*****
It’s been a while since I wanted to offer you this crochet bag pattern and it’s finally DONE on May 1st!?
As you can see, the new bag repeats the same stitches as you saw in my Southern crochet top because I loved them very much :). And I hope you will love them too!?
You can choose whether to wear one or two crochet items at once :). Frankly speaking, I usually wear only one handmade garment or accessory – just to add some texture to my outfit. But for the sake of showing you the versatility of these lacy stitches and make my outfit REALLY stand out in contrast to the background, I put on BOTH! 🙂
You can easily match your top and bag with all your shorts, jeans or skirts and wear them to the beach, festival or summer evening party.
For making this bag you will crochet 3 squares, join them as you go and add a handle. That’s it!
And the best thing is that you can also decorate your home with such a pillow cover by crocheting 2 squares and sewing their edges together (Please note that step-by-step sewing instructions for the pillow are not included into this crochet bag pattern).
And how about taking this crochet bag to the beach now? ?
Special thanks to my testers @crochet_uk.co.uk, @grootenancyde, @lookingforbestthings
who have finished top with the same squares a while ago:
- I named my patterns Southern Cross TOP (or Crux TOP) and Southern Cross BAG after a constellation centered on 4 bright stars in the southern sky in a bright portion of the Milky Way. It is among the most easily distinguished constellations and is present on the flags of Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa. It might be wonderful to wear these top and bag while strolling down the streets of Melbourne and Sidney at night and gaze at the stars.
- The bright stars in Crux were known to the Ancient Greeks, where Ptolemy regarded them as part of the constellation Centaurus. They were entirely visible as far north as Britain in the 4th millennium BC. However, the precession of the equinoxes gradually lowered the stars below the European horizon, and they were eventually forgotten by the inhabitants of northern latitudes. By 4th century the stars in the constellation we now call Crux never rose above the horizon throughout most of Europe. Dante may have known about the constellation in the 14th century, as he describes it in his Divine Comedy.
You can also finish your top with such tassels:
DOWNLOAD BAG + TOP crochet patterns:
https://conceptcreative.store/shop/southern-cross-top-bag
www.etsy.com/listing/1459557978/2-patterns
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/southern-cross-bag–top
Both crochet patterns include charted and written explanations for crocheting every row, as well as photos and a link to video with several tricky parts. All stitches are written in American crochet terms. You can also download top or bag separately:
PDF for top only (17 pages):
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/southern-cross-top
PDF for bag only (14 pages):
https://conceptcreative.store/shop/southern-cross-bag
SIZES and YARN for crochet TOP:
The width of first 13 rows in top is considered as gauge and depends on the chosen size.
This crochet pattern is given for bust circumference 83-90 cm (32.5’’-35.5’’). I have included suggestions on how big should be your gauge if you wish to crochet this top for bust circumference 92-99 cm (36’’-38.5’’) and 101-108 cm (39.5’’-42’’). In this case you will need to use slightly thicker yarn and/or bigger hook.
Choosing the right YARN and HOOK to achieve great results
Cotton for size XS-S: thread number 10 / Lace / 3 ply / 560 m in 100 gr / 616 yards in 3.5 oz
Cotton for size M-L: thread number 5 / 3-4 ply / from 440 to 500 meters in 100 grams / from 481 to 547 yards in 3.5 oz)
Cotton for size L-XL: Fingering-weight / 4 ply / from 360 to 430 meters in 100 grams / from 437-481 yards in 3.5 oz)
SIZES and YARN for crochet BAG:
Any cotton thread number 10 / Lace / 3 ply / 560 m in 100 gr / 616 yards in 3.5 oz
Total yarn usage is 680 meters = 740 yards for bag and 400 m = 440 yards for pillow cover.
The size in photos: the width and length of this bag equal to the diagonal of one square; it’s 43 cm = 17’’ in this sample, the length of handle can be regulated.
Look forward to seeing your beautiful bags and tops!
