I just made my first bag. It was actually really easy! Using the pattern for hats I have been making, I added some adaptations and it turned into this really cute bag. Even if you are new to crochet you could make this bag. Even better yet the whole bag only cost me about $3 to make!

Crochet Market Bag Pattern
Yarn: Use any medium weight yarn approximately 1-2 skeins
Hooks: Size 5 and Size 6

Directions:
To form the base:
Chain 5 and then slip stich the last stitch to form a circle.
Single Crochet 6 inside circle and slip stitch to complete.
Row 1:In each single crochet make 2 half double crochet (12 stitches)
Row 2: Chain 1, 2 half double crochet in first stitch then 1 half double crochet in the next stitch. Repeat this pattern until all the way around (18 stitches) Slip stitch to first half double crochet in previous round.
Row 3+: Repeat Row 2, adding one half double crochet more each round. (ie this round would be 2 half double crochet, 1 hdc, 1hdc pattern). Continue until there are 12 single half double crochets in pattern
Finishing base: Once you are done with round with 12 hdc, do a round of single hdc in each stitch all the way around. Slip stitch to end round.
Crab Stitch: Complete a round of crab stitch all the way around. (Working from left to right) Only stitch through the front loop of the stitch. The base is now done

Change to the larger needle
Row 1: Chain 2, make 1 hdc in each stitch in the back loop of the stitch all the way around. Slip stitch to join and end round.
Row 2: Chain 2, make 1 hdc in each stitch through BOTH loops of the stitch. Continue this row around until the bag reaches desired height. (I chose 10 inches long). Slip stitch to end and cut thread.

Handles.
From the end of the round, count 18 sts. This is where you will begin the handle.
Row 1: Make one hdc for 36 stitches. Turn
Row 2: Chain 1. Decrease by 1 by working the first two hdc. This then hdc in each remaining stitch. (34 stitches)
Row 3+: Repeat Row 2 until there are only 8 stitches remaining. Work 8 hdc back and forth. Begin each row with chain 2. Continue until the handle is 12 inches long. Then cut yarn.

Repeat the same pattern on the other side of the bag. Complete when the handles are the exact same size. Cut with 6 inches of yarn left, and use mattress stitch to join handles together.

Fastener:
Now find the middle of the opposite side from the handles. Count three from the middle and this is where you will start the tab.
Row 1: Stitch 1 hdc in each stitch, make six stitches, turn.
Row 2: Chain 2 and repeat row 1. Continue to repeat until tab is approximately 3 inches long (approximately 7 rows).
Hook: At the end of the 7th row, chain 10 (or whatever it takes to make a loop to the other side.) Slip stitch to opposite side to join. Cut yarn.
Edging: Starting at the base of the tab, make 1 hdc starting one away from tab and then 1 hdc in the side of each row.
Around loop, make single crochets until you reach the other side. Then continue 1 hdc in each row until you reach one away from the base of the tab. Slip stitch to join and cut yarn.

Choose a neat button to sew on. Sew it on where the fastener reaches the other side of the bag. The more colorful the better.

Pocket: (The pocket is made separate from the bag, then sewn on)
Row 1: Chain 30, then chain 1 more. Turn.
Row 2: HDC two stitches from loop on hook. Then hdc all the way across. Turn.
Row 3+: Chain 2, repeact Row 2 until you reach 18 rows.
Edging. Start with one corner, single crochet in each row. Do this around three sides and end when you reach opposite corner. Cut yarn with approximately 12 inch tail.
Finishing: With bag turned inside out, sew pocket into inside of back. Sew the three sides, one stitch in each stitch to secure pocket. Then weave in ends to finish.

I love making headbands. They are really easy to make, and you can change them up by adding different embellishments or changing the yarn that they use. This is one of the easiest crochet headband patterns!

For this crochet headband, all you really need to know is how to do the double crochet stitch. If you can do that, you can make this really cute headband. Even better yet it cost me about 25 cents to make it, and it only took me about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Supplies

Medium Weight Cotton Yarn (2 colors)

5 mm crochet hook

Crochet sewing needle

Scissors

Directions

Start out with your first color, and chain 100 (may need more or less depending on your gauge. Make sure that the chain is just shy of fitting around your head for correct size)

Third chain from hook, double crochet, chain 1, skip next chain

**Double Crochet, Chain 1, skip next chain

Repeat from ** until you have reached the last chain.

Before turning, add the second color by chaining 3. Then turn.

Skip first chain space, and double crochet in next chain space. Chain one.

**Skip next chain space, double crochet in next chain space, chain one.

Repeat from ** until the last chain space. Add first color again, by chaining three. Then turn.

Skip first chain space, double crochet in next chain space, chain one.

** Skip next chain space, double crochet in next chain space, chain 1

Repeat from ** until last chain space. Once you have reached the end, leave about 6 inch tail.

Use mattress stitch to sewing both ends together to make a circle, this is the shape of your head band. Weave in all loose yarns to finish off.

Ok, I will be the first to admit I am sewing challenged. I took home economics in middle school, but honestly I think the teacher gave up all hope teaching me when she saw my “creations” that came off my sewing machine. Patience and steady hands were not something I possessed.

Being the stubborn woman I can be, I have tried over the years to not let this inability to sew a straight line stop me. Off and on over the years, I have picked up different sewing projects. Hand sewing projects usually resemble what they are supposed to. (Ok, so my last pilllow looked more like a huffalump, but it worked so that was great with me)

Bound and determined not to pass this trait onto my eldest daughter I asked my friend Julie to help teach her how to sew. (If I thought my sewing was bad, my ability to cut a straight line is even more disparaging). Didn’t want my daughter to be the crafting leper that I am.

Julie has yet to start lessons with my daughter, but she did give me a little sewing trade secret that made me giddy like a school girl. Paper sewing sheets. Yep, paper! I thought it was really odd, but once I started it really started to make sense. You print these sheets out, and use your sewing machine to sew over the lines. It helps you pace your stitches and sewing different types of lines; straight lines, wavy lines, circles.

Off to print my first sheet, I was bound and determined to conquer these worksheets. No piece of paper was going to beat me! I found several different sites that had the paper sewing pages. Here are some of my favorite:

Craftsy: Great free sewing sheets that you can print on your computer and practice sewing

Sewing.about.com: Great listing of sheets to print to practice on. You can even get your “sewing driver’s license”

Sewing Practice sheets: Has straight lines, ovals, squares and zig zags

I am truly happy to report that after trying my first two sheets that I am not as awful at sewing a straight line as I thought. Well, at least when I have a sheet to trace. I was completely expecting the sheet to look like someone with Tourets syndrome had sewn the sheet.

You can see I started off a little rough, but by the end I was a sewing rock star! Why am I sharing all this? Well, sewing is a great way to save money. It’s a great hobby, but it can also lead to making practical things you need around the house. It makes the need to buy things, like curtains, obsolete. Why buy them when with a few simple hems you can make your own for a lot less money!

Now it’s time to fess up! Which ones of you are sewing challenged? Well, I challenge you to try out one of these worksheets and share how you did! If I can make it through these sheets, anyone can!