Star Stitch Handbag
Six-loop stars with a half-double-crochet return row make a dense textured panel.
Bag · Advanced · 12–15 hours · About 20 cm wide and 21 cm tall, with a 4 cm gusset; estimate from the stated panel gauge
Yarn and tools
- weight: DK (CYC 3)
- fibre: Cotton or cotton/linen — star stitch needs a smooth yarn or the loops snag
- amount: 250 g Custard, 60 g Denim
- examples: Scheepjes Catona, Paintbox Cotton DK, Drops Muskat
- hook: 3.5 mm
- gauge: 40 hdc across = 20 cm; 12 individual star/hdc rows = 10 cm vertically. Swatch the sc gusset separately; measure it against the actual panels.
Notions
- Tapestry needle
- 2 D-rings or bag handles
- Magnetic snap
- Lining fabric 30 x 50 cm (recommended)
Stitches used
- Chain (ch)
- Single Crochet (sc)
- Half Double Crochet (hdc)
- Star Stitch (star st)
- Slip Stitch (sl st)
- Whip Stitch & Mattress Seam (seam)
- Back Loop Only (BLO)
Notes
- A 40-st base makes 19 six-loop stars plus an edge hdc. The return row restores 40 hdc: 1 edge hdc + 2 per eye + 1 in the starting ch-3.
- Pull all 6 loops of a star to the same height. Turning chains follow the explicit counted/uncounted rules below.
- Line this bag. Star stitch is beautiful but has small gaps, and a lining doubles its lifespan.
Pattern
Panel (make 2) — Custard
- Ch 41. Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (40 sc sts)
- STAR ROW: ch 3, turn. Pull up a loop in the 2nd and 3rd ch and in the first 3 base sts (6 loops), yo through all 6, ch 1 (eye). For each next star pull up a loop in the eye, between the last two spokes, in the same base st as the previous star's last loop, and in the next 2 base sts (6 loops); yo through all 6, ch 1. Make 19 stars total; hdc in the last base st. (19 stars + 1 edge hdc sts)
- HDC ROW: ch 2 (not counted), turn. Hdc in the edge hdc, 2 hdc in each of the 19 eyes, hdc in the top of the starting ch-3. (40 hdc sts)
- Repeat the star row. (19 stars + 1 edge hdc sts)
- Repeat the hdc row. (40 hdc sts)
- Repeat rows 2–3 ten more times — 12 star rows and 12 return rows after the foundation (25 rows total). Measure the panel before making the gusset. Fasten off. (40 hdc / 19 stars + edge hdc alternating sts)
Gusset — Denim
One long strip forms both sides and the base in a single piece, so there are only two seams.
- Ch 9. Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and across. (8 sc sts)
- Ch 1 (not counted), turn. Sc in each st across. (8 sc sts)
- Repeat the previous row until the strip matches both side edges plus the base of your actual panel (about 62 cm if the panel is 20 x 21 cm). Use a tape measure, not the panel's texture-row gauge. Fasten off. (8 sc per row sts)
Assemble
- With Denim and wrong sides together, sc the gusset to panel 1: up one side, across the base, down the other side. Ease, do not stretch. (— sts)
- Repeat to attach panel 2. The bag now stands on its own. (— sts)
- Top band: join Denim at a side seam and sc around the opening — 40 sc front, 8 sc gusset, 40 sc back, 8 sc gusset. (96 sc sts)
- Work 3 more rounds of 96 sc. On the final round, work sl st in each st for a firm rolled edge. Fasten off. (96 sc sts)
- Handles (make 2): ch 6, sc in the 2nd ch and across (5 sc); ch 1 (not counted), turn and sc across each following row until your chosen handle length. Fold lengthways and whip stitch closed; sew inside the top band 10 sts in from each side seam, reinforcing both ends. Or attach bought handles with D-rings. (5 sc per row sts)
- Sew in the magnetic snap centred at the top opening, then whip stitch the lining inside the top band. (— sts)