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I’ve needed a new purse for awhile, mine is a cheap fake leather messenger bag that is starting to crack. I saw a waffle stitch blanket and thought that it would make a really neat texture for a purse.
The purple waffle stitch purse is now my everyday bag, when I was making it I learned a valuable lesson. It was last Saturday night, I sat outside with the dogs and had a couple of beers. When I came inside I sewed the pockets and fabric lining.
Sunday morning I woke up and picked up my bag to put the finishing touches on. Imagine my horror when I opened up my bag and discovered that I sewed in the seams the opposite way! Good thing nobody but me sees the inside of my purse!
Lesson learned beer and sewing don’t mix.
What You Need
- 2 skeins Loops & Threads Shabby Yarn (for the purple bag I used a vintage yarn that I got from Etsy)
- 3.75mm crochet hook
- darning needle
- fabric (I used a 20″x36″ piece), cut a 2″ x 36″ piece for the handle (I usually pick up fabric at Walmart)
Stitches Used
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- fpdc – front post double crochet
- st – stitch
Waffle Stitch Purse Pattern
Front, Back, and Flap
ch 60 (must be a multiple of 3)
Row 1 – dc in 3rd ch from hook, and in each st across. ch3 (counts as first dc now and throughout), turn
Row 2 – dc in next st, fpdc around next, *dc in next 2 st, fpdc around next* repeat across, dc in last 2 st. ch3, turn
Row 3 – dc in next 2 st, fpdc around next 2, *dc in next st, fpdc around next 2 st* repeat across, fpdc in last 2 st. ch 3, turn
Row 4 – dc in next st, fpdc around next, *dc in next 2 st, fpdc around next st * repeat across, dc in last 2 st. ch3, turn.
Repeat rows 3&4 43 times (you’ll have 45 squares)
Finish off, and bury ends
Side Panels – Make 2
Ch 12 (leave 24″ for sewing)
Row 1 – dc in 3rd ch from hook, and in each across. ch3, turn
Row 2 – dc in next st, fpdc around next, *dc in next 2 st, fpdc around next* repeat across, dc in last 2 st. ch3, turn
Row 3 – dc in next 2 st, fpdc around next 2, *dc in next st, fpdc around next 2 st* repeat across, fpdc in last 2 st. ch 3, turn
Row 4 – dc in next st, fpdc around next, *dc in next 2 st, fpdc around next st * repeat across, dc in last 2 st. ch3, turn.
Repeat rows 3&4 12 times.
Finish off, leaving a 24″ end for sewing.
Line up the squares, and sew side panels to the main body.
Handle
ch 186
Row 1 – dc in 3rd ch from hook, and in each across. ch3, turn
Row 2 – dc in next st, fpdc around next, *dc in next 2 st, fpdc around next* repeat across, dc in last 2 st. ch3, turn
Row 3 – dc in next 2 st, fpdc around next 2, *dc in next st, fpdc around next 2 st* repeat across, fpdc in last 2 st. ch 3, turn
Row 4 – dc in next st, fpdc around next, *dc in next 2 st, fpdc around next st * repeat across, dc in last 2 st. ch3, turn.
Repeat until it covers your handle fabric.
I folded the fabric in half twice, and then doubled up the ends, and trimmed off the excess. Then sewed the crochet part over the fabric, and sewed it into each corner.
Pockets
If you want to make pockets make your chains a multiple of 3 (I went with 45), and follow the pattern.
I also chose to line both my pockets and my bag (remember, don’t do that after a couple beers!).
If you liked this pattern, have a look at my Suzette stitch purse pattern.
Can you please tell me the dimensions of the finished purse.
It’s 9″ x 13″. The pockets worked out to be about 5″ x 7″, and the handle drop is 15″.