Bag o' bags

My New Friend Veronica wants to learn to crochet. Yay! She also said the other day that she wanted a grocery bag holder. "What a great first project!" I thought. Alas, I don't have a copy of the only bag holder pattern I've found that isn't mesh (who wants to see the bags? I thought that was the point of making something to put them in!), shaped like food/barnyard animals, or otherwise annoying to me in some way. That pattern may not be exactly what's needed in this case anyhow. How do I remedy this situation? Design my own galdarned bag holder, that's what! This is intended as a first project for a beginning crocheter, but as I've never designed strictly for beginners, I'm unsure that's strictly the category. I do think it's simple and straightforward, with just enough variety to hold interest without being frustrating. That's a pretty good goal, dontcha think?

I see a lot of potential for cool color combinations. For this one I used yarn from my stash, so you gets what you gets. Oh, and V -- if you don't like this one, never fear! I'll design something else. It's pretty fun!

So, without further ado...



Front Post Stripes Grocery Bag Holder

View pattern as a PDF file.

Materials:
--Main Color (MC): 2.5 to 3 oz. worsted weight yarn (about half a
skein of Red Heart Super Saver)
--Contrasting Color (CC): Approximately 20 yards worsted weight yarn.
--Size G crochet hook
--Tapestry needle

Gauge:
--Not important

Directions:

Rnd 1: With MC, ch 44, join with sl st in first st, being very careful that chain is not twisted. Do not turn. Ch 3 (this counts as first dc now and throughout), dc in each ch around, join with sl st to first dc. (44 dc)

Rnd 2 (eyelet row): Ch 4 (counts as first ch-1 sp), sk next dc, * dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next dc * around, join with sl st to third ch of beg ch 4. (22 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in next ch-1 sp, * dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp * around, join with sl st to first dc. (44 dc)

Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in next dc and each dc around, join with sl st to first dc.

Rnds 5-8: Repeat rnd 5.

Rnd 9: Switch to CC (do not cut MC, rather leave it behind work and pick it up again at beginning of next rnd), ch 3, FPdtr in dc below next dc, sk next dc, * dc in next dc, FPdtr in dc below next dc, sk next dc * around, join with sl st to fist dc.

Rnd 10: Switch to MC, ch 3, dc in next FPdtr, * dc in
next dc, dc in next FPdtr * around, join with sl st to first dc.

Rnds 11-24: Rpt rnds 4-10 twice more.

Rnds 25-28: Rpt rnd 4.

Rnd 29: Rpt rnd 2.

Rnd 30: Rpt rnd 3. Fasten off. Weave in ends.


Handle:

Row 1: Using MC, join with sl st to 11th dc, ch 50, st st in 33rd dc, making sure chain is not twisted.

Row 2: Turn, sc in each ch to end, join with sl st in 11th dc. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Drawstrings (make 2):

Ch 100, fasten off. Make sure both ends are securely knotted. Beg in 11th ch-1 sp of top eyelet row, use tapestry needle to weave drawstring through eyelet. Cut yarn ends to approx 1 in. Draw up and tie in a bow. Rpt for bottom eyelet row. You will probably want the top drawstring fairly loose and the bottom one tighter.

Fill with plastic grocery bags and hang. Stick a fork in you, you're done!