A step-by-step guide to crocheting the Joey Bag
THE JOEY BAG IS A BEGINNER’S BEST FRIEND. MADE USING JUST ONE STITCH YOU’LL WHIP THIS PROJECT UP AS QUICK AS A FLASH and have a great time doing it!
Whether you're a complete beginner or have some experience, this guide will walk you through the pattern. Even if you've never crocheted before, we'll take you from zero to hero in no time 🦸♀️
When it comes to crochet, practice makes perfect
Before we start the pattern, we suggest you spend some time learning the basic stitches you’ll need to complete your bag.
The Joey Bag is made in single crochet stitch. You'll want to be confident with this stitch before you start 🧶 You'll also want to get a hang of tying a slip knot and chaining.
You can use the yarn that came in your kit to practice with. Once you've got these mastered you'll find the pattern a cinch!
Total beginner? 👩🏫
For a more comprehensive lesson on the basics of crochet visit our Learn to Crochet page.
💪 Remember learning a new skill can be a little challenging at first, and you’re bound to find yourself making some mistakes along the way. But as with learning anything, your brain and your hands slowly start to get the hang of it, muscle memory is created, and soon the thing you found tricky/daunting/scary is like second nature!
📏 Test your tension
While we're practising and before you start your project, you'll want to make sure your tension (how tightly or loosely your crocheting is) is juuuust right 🥣 We do this by making a “tension swatch”. It's a bit like Goldilocks, if the tension is too tight, your piece will be too small, and if it's too loose it may not hold its shape and might be too big.
Gauge: If done correctly, your 10x10cm swatch should be 11.5 stitches wide x 13.5 rows high when made in single crochet using your 6.5mm hook.
To test this, chain on 14, then work in single crochet for 15 rows. Then measure a 10x10cm square and count your stitches and rows within that space to make sure you're crocheting at the correct tension.
If you've got more stitches or rows than the instructions say you should have, your work is a little too tight, and if you've got less your work is too loose. Adjust your tension by holding the yarn a little more tightly/ loosely as you crochet.
⚡️What you'll need
Your kit comes with everything you'll need to make your masterpiece. In your kit you'll find;
- 6.5mm hook
- 3 balls of Cardigang Chunky Cotton Yarn
- A darning needle
- Made by me tag
You also want to have a pair of scissors handy.
TIME TO SWITCH OFF. STITCH ON. AND WHIP UP YOUR COSY CROCHET PROJECT
Chain
Chain on your foundation chain.
💭 Try to make your chain stitches as evenly sized as possible. Don't pull the loops too tight because you'll struggle to work into these loops in your first row. On the other hand, if you make your loops too loose, your project will look a little messy.
Once you've chained, you'll move onto the first row of single crochet stitch.
SINGLE CROCHET
In this first row you're working into the chain so you'll insert your hook into one of the bars of your chain stitch.
To start insert your hook into the 2nd chain and do a single crochet. Skipping the first chain stitch, you build the height you need to complete the first row. Then do a single crochet into every chain until the end. You'll end up with 24 stitches.
Chain 1 to make your turning chain and then turn your work.
Keep working in single crochet.
When you reach the point where you make the first gap for your handle you'll chain some stitches (just like you did to create the foundation chain) before joining back into the stitches below to finish the row.
🌈 The next challenge? Changing colour. To change colour at the end of a row, simply yarn over with the new colour to complete your turning chain.
This is what your piece will look like when you've finished it!
Sewing Together
Well done! You’ve done most of the hard work. It’s time to sew your bag together.
Fold your bag in half. Then, using your finger, poke the bottom corners of the bag in to create the angles edges of our bag.
Then use your darning needle to sew the sides of your bag together. Ensure your rows line up and you’re inserting your needle into the same row on each side.
YOU CAN USE ANY LEFTOVER YARN TO MAKE A TASSEL FOR YOUR BAG.
TO MAKE A TASSEL, CUT A PIECE OF CARD TO SHAPE AND THEN WRAP YOUR YARN AROUND THE CARDBOARD. THE MORE YOU WRAP, THE THICKER YOUR TASSEL WILL BE. ONCE YOU'VE WRAPPED ENOUGH, USE ANOTHER LENGTH OF YARN (APPROX 40CM LONG) AND THREAD IT BETWEEN THE WRAPPED YARN AND SIDE OF THE CARDBOARD. TIE A KNOT TO SECURE - THIS IS THE TOP OF YOUR TASSEL. THEN USE YOUR SCISSORS TO CUT THROUGH THE OPPOSITE END (THE BOTTOM OF YOUR TASSEL) TO RELEASE THE YARN FROM THE CARDBOARD.
FINALLY, USE ONE MORE LENGTH TO TIE A KNOT ABOUT 1CM FROM THE TOP TO CREATE THE TASSEL'S HEAD AND TRIM YOUR YARN TO GIVE IT A NEAT EDGE.
Use your darning needle to weave in any loose ends and you are finished! Well done 🕺💪
In a bind and need a little more help?
Email us at stitchup@cardigang.com.au and we'll be able to help! Whether you're just starting out, or you've got a specific question or problem (dropped a stitch, no stress!), we're here to get you out of a bind.