Boxy Felted Granny Square Bags

 Granny Bags

Granny Squares are one of the first things you learn to make as a beginning crocheter. I am fascinated by how many different ways there are, of using them. Some designers make them into toys! Check out Linda Morris Tomlin's Ravelry Store

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-square-bunny

The catwalks regularly 'rediscover' them.

This is courtesy of Vogue 2019

These bags were made with about 38 granny squares, depending on how long you want the strap. I used a JAYG (join as you go) method- there are tutorials on how to do this on youtube.Probably best used as a storage bag for use indoors.I had some rubber 'feet' I removed from the base of another bag which would make it more of a day bag, but can I find them in my workroom? No.

These boxy bags in 4ply wool are felted in the machine. Felting in the washing machine requires a certain gambler's mentality. Key to its success, it works best if all yarns used for project are 100% wool(not acrylic, or mixture)or alpaca. Shetland is ideal. Sock yarn, not so much.A sheet or two of colour catcher and a pair of jeans for company, I washed the red one at 60 degrees then again at 90, to make the fabric as dense as possible.If your knitting or crochet is not so great felting hides a multitude of sins.
The grey/turquoise bag used superwash wool and did not shrink quite so much.
I once spent ages knitting a stripy, brightly coloured beach bag to felt in the machine, and a non-colourfast navy yarn rendered the whole thing sludge-colour. So I am not pretending its foolproof! A sheet or two of colour catcher helps solve this problem.
You could check things like shrinkage and colourfastness by just measuring and then felting individual squares before embarking on a project.

I line them,  using the plastic from lever arch files to make them more rigid.

I have begun the process- carefully measuring each 'plane' of the red bag, to work out how big to cut the plastic. Didn't use my best scissors for this.Used the existing curved corner of the file, and trimmed the other 3 corners to match it. 1 File=1bag.

Next step will be, covers into which the plastic pieces are fed, hand-sewing shut, then hand-stitching together at the edges then to the bag, to achieve 'boxy' shape.Will need to hunt around for something fairly durable to use as a lining fabric...

I wrapped fabric around each piece of plastic,with a fold along the long edge.Pinned it, on the wrong side and removed plastic. Sewed all around leaving one small end open.Trimmed fabric especially at corners, turned right way out, re-nserted plastic. Did this for all pieces. Finally fold in open end,pin and oversew shut.Oversew edges together to mimic bag shape. Starting at the bottom,using matching yarn, sew through front felted edges and where pieces are joined.Do the same at sides. I handstitched a strip of fabric for the handle.Finally, hand sew all edges where lining and felted bag meet.

Finished bag off, fully lined with a nice paisley remnant I had. Sewed presstuds to each corner of front to close.Also lined strap to make it stronger.

Here are some photos showing the construction of the lining of the black/grey/turquoise bag

Individual pieces of plastic,wrapped in fabric which is sewn on 3 sides to make a pocket, then turned through, the plastic replaced and the remaining edge oversewn.

Pieces are then sewn together by hand, right sides together. I put the 'box' construction into the crocheted bag, and stitch along the edges to ensure that the squares are in the right place- some stretching involved.

Press studs added

Et voila!