MICROCKNIT CREATIONS: SPRING Crochet

Saturday, 21 March 2015

SPRING Crochet - SCARBOROUGH FAIR Bag

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SPRING CROCHET

Spring Equinox is here, and the cold, wet, dreary days of winter are slowly but surely leaving. Daylight hours are lengthening and a hint of warmer weather is just around the corner.

Daffodils are blooming, bringing some lively colour into our lives and the thought of summertime is on my mind.

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Even though I am currently indoors and all rugged up (the weather this week has been a bit colder than the average for March), I am having thoughts of warm summers, blue skies, country walks and magical adventures... YES I am multi-tasking.... day-dreaming whilst I am blissfully crocheting away, surrounded by bright colours and lovely cotton yarns.

I am in love with Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton DK and the Sparkle DK. Lovely bright and bold colours, very hard to resist. Plus the bonus of 100g balls.

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And here is what I made.... a circular crochet bag... with a mix of vibrant and subtle summer-time colours. I named this bag design "SCARBOROUGH FAIR"... to celebrate the colourful, prosperous times of Scarborough Faire. Did you know? Scarborough Faire was a 45 day trading event held yearly during the middle ages in the seaside town of Scarborough, Yorkshire, Britain.

Merchants came from all over England, Norway, Denmark, the Baltic States and the Byzantine Empire.

Such a huge event attracted not only tradesmen, but also other buyers, sellers and pleasure-seekers.

Can you imagine what an amazing spectacle it must have been?

Oh to travel back in time?

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OK enough day-dreaming from me, let's talk more about this Scarborough Fair bag. To finish off the bag I decided to line it with calico to extend bag life. What a happy thought - long-life! yay!

You will be pleased to know I have this pattern available in USA and UK crochet terms. So please select the correct pattern terminology.

Here are some PATTERN DETAILS:

DIFFICULTY: Easy Intermediate

SIZES: One size

MEASUREMENTS: Bag circumference is approx. 32in (81cm) and 15in (38cm) deep; handles 30in (76cm)

YARN USED: Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton and Sparkle DK ● 100% Cotton ● 100g/201m/219yd ● Shades: MC Cream; CC1 Agean Shine; CC2 Fern; CC3 Coral Shine; CC4 Natural Shine; CC5 Driftwood. 1 ball of each colour.

YARN ALTERNATIVES: Any DK weight cotton

TENSION: Not critical to this pattern (this pattern uses larger hook than recommended on yarn label)

NOTIONS: I-9 (5.5mm) hook (for body of bag), H-8 (5mm) hook (for handles/straps), Yarn needle

PATTERN NOTES: You need to know how to crochet in the round. Instructions in this pattern are for six (6) colour crochet bag. Bag lining is optional. This written pattern has accompanying photographs at the end of the written instructions.