The Slouchy Summer Clutch
What does your summer wardrobe need? The perfect accessory? Maybe a bag that fits many occasions? Well, that is what The Slouchy Summer Clutch is here to do.
Fold it up as an oversized clutch for a night on the town. Unfold it, throw a book and a towel in it and then hit the beach. You might as well call it a "one size fits all" bag.
This bag has been a real labor of love, trying so many different styles just to find the perfect one and I think I have finally found it. Now if it would just quit raining long enough so that I could really put it to good use.
Want to know what else this bag is perfect for? A project bag! (See photo below) It will hold 2-3 skeins of yarn plus an almost finished project easily. How fun would it be to make your own project bag?
Want to know a little secret? This bag is part of a summer blog hop. Twelve designers got together and decided to post a new summer project on their blog every day for 12 days straight. Claire, from E'Claire Maker then took all of our designs and created a fabulous Summer Pattern Bundle that you don't want to miss out on. The bundle will only run for as long as the blog hop so you don't want to waste any more time. You can find it here.
If you learn better with How-To Photos, you may want to check out the Slouchy Summer Clutch PDF. You can purchase it on Etsy and Ravelry, just click the links below.
Now, back to this bag. Let's talk supplies here. You will need
-2x2 yarn - two skeins of two colors (4 skeins total) of your favorite cotton yarn.
-You will also need your fabulous Tunisian or Afghan hook in a size H, I, or J. (Mine is made with an I) Make sure you are using a corded Tunisian hook rather than a straight hook as the top of the bag is worked in a round. If you are needing a good set of hooks, you can shop my FAVORITE Tunisian Hooks here.
-Lastly, don't forget the scissors and the tapestry needle.
So, now that you know what supplies you need, let's talk about the construction of the bag. The body of the bag is made first. You will be making a fabric (the waves portion) for the main body and then you will fold it in half and seam it up the sides. Once you have done that, you will then crochet the handles around the top. Bada-bing, bada-boom, you've got yourself a Slouchy Summer Clutch.
Before I keep jabbering on about how fun this purse is to make, because let's be honest, I could talk a while more, let's get right into the pattern!
Stitches Used:
Ch: Chain
St/Sts: Stitch(es)
Yo: Yarn Over
FwP: Forward Pass
RetP: Return Pass
Tss: Tunisian Simple Stitch- Insert hook in vertical bar, yo, pull up a loop.
Tsl: Tunisian Slip Stitch - Insert hook under vertical bar, do NOT pull up loop.
Tdc: Tunisian Double Crochet- Yo, insert hook under next vertical bar, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull
through two loops.
STss: Special Tss - Insert hook under the vertical bar and top horizontal bar, yo pull up a loop.
Sl St BO: Slip Stitch Bind-Off - Insert hook, yo, pull through vertical bar and loop on hook.
End St - Work the last stitch of each FwP by inserting the hook under the front and back vertical
bars.
Notes:
-This pattern is worked with both a FwP and a RetP. The RetP will either consist of [yo and pull through first loop, *yo and pull through two loops. Repeat from * until one loop remains] or a [yo and pull through two loops until one loop remains] the pattern will clarify which one.
-The waves section is made up of an alternating pattern of four rows. Only two colors are used, thus it is best to just carry the yarn up the side instead of cutting it at each end.
-To change the height of the clutch, add or decrease your beginning chain (multiple of 10 + 2). To change the width of the clutch, add to or decrease the number of rows you crochet.
Pattern for the 4 Row Repeat:
If you need help with this four row repeat, you can find a tutorial here.
Foundation Row (Row 1): With Color A, ch 52. FwP, insert hook into back bump of second ch from hook. Pull up loop in every bump across. Work RetP. (On repeating rows you will work these stitches into the vertical bar rather than the back bump.)
Row 2: FwP, With Color B, *Tss in first two sts, Tdc in next four, Tss in next two, Tsl in next two. Repeat from * to last stitch, work End St in last stitch. Work RetP.
Row 3: FwP, with Color A, work 1 Tss in each st across. Work End St. Work RetP.
Row 4: FwP, with Color B, work 1 Tdc in first st. *Work 2 Tss in next, Tsl 2, Tss 2, Tdc 4. Repeat from * ending with a Tdc 3 times on the last round. Work End St. Work RetP.
Rows 1-24: Work repeat in Colors A and B.
Rows 25-31: Work repeat only in Color B.
Rows 32-55: Work repeat in Colors A and B.
*Now would be a good time to do your fabric blocking.*
Adding the Handle
-Fold the fabric in half as pictured above. You may now either sew the sides together with a mattress stitch (done in sample) or you may crochet up the sides using a single crochet. Once your bag is seamed, you will be picking up one loop in each St around the top of your bag.
Row 1: With Color A, insert hook in the first St to the left of a seam and pull up a loop. Continue pulling up loops in each St around. Now, pick up your last stitch by inserting your hook between the first and second loop on the hook, yo and pull up the last loop. Work RetP by yo and pull through 2 loops on hook.
Rows 2-6: Work 1 STss in each St around, pull that last loop like you did in row 1. Work RetP as in Row 1 of handle’s instructions. Working the STss will give your handle a more sturdy hold.
Row 7: Work 1 STss in next 21 Sts. Work Sl St BO in next 12 Sts. Work 1 STss in next 44 Sts. Work Sl St BO in next 12 Sts. Work 1 Stss in next 21 Sts. Work last St like rows 1-6. Begin RetP like rows 1-6, chaining 15 over each BO space.
Note: If you have changed the size of you purse you will need to change the number of Sts in Row 7. The important thing is that your handle centers evenly with the gray stripe running down the middle of your bag. It is also important that you BO 12 stitches.
Rows 8-12: Continue working like you did in Rows 2-6, pulling up the loops through each St and the back bumps of the Ch 15. You have added 6 Sts if you are counting loops. After the 11th round, work a Sl St BO around the top of your bag. Sl St to your first BO St. Tie off and weave in ends.
If you make this bag, I would love to see it! Please tag me in any social media posts or use the hashtag #9603makers for a chance to be featured. If you don't use social media, please, shoot me an e-mail, I would love to see your beautiful clutch and the colors you chose.
If you love this bag but don't have time to make it now, go ahead and...
- Add it to your Ravelry Library
Also, one more time, you can find all the posts associated with E'Claire Makery's Summer Blog Hop here. There are seriously some really cute patterns that I think you will love!
Happy summer and happy crocheting friends!
Julie
Copyright ©2019, 9603 Design Company. Please note that this pattern is an original design by 9603 Design Company. Please do not sell or claim the pattern as your own. You are free to sell finished products but please give credit to whom credit is due. Thank you!
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