Jolly Little Goody Bags

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Some time ago I used up some surplus granny squares I had leftover from a crocheted blanket to make a little bag which I now use to keep my scant supply of cosmetics in. I was looking at this bag the other day and I thought it would be nice to make it up as a gift bag as part of a birthday present. So I made a new bag using yellow and pink dk wool and I was quite pleased with the results.

So much so that I made another one using pink and blue 4ply wool …

and yet another one using fine crochet cotton.

They really are quite versatile and very simple to make. Here’s how I made my Jolly Little Goody Bags (writing out the pattern was much harder than making the bag itself!)

The bag can be made using whatever weight of wool you want and only requires small amounts.
For the dk version I used a 3.5mm hook (American size E).
For the 4ply (fingering) version I used a 2.5mm hook (American size B/C)
For the crochet cotton version I used a 1.5mm hook (Don’t know the American equivalent of this)

The finished bag sizes are
Dk version – 13cm (5 inches ) tall
4 ply version – 10cm (4 inches) tall
Fine crochet cotton version – 6cm (2½ inches) tall

The bag is based on 5 granny squares joined together with an added section to the top of the bag and a drawstring to close.

Any colour combinations can be used and the possibilities are endless.

Instructions are the English version.
To translate to American, tr > dc, and dc > sc.

Motif (make 5)
Change colour as and when you want.

Chain 6 and join with sl st into a ring.
1st round: 5 ch (counts as 1 tr and 2 ch), [3 tr into ring, 2 ch] 3 times, 2 tr into ring, sl st into 3rd of 5 ch.
2nd round: sl st into next chain, 5 ch (counts as 1 tr and 2 ch), 3 tr into same sp, [1 ch, miss 3 tr, into next chain space work 3 tr 2ch 3 tr] 3 times, 1 ch miss 3 tr, 2 tr into same sp as 5 ch at beginning of round, sl st into 3rd of 5 ch.
3rd round: sl st into next chain, 5 ch (counts as 1 tr and 2 ch), 3 tr into same sp, [1 ch, miss 3 tr, into next chain space work 3 tr 1 ch, miss 3 tr, into next chain space work 3 tr 2ch 3 tr] 3 times, 1 ch miss 3 tr, 3 tr in next chain space, 1 ch, 2 tr into same sp as 5 ch at beginning of round, sl st into 3rd of 5 ch.
4th round: sl st into next chain, 5 ch (counts as 1 tr and 2 ch), 3 tr into same sp, [1 ch, {miss 3 tr, into next chain space work 3 tr 1 ch} 2 times, miss 3 tr, into next chain space work 3 tr 2ch 3 tr] 3 times, 1 ch {miss 3 tr, into next chain space work 3 tr 1 ch} 2 times, miss 3 tr, 2 tr into same sp as 5 ch at beginning of round, sl st into 3rd of 5 ch.
Fasten off

Now you have your 5 motifs select one as the base and join one side of each of the other 4 motifs to each side of the base.

Next join the side seams to make an open topped box.

Top of bag
Attach yarn to top right-hand corner chain space of one of the side pieces.
1st round: make 4 ch (counts as 1tr and 1 ch), [{miss 3tr, into next chain space work 3 tr 1 ch } 3 times, miss 3 tr, 2 tr into corner space, 1 tr 1 ch into corner space of next motif] 3 times, {miss 3 tr, 3 tr 1 ch into next chain space} 3 times, miss 3 tr, 2 tr into corner space, sl st into 3rd chain of 4 ch.
2nd round: sl st into next chain, 4 ch (counts as 1 tr and 1 ch), [miss 3 tr, into next chain space work 3 tr 1 ch] 15 times, miss 3 tr, 2 tr into next chain space, sl st into 3rd chain of 4 ch.
3rd, 4th and 5th rounds: repeat 2nd round.
Fasten off.

Drawstring
Ch 111, turn, miss 1 ch, dc into each chain to end.
Fasten off.

Thread the drawstring through the chain spaces on the second row from the top. Fill your bag with goodies and give it to someone you love.