left header image

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Secret Hex Bag Project

*** EDIT: Now with fancy dancy video/chart Crochet-a-Long ***

I've been teasing you with photos of this secret project forever-and-a-day, and now it can finally be revealed ...
It's a crochet granny hex bag for Diane of craftypod.com.  It was a surprise, which is why I couldn't show you the whole thing until she got it.

It's inspired by this hex bag (which Diane tweeted about in June).  I modified the hex pattern, created a half-hex to straighten out the top, and made up the granny-strap pattern.  I used my lining worksheet to make the lining.  The yarn is worsted weight cotton Sugar 'n Cream.

I took a bazillion pictures of the bag before I packed it up.  So many happy bursts of color to capture.

Even with all that color and joy, the part that just tickles me silly is the way the white edging rhythmically weaves together between the hexes.  It's hard to capture in photos, but the white is so beautifully entangled in itself.  I love it!

If you want to see more details, check out Diane's Flickr set.  She took some great photos of the lining and tag.  And she says some very sweet things about it. Because she's like that ... sweet and awesome and just the best ever.  XOXO!
66 Comments leave a comment


Jessie said ...
So cute and cheerful! Love it!
11/11/2010 8:03 AM

Lynn said ...
That is just gorgeous!!
11/11/2010 8:09 AM

Seanna Lea said ...
Very cute. How did you decide on colors?
11/11/2010 9:43 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Seanna Lea ... It's what I had in my stash and could find at the store. No real plan.
11/11/2010 12:57 PM

Lyn-de-lou said ...
Oh, beautiful bag. How did you do the 'granny straps' - looked in your tutorials but not there. Could you share??? Love the bag.
11/11/2010 10:59 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Lyn-de-lou ... If I can find the time, I will. :)
11/11/2010 12:56 PM

Kuky said ...
Oooh that's lovely. My hands have been feeling so empty lately. Maybe I should try my hand at some hexes.
11/11/2010 11:09 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Kuky ... They would be perfect for the little snippets of time you have. Eventually, you'd have a bunch!
11/11/2010 12:54 PM

Jackie said ...
That is adorable!
11/11/2010 11:53 AM

Sister Diane said ...
Oh, stumbling across this in my feed reader is like opening my beautiful bag all over again. I don't have words big enough for how much I love it. Your craftsmanship is so stunning - I wish your readers could see the absolute precision with which you attached the fabric liner to the crochet. Beautiful and sturdy and OMG THOSE HANDLES!!! I'll use it and adore it (and you) for years and years.
11/11/2010 11:57 AM

Megan Moyes said ...
OMGeeeeee! I loves loves loves it!
11/11/2010 11:59 AM

Rikke said ...
Ohhh it is so weel made and the colors are so delicate. I love the way you made the handles.

Rikke
11/11/2010 12:33 PM

erin said ...
ADORABLE!! i <3 it :D it's soooo happy and pretty. i saw a picture of the lining on diane's flickr and it's perfect for the bag <3
11/11/2010 1:02 PM

Silvia said ...
It's very beautiful!! I love the colours!!
11/11/2010 1:06 PM

Anne said ...
Delightful! I love it.
11/11/2010 1:40 PM

Rossana said ...
Me encanta tu sitio, es precioso, tienes tejidos orginales y en lindos colores. Gracias por compartirlos! Te invito a seguir mi sitio aunque es nuevito. Saludos Roxy
11/11/2010 1:58 PM

Katie said ...
This is seriously adorable. I want one!!
11/11/2010 2:00 PM

Kate said ...
Oooh, lovely! I recently taught myself to crochet so I could make a hexagon blanket like this, with the white borders. Only in wool. And I cannot get ENOUGH of churning out those little inner circles and choosing the next colours.
11/11/2010 4:51 PM

nancymoo said ...
love LOVE love the hexes. Haha that made me sound like a lover of magical curses... Your hexes are good hexes, though. :D
11/11/2010 5:10 PM

Brittany said ...
So lovely and cheery! How sweet of you. :)
11/11/2010 5:29 PM

Corvus said ...
That is amazingly beautiful!
11/11/2010 6:20 PM

Ann said ...
Wow... so amazingly wonderful...
Last time I thought that the handles are really nice... but the finished project is awesome!
11/11/2010 6:28 PM

Kavitha said ...
I could see it radiating cheer all over...... You are some brilliant crafter, Alice.
11/11/2010 9:54 PM

DeeAnn said ...
It's so beautiful and cute. Diane is so lucky. She's going to look so cute carrying this bag. More cuter than usual. :) I love everything from the colors, to the design and the cute handles.
11/11/2010 11:56 PM

Kate said ...
so beautiful!
11/12/2010 4:06 AM

Barbara said ...
Lovely and cheerful!
11/12/2010 9:11 AM

guildmaker said ...
spectacular! what a happy piece, alice!
11/13/2010 5:42 AM

Wow, that really is an amazing bag! So beautiful. If my to-do list weren't already too long, I'd start something similar tomorrow! : )
11/13/2010 10:50 PM

beta james said ...
beautiful colour. i love it
11/14/2010 7:33 AM

Jessica said ...
Beautiful bag Alice, I really must try to get my hands on some Sugar 'n' Cream yarn as the colours are so lovely.
11/14/2010 1:51 PM

Cindabella said ...
I just love the colours!
11/15/2010 8:01 PM

Wow Alice! I love how this 'surprise' project came out! The colors, the textures, everything about it just feels happy and lovely. Curious if you've got another 'secret' project in the works already....? =)
11/16/2010 4:14 PM

Wow Alice! I love how this 'surprise' project came out! The colors, the textures, everything about it just feels happy and lovely. Curious if you've got another 'secret' project in the works already....? =)
11/16/2010 4:16 PM

lovestitch said ...
How beautiful it is! Last time when you revealed the handles first, I could guess it's bag and now that's right! You are awesome! :)
xxx
11/17/2010 7:29 AM

Hippygeek said ...
Hi I'm Hippygeek and I'm a futuregirl-a-holic... *grin*

I found your blog through a blog-sufing session when I was having a craft fest, and I've spent the last few days reading back through all your posts. (Not quite finished yet!)

I borrowed your felt daisy craftiness idea and mingled it with a pattern for a plant pot pin cushion (and blogged about it: http://hippygeekyme.blogspot.com/2010/11/flours-and-flowers.html and I even gave you credit coz I'm good like that lol)

I love the colour in your work. I love the photos you take. I love the crafty ideas you have, and I love the way you write... I'm totally hooked and not at all surprised to see I'm not alone!
11/21/2010 1:48 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Hippygeek ... Holy smokes! Number one: Thank you so much for taking the time to leave that amazing comment. I can't believe I let myself get so far behind on answering comments when I have sweet people like you leaving them. Number two: You're the best!
1/23/2011 11:35 PM

Sanya said ...
Hey there,
Just wanted to thank you for your Starling bag tutorial - I decided to learn to crochet about two months ago - borrowed books, looked up online patterns etc but nothing worked until I came across your tutorial via Ravelry...and now I'm hooked! Just completed my bag this evening and can't wait to start on my next project!

The instructions worked like a charm (except that I had to turn it anti-clockwise instead of clockwise cos I'm left handed, figured that out after a little trial and error!)

Hope you can post the instructions for this gorgeous bag too! it's absolutely brilliant!! You're a rockstar! thanks!
11/22/2010 5:45 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Sanya ... Thank you for this sweet comment! I know I'm very late with this, but I wanted you to know how much I appreciate it. :)
1/23/2011 11:30 PM

michelle said ...
beautiful colors! it reminds me of hip 70s vintage.
11/22/2010 3:54 PM

Vicki said ...
Thanks so much for the free downloads! I love the bag. Great design and colors!
11/22/2010 6:32 PM

ipanda said ...
Great color... I love it :)
I love the handle. It looks really special^^
11/23/2010 12:58 AM

Michelle B. said ...
It's absolutely beautiful. If only Santa's elves could knit..that would be on my Christmas list ;)
11/23/2010 1:47 AM

Zuleika said ...
How gorgeous! It's like spring all wrapped up into a tote bag! :-)
11/23/2010 3:45 PM

Imke said ...
Wow, what a cool bag, very nice crochetwork, my compliments! I am still working on my first granny blanket...but I get distracted by a lot of different side projects ;-)
11/24/2010 1:09 PM

jess said ...
It's absolutely gorgeous!
11/25/2010 3:44 AM

Hannah said ...
Were you able to locate the pattern for the handles? Just precious!!
11/30/2010 2:52 PM

Mary said ...
Hi Alice,
I'm in a crochet mood and found your post after blogging about crochet and my only crochet accomplishment: a bag! Your's is beautiful.
Just in case you are interested:
http://maryandpatch.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-blog-2.html

Thank you for your inspiring blog!
Mary
12/17/2010 9:35 AM

Heather said ...
love this bag, it is so pretty and unique, wish someone would help me learn crochet. any suggestions on a good book with easy instructions?



12/23/2010 10:41 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Heather ... The Stitch 'n Bitch crochet book is great for a beginner (and someone like me). And there's always youtube if you can't quite figure it out from the book. You can do it!
12/29/2010 7:44 PM

Jackie said ...
I see lots of crocheting due to my line of business. I have to say that is amazing! And your stitches are so neat. Great work!
1/3/2011 9:45 AM

noisy.nisroc said ...
What a beautiful Bag!
Great work! I love your bag! :)
1/4/2011 9:23 AM

Ruby said ...
This is gorgeous, beautiful Summery colours for cold and dark wintery days.
1/5/2011 8:22 AM

Jennifer said ...
I was wondering... How did you crochet over the lining? If that is what you did. I am new to crocheting and I like to make bags and pouches and I hate how messy it turns out! Any tips?
1/7/2011 2:49 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Jennifer ... I have more than tips, I have tutorials! :) Click on the tutorials link in the left column and you will find a "how to sew a lining" tutorial and a "how to sew your lining into a crochet bag" tutorial. Yay!
1/7/2011 3:22 PM

rodiah said ...
hi, its really nice crocheted bag! i wonder how do you join one hex with the ather? now, im working with 16 hex of 36 hexs, still thinking how to join them together...
2/22/2011 1:22 AM

futuregirl replied ...
rodiah ... Keep an eye on my blog. The crochet-a-long videos will show you how to connect them. :)
2/24/2011 6:23 PM

Alice, I love this! I've read through your other posts and am working on a Hex Tote for my sister's birthday. Here's what I have so far: http://twinstitches.blogspot.com/2011/03/hex-tote-bag.html
3/30/2011 5:49 PM

diane said ...
I am loving this bag and can't wait to try one! I saw a link on the babycenter website when someone in our "crocheting mamas" group made one.

I'm wondering, though, if the instructions are written out somewhere for viewing or purchase, I crochet much better with word for word instructions to look at.
4/2/2011 5:27 PM

futuregirl replied ...
diane ... There aren't going to be written instructions. A couple suggestions ... you could watch the video and take written notes, then use those notes to make the part for that episode ... or you could try to use the combination of charts and videos and if you get stuck you can email me.

I know it's hard to venture outside of your learning style, but I suggest you give it a try. Maybe after a little practice you'll find charts are just as easy as words. (fingers crossed!)
4/3/2011 1:29 PM

Shirley said ...
Wow! What an awesome bag! I would love to make but I am not quite sure if my crochet skills are up to that. Might have to get my needles out and work out the rust in my fingers! Again, beautiful work!
4/14/2011 1:19 PM

Nicole said ...
This is so cute! I love everything about it from the pattern to the color selection and placement.
5/5/2011 10:27 AM

ailin said ...
Alice! Im from argentina, and today I was searching some crochet stuff in the internet, and I found your page. I Just loved it! It has really great stuff... your pics are fantastic, and the work is lovely. I Just started my own little bussiness with my sister, and we are looking for the image of our brand and your page has been a lot of help! I will visit it often. Thanks Very Much!!
Greetings
Ailin
6/11/2011 8:28 PM

Charlieh said ...
This is gorgeous!
7/27/2011 5:26 PM

Brenda said ...
Hi Futuregirl!!
I have to say that you have inspired me to the MAX!! I saw this purse and just instantly did a happy dance! I made one of my own! I hope you go to my blog and check it out... I also put a link back to you so that everyone knows that it was your fabulousness that inspired me! I've been following your blog for a while now but I guess I have been one of those "silent followers", I will try to speak up more!! Thanks for everything you do!!

*hugs & blessings*
11/17/2011 9:46 PM

Tia said ...
That is gorgeous!! I just love it! You are one talented lady. :D
1/23/2012 10:11 AM
 
Elizabeth said ...
Esta lindo!!!
2/16/2012 7:54 PM

YOUR FIRST COMMENT MUST BE MANUALLY APPROVED


Leave A Commentprivacy policy 

Name


Email won't be displayed publicly


Website must start with http://


remember my info for next time

Comment html tags not allowed


Robot FoilerEnter the text from the image into the box.
get new image