I hope you can get the handles in one...I have 2 purses in the works. The sides were super duper easy. Might start another one and wait for the handle portion to be posted. THANK YOU for a wonderful tutorial.

Kristin ... Thanks for the sweet comment!! You might be able to figure the handles out with just the fsc bridge tutorial I already have posted ... click "Tutorials", then click the "Tutorial: Foundation Single Crochet - Supplement" post. :)

Thanks Alice! I will try that and see if I can figure it out. I meant to look at that...and forgot, but in looking at it now, it might just help!!! I can't wait to share the finished product. I made a smaller one for my daughter and added a cute flower...it's so stinking cute!

Just wanted you to know that I'm following along with the tutorials! It is turning out nicely!!! Thanks for sharing...this has been lots of fun!

Kathy ... Yay! Thanks for letting me know you've been following along. :) I'm glad the videos have been helpful!

Hi I am having so much fun with this bag and it is coming along speedily, just wondering about the part when you are talking about counting the rows in twos.....enlighten me please?
Sorry just a lil confused by that.
Awesome pattern by the way!

TheCreativeNinja ... Sure, I can explain that. :) When you single crochet back and forth, there is a deeper dent between rows on every-other row, so I find it easier to count them two at a time instead of one at a time. For example, look at this image http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/images/2009/01/single24_o.jpg I would count from the bottom as "1 yellow, 2 yellow, 3 green" then times that number by two to know that there are six rows of single crochet. Visually I find it easier to distinguish "sets of two rows" than "single rows".

Hopefully I've clarified things and not confused you further! :)

Is it possible to obtain written instructions for the Starling Handbags? I'm afraid I'm strictly a black on white study. I've been crocheting for about 65 years and that is how I learned.

The bags are lovely.

Joan

Joan Dulle ... Yes! Right here: http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/downloads.aspx

Dear Alice,
I got the link to your blog via Jessica from "schoenstricken.de". Thank you for sharing the pattern of your starling handbag. I just started this weekend to crochet the bag and your videos are mega helpful. Looking forward to the coming weekend to finish the bag. It is so much fun, thank you for your creativity!
Just one question concerning stability: I'm using cotton yarn which is quite soft and the bag is not able to keep it's shape. Do you have an idea what I could do? Maybe spray with starch or using PVA glue? Thanks for your help!
Cheers, Sonja

Sonja ... I find that adding a fabric lining to the bag helps it keep it's shape. You could use stiff interfacing on the lining to help even more. I have tutorials for both sewing a lining and sewing the lining into your bag: http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2008/1/tutorial-sew-lining-for-crocheted-bag.aspx