A good friend, a cold drink, and a cozy chair - all ingredients for a good time! And if your friends are like my friends, the usual invitation includes a note to BYOB - so I created the Bring Your Own Bag so you can show up in style!
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Always Bringing a Good Time
The Bring Your Own Bag fits cans and bottles of almost every shape and size - well, individual serving sizes anyway! You can fill it up with local brews or kids drinks or whatever you like... and keep everyone hydrated and happy!
There is a little bit of Tunisian in this pattern - and I've linked a tutorial for it below. But if you would prefer to skip the Tunisian crochet, use standard sc sts instead, or swap out Color B with a length of cloth ribbon!
Bring Your Own Bag
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- US - K, 6.5mm hook (Clover Amour recommended)
- 450 yds 100% acrylic, Super Bulky (6) yarn (original yarn is discontinued)
Color A: Brown
Color B: Tan - Plastic Canvas - 2 pcs cut to 5" x 8"
- Stitch Markers (Clover Lock Ring Markers recommended)
- Gauge: 12 sts x 14 rows =4"/10cm in sc
- Helpful Video Tutorials: Joining with a SC; TSS/Tunisian Simple Stitch
NOTE: While the stitches used in this pattern are simple, the construction is unique, making this an Intermediate to Advanced pattern.
Bring Your Own Bag Instructions
PART 1 INSTRUCTIONS - COLOR A (Bag Bottom)
Row 1: Ch 16, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in each remaining ch to end; turn. (15 sts)
Row 2 - 26: Ch 1, sc across; turn. (15 sts)
Edging: Ch 1, sc all the way around the rectangle, working extra sts in each corner, for 86 sts total; join and break. (86 sts) Set aside.
PART 2 INSTRUCTIONS - COLOR A (Bottom with Dividers)
1. Make another Part 1 piece, then add the following:
2. Working from the RS, work a line of sc along the center lengthwise. Then work 2 rows of sc across, sectioning the piece in thirds. (See photo below.)
3. Leaving a 12" tail, join with a sc and crochet along the lines shown in the image below. Work 17 rows for each section, leaving a 12" tail at the end of each.
4. Join with a sc and crochet width wise across dividers, and lengthwise across dividers, mimicking the lines created in step 2 of this section.
PART 3 INSTRUCTIONS - COLOR B (Strap) - This is made using Tunisian Simple Stitch, see linked tutorial above
Row 1: Ch 4, skip the ch closest to the hook, insert the hook and pull up a loop from each chain to the end. (4 loops on hook)
Return Pass: Yarn over and pull through the first loop, *yarn over and pull through 2 loops, repeating from * to end. (1 loop on hook)
Row 2: TSS across, and work standard return pass (as above).
Repeat Row 2 until strap measures 64" long. Finish off and sew ends of strap together without twisting. Mark the join point and the halfway point.
BEGINNING ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Layer the pieces from the bottom up as follows:
Part 1/Bag Bottom (WS up),
Part 3/Strap (line up the marked points in the center as shown below, and secure in place with Color A yarn),
Plastic Canvas (both pieces)
Part 2/Bottom with Dividers (RS/Dividers up)
2. Secure the edges together with stitch markers or clips, and sew Part 1 to Part 2 using Color A yarn, using backstitch and going under top loops of both layers, and going through straps as needed. Secure ends.
BAG SIDES INSTRUCTIONS - COLOR A
Round 1: With Color A, join with a sc to any st of Part 2 Edging, sc in each st around; join. (86 sts)
Round 2 - 20: Ch 1, sc in each st around; join. (86 sts) (NOTE: Keep dividers on the inside, and straps on the outside, as you create the sides of the bag! It helps to secure all the long tails out of the way while you work.) After Round 20, break yarn and finish off.
FINAL BRING YOUR OWN BAG ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Using the long tails left when making the dividers, sew the dividers to the Bag Sides to create the "6 pack."
2. Using Color A, sew the straps straight up the sides of the bag using the running stitch as shown, continuing the stitch along the handle and down the other side. Repeat on other side of handle, and then on strap on other side of bag. (NOTE: This step sews the handles to the bag, and also creates more stability/less stretch in the handles themselves.)
And that's it! Don't let the construction of this pattern overwhelm you - it's almost all single crochet, and if you go step by step you can do it! Then you can fill up the Bring Your Own Bag with your beverage of choice and head out to celebrate a new crochet project! I can't wait to see how you all put your own custom spin on it!
The Fine Print
Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2016, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern!
B says
That is so cute! I even like the idea of having the dividers (at least some) in a purse. Great Job!
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you B! Yes, I think this divider idea might appear in future patterns!
Cathy Kenny says
Love this pattern. I believe it will be one I make for Christmas presents. Thanks Tamara ❤️
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Cathy!
Susan says
Thank You, Tamara, for another Awesone pattern! I look forward to making this BYOB bag! Thank you for sharing your creativity!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you Susan! I hope you enjoy it!
Gilliananne says
Hell, I am trying to make the BYOB and for the life ofnmeni can not get from 16 chains to 86 stitches. I appear to have an. In complete copy of the pattern. Are you working in rounds or rows with a slip stitch at the end..
Tamara Kelly says
Hello Gilliananne! It sounds like you do have an incomplete copy of the pattern. Part 1 should read:
Row 1: Ch 16, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in each remaining ch to end; turn. (15 sts)
Row 2 – 26: Ch 1, sc across; turn. (15 sts)
Edging: Ch 1, sc all the way around the rectangle, working extra sts in each corner, for 86 sts total; join and break. (86 sts) Set aside.
It is in the edging that you start working in the round, going all around the base rectangle made in Rows 1-26.
Gilliananne says
Thanks I was trying to crochet around the 15 st chain not back and forth. Thanks.
Louise says
This would make a perfect project bag for a multicoloured project - one skein in each section. The sides could be made a bit higher to allow space for the wip on top.
Tamara Kelly says
Yes! 😀 Great idea Louise!
LEIGH says
Thank you for sharing this...i want to covert this into 4 squares and maybe divided into 2 2 halves. Can't wait to experience this tote. Super thanks again.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Leigh! I think it's pretty adaptable, if you need any help, please just let me know! 🙂
Katy M says
I saw a post in a blog or on Facebook, someone using a wine bag for WIP's. Kept the yarn upright and easy to get to and you can use one section to hold supplies. This bag would be great for that. It would be easy to make it a little bigger and add a lid, if wanted.
Thanks for the pattern.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I'm so glad you like it, thank you Katy!
Joselyne says
Dear Miss Kelly, by any chance do you have a tutorial for this?
Tamara Kelly says
Just the photos above I'm afraid!
Shelby says
This is the best idea ever! One question, I’m a little confused as to how we use the 12” tails to sew the inside dividers to the outer part. Are we to pull them through from the inside to the outside and then weave them into the rest of the work? Thank you!
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Shelby! Thank you! Yes, you've got it - it's just to tack them down so they stand up a bit and stay in place. 🙂
Kim says
How do you make the sides? I must be missing that in the pattern...
Tamara Kelly says
The Sides begin right after the "BEGINNING ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS" section. 🙂
Julie Mariano says
Hi, I’m trying to make the super cool bag, however, when I went to cut the plastic canvas the 5” x 8” was way too big for the bottom I made so I had to cut it quite a bit smaller to fit without being wavy. The bottom I made was the exact same stiches you had on yours, 15x 26 with 86 stiches all around. When I look at yours it looks like it fits perfectly. I don’t understand what I did wrong. Would you by any chance know?
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Julie! It sounds like we had different gauges! The gauge listed for this pattern is 12 sts x 14 rows = 4″/10cm in sc. If your stitches were smaller, your finished project will be smaller. Switching hook size is usually the first step to match the gauge.
Stephanie says
In part 2, where it says "2. Working from the RS, work a line of sc along the center lengthwise. Then work 2 rows of sc across, sectioning the piece in thirds. (See photo below.)"
Is it slip stitch or single crochet? And if it's single crochet how do I do that on a flat surface? 😅
Tamara Kelly says
Single crochet - and it's worked like surface crochet! Here is a tutorial: https://www.mooglyblog.com/surface-single-crochet/
Sarah says
This would be the perfect Christmas gift. One thing puzzles me though... does it really take 450 yds of 6 super bulky yarn? That's enough to make a throw blanket!!
Tamara Kelly says
I think so, though it's been so long now it's hard to say for sure. The original yarn was on the thinner side of 6 if I recall correctly, so that may be a big part of it.
Aimee says
Is there a video tutorial for this bag?
Tamara Kelly says
No, just for the individual stitches used.