise your bag!
I chose to use Stylecraft Classic Cotton in a coordinating burgundy to make the handles but you could use the lobelia for the outer handles and the boysenberry or fuchsia for covering the piping cord if you like. Or why not do multicoloured handles? Or two handles in different colours? It all depends if you want to add a bit of wild wackiness to your grown up bag! As with all my designs, I find it so thrilling when someone else makes it as the pattern shows but I’m delighted when the design is altered and tweaked – so go ahead and make this bag your own!
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Your bag is just so cheery! I have never come across this stitch before, it really does look knitted! Fabulous idea!
Thanks! I loved your design with these colours too and I’m pleased to have found your blog through the tour xxxx
OMG! It’s lovely and it’s not knitted! I had to give up knitting due to M.E. so I’m thrilled to discover a stitch which looks like stockinette, but I can actually do. Thank you so much, you have made my day!
I am glad that you like it – it does look very much like knitting and its only double crochet (UK terms) so its really easy once you get into the swing of putting your hook in the correct part of the stitch xxx
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Beautiful bag. I have been reading the Twisted Yarn’s blog and saw the link to yours. Do you have a quick clicky to allow me to follow your blog? I don’t see one.
Hi Nicola if you scroll down the home page nearly to the bottom there is a link to follow – you can do so by signing up for email updates or on blog lovin xxxx I’ll email you the link though for ease xxx
Oh so pretty! What a lovely pattern, and a very practical size/shape too 🙂
I’m very pleased you like it Alice xxx
The bag is gorgeous, I love the stitch, it gives a lovely effect. x
Thank you Sharon – I was pleased with the way it turned out. It makes the most of the lovely colours xxx
I love this bag and thank you for the free pattern but I cannot find the color diagram in the main pattern page
Never mind, found it
Great – its not a diagram as you’ve seen, its just a list 🙂
What a lovely bag. I like the way you used the colors, making the bag harmoniously colorful. Kudos, too, for making the entries easier to find. I’ve added your blog to my feedley feed and look forward to reading more of your blog! 🙂
That’s great Lauri – I am glad you like the bag. I made a button to click through for the entries using similar colours to the pack – just a bit of loony fun on my part 🙂
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As always a joy to meet such a creative happy crafter. Your new Style craft woollie bag is without a doubt bright, cheerful and loving the style. Keep up the colourful work Mrs 🙂
Thanks! It is a lovely colourful bag and its going to be at Ally Pally on the Stylecraft stand – woohoo xxx
Lovely bag, Kathryn, well done!
Corine
x
Thanks Corine – Yarndale was fabulous – you will have to try to come next year 🙂
I’m loving your new tote and if by any chance I’m lucky enough to win the new limited edition yarns I will be making it. If I don’t win then I will just have to purchase the yarn to make it. I have not been this inspire before about making a tote, so this is going to be must make. Thank you Kath for your lovely pattern and clear tutorials.
Thanks Lynne – I am pleased with it and the colours are just fantastic. 🙂