This is a lined, purple FBB #2, with a few add ons that I'll explain below...
I just finished this FBB and I'm very happy with it, so much so that I decided I'll keep this one for myself. I think I've made about twenty FBBs in all and have given away most of them, gladly so. There's a few technical flaws I made when making this purple bag so I wouldn't feel exactly okay about giving it to someone anymore than I would give someone a dead plant for the birthday. It's just not right, and could be considered downright mean. heh, heh.
Starting with the pattern which is found in the book called Stitch N Bitch Crochet; The Happy Hooker, I improvised a little bit because I had the yarn and hook but not the pattern so I was making it from memory and probably made a few or more mistakes.
I purchased this embellishment at Joann's Yarn & Craft Store for a few bucks and thought I would also use the beads that came with the big purple shell heart but forgot about them and made the round buttons you see on each side with yarn.
I lined the bag (check out THIS LINK for a photo tutorial for lining the FBB, or see a few tips and photos about lining a FBB by me HERE. One of the technical flaws in this bag are the way I stitched the lining. There are ways to make the stitching look neater and less visible but I was too lazy to get up and look for different thread and take out the entire side I stitched already.
The handles I purchased were only $4.99 at Joann's and of the light, bamboo type wood and did not go very well with the silky, dressy looking lining and the outer embellishment. Having already sewn the handles into the handle flaps when I decided this, I was trying to think of a way to make the handles match the style of the bag better.
I am pretty proud of myself for thinking of using single crochets all around the handles, as many single crochets as I could squeeze onto the handles so no wood would show underneath. Changing the handles in this manner made the whole bag come together nicely. I am thinking of using a spot of glue here and there to anchor the yarn to the handle so it doesn't twist about but changed my mind when I realized the glue would just pull on the yarn and look funky. =) I made the photo below extra large in hopes you'd be able to see how the sc looks when worked onto a handle. For a photo lesson about single crocheting onto a ring or bar, check out an earring pattern I posted HERE. The tutorial for doing this is at the bottom of the Dangly Earrings post.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments below, I'll do my best to answer you in a short time but keep in mind I have mental disorder issues and I am taking care of my mother who is seemingly worse every day. Thank you for being patient and understanding while waiting for my replies.
signing off at a surprisingly reasonable hour of the night,
cynthia
p.s. Please check back soon, I'm working on designing bikini tops and bottoms for a company I am trying to get going and will post photos of my creations and possibly have a vote from my readers as to which one would be most desirable if you were to buy and wear one.
