Saturday, March 30, 2013

Pattern: Poke Bag

My nephew who just turned two last month has already seen enough episodes of Pokemon to have his own favorites, leading me to crochet him an Oshawott and a Pickachu (post soon!). Of course, my little buddy's love of Pokemon is just an excuse for his dad, the older of my two younger brothers, to watch.

Actually, we don't make excuses, my brother and I love Pokemon! So, for his birthday I made him a bag to hold the damage counters, status problem markers, coins, etc. that we need to play the Pokemon TCG.

 It's a Pokeball!
The twist on this bag is that it has a flat bottom. So, when you open it and fold down the sides, it turns into a handy bowl to for easy access to grab the tokens during a game.


I actually first thought of this concept some time ago and made a smaller version for my dad. I haven't ever written up the pattern for that, so I'll do that soon. In the meantime, here's the pattern for the Pokeball version.

Materials

Appoximate amounts worsted weight yarn:

90 yards - Red
95 yards - White
20 yards - Black
H Hook

Pattern

For anyone unfamiliar with working in continuous rounds instead of joining at the end of each round: Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of the round, and move it up as you complete each round.
Round 1: Create a magic ring. 6 sc into ring.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around.
Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* Repeat around.
Round 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* Repeat around.
Round 5; *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st* Repeat around.
Round 6: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st* Repeat around.
Round 7: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st* Repeat around.
Round 8 - 15: Sc in each st around.
Row 16 - 17: Change to black. Sc around.
Row 18 - 24: Change to white. Sc around.
Row 25: [Sc in next 6 sts, ch 2, skip 1 sc, sc in next sc] repeat seven times around.
Row 26: [Sc in each sc, work one sc around the ch 2 from previous row], repeat around.
Row 27: Sc around.
Row 28: Sc around until 3 last three sts. Sl st into the last 3 sc from previous round. Finish off and weave in tail under the first few sts of the final round to create a smooth edge.

Button (make one):
Using black, create a magic ring. 12 dc in magic ring, sl st to join. Finish off.
Using white, create a magic ring. 12 hdc in magic ring, sl st to join. Finish off.
Center the white circle on top of the black circle and position both on the front of the bag so that the black stripe on the bag is behind the center of the circles. Using white, sew through both circles to attach.

Use white yarn to chain stitch or braid a drawstring or use ribbon. Thread through the spaces created in rows 25 and 26 of the bag pattern.


While it's pretty simple, this is the most complicated pattern I've written so far. So, please let me know if you have questions or if there is anything that doesn't make sense. Enjoy!

20 comments:

  1. Maybe you should switch the white and the red in the pattern

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't realize, until I read your comment a while ago, that I'd made this Pokeball upside down! Next time I make one, I'll definitely switch the colors.

      Delete
    2. You still might want to change it. It's still backwards in your pattern.

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. approximately how big is the bag?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Are we allowed to sell what we make as long as we give credit back to you for pattern usage?

    ReplyDelete
  5. If I wanted to make it bigger how could I adjust it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. to make larger there's 2-3 different ways..add more rows, use two strands yarn and larger hook, increase the stitches from the 1st round (use more DC instead of the SC..experiment to see which works for you.

      Delete
  6. My 24yr old daughter is going to love this! I might line it so she can use it as a make-up bag.
    Thank you for sharing this very cool and very "now" pattern

    ReplyDelete
  7. My 24yr old daughter is going to love this! I might line it so she can use it as a make-up bag.
    Thank you for sharing this very cool and very "now" pattern

    ReplyDelete
  8. I made this yesterday and as soon as I showed my husband he said "its upside down, the red is supposed to be on top". I argued with him (as I know what I'm talking about right?) And was proven wrong. I do find humor in this now that I have slept on it but I thought you might want to know (or not?) That the white should be on the bottom red on top. Easy fix.

    I also loved this pattern and thank you for sharing it. My daughter is going to love the next one I make for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Sarah,
    This is a very cute bag. I am looking for a lunch bag for my husband which could hold lets say two pyrex glass bowls (about 4-5 inch in diameter). Do you think this will work? I could definitely increase the length but I am concerned about the base(bottom).

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you so much, I really want one of these for myself too, and I am also a mature child who is very far from 12 :)

    I actually like that it is upside down, the red will stand on the ground and be cleaner than if the white were on the ground. I have never successfully crocheted from a pattern before, but I will attempt this one for sure.

    Thank you so much for sharing.
    <3

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would put # of stitches in () other then that awesome written pattern

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear all,
    I've recreated the pattern but increased the stitches after row 7 (up to 12 sc then 2 sc in next stitch) to get it to the size of about a small drawstring backpack. Hope this helps!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sarah, thank you for the pattern, it is awesome. My grandson loves pokemon. I have an order to make another for his little brother. Thanks again for the amazing pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I made the bag and now I use it a lot. Love the pattern. The bag is not that big, but it works for me. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Could you please let me know how to calculate to make the pattern bigger? i'm not looking to make it much bigger. I very much love the pattern and so will the friends i have made dice bags for!

    ReplyDelete