10 Granny Squares 30 Bags – Book Review

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If you have ever wanted to make a crochet bag this book is a definite “must have” for your crochet book collection. It includes 30 beautiful designs and specific techniques to make your bags spectacular!

Title: 10 Granny Squares 30 Bags
Author: By Margaret Hubert
Format: Softbound, 128 Pages
ISBN: 9781589238947
Publisher: Creative Publishing International
Size: 8.5 x 8.5
Published: February 1, 2016
Price: $19.99

10 Granny Squares 30 Bags

Margaret Hubert has created another fantastic crochet book for us to enjoy! 10 Granny Squares 30 Bags includes a beautiful collection of crochet patterns for purses, pouches, totes and carriers. It is truly inspiring to see how each Granny Square can be transformed into 3 completely different projects.

10 Granny Squares 30 Bags is a 128-page softbound publication filled with high quality color photographs and easy-to-follow written crochet patterns in US Crochet Terms. Each of the 10 Granny Squares includes both written instructions and a crochet diagram. Schematics for assembly have been included where necessary.

The Abbreviations, Diagram Symbols and Term Conversions are provided on pages 124 and 125.

The Techniques section is included on page 114 and is filled with helpful information and color photographs demonstrating the step-by-step processes you need to understand. Included in the Techniques section are:

• Adjustable Loop
• Seams (Whipstitch Seam, Weave Seam & Single Crochet Seam)
• Linings (4 Different Linings are demonstrated: Basic, Light Body, Light Firmness & Heavy Firmness)
• Handles (Twisted Cord, Encased Cord & Bead Handles)
• Zippers
• Covered Snaps

The 10 Granny Squares Included are:

• SQUARE 1: Flower Buds
• SQUARE 2: Libelle Dahlia
• SQUARE 3: Blooming Granny
• SQUARE 4: Sunflower
• SQUARE 5: Tricolor Cluster
• SQUARE 6: Paula’s Pendant
• SQUARE 7: Fireworks
• SQUARE 8: Popcorn and Lace
• SQUARE 9: Venetian Star
• SQUARE 10: Pretty Posy

The Bag Designs included are:

• BAG 1: Beach Tote (uses Flower Buds)
• BAG 2: Bottle Gift Bag (uses Flower Buds)
• BAG 3: Flower Bud Amulet (uses Flower Buds)
• BAG 4: Knotted Tie Evening Bag (uses Libelle Dahlia)
• BAG 5: Autumn Stripes Tote (uses Libelle Dahlia)
• BAG 6: Amulet with Streamers (uses Libelle Dahlia)
• BAG 7: Tablet Cover (uses Blooming Granny)
• BAG 8: Drawstring Pouch (uses Blooming Granny)
• BAG 9: Granny Pocket Tote (uses Blooming Granny)
• BAG 10: Project Tote (uses Sunflower)
• BAG 11: Bead Handle Clutch (uses Sunflower)
• BAG 12: Playful Pouch (uses Sunflower)
• BAG 13: Origami Folds (uses Tricolor Cluster)
• BAG 14: Gusseted Linen Bag (uses Tricolor Cluster)
• BAG 15: Uptown Tote (uses Tricolor Cluster)
• BAG 16: Orange Cappuccino Tote (uses Paula’s Pendant)
• BAG 17: Queen-Size Carryall (uses Paula’s Pendant)
• BAG 18: Flower Power Purse (uses Paula’s Pendant)
• BAG 19: Mini Shoulder Bag (uses Fireworks)
• BAG 20: Not-So-Basic Black and White (uses Fireworks)
• BAG 21: Envelope Mini (uses Fireworks)
• BAG 22: Market Bag (uses Popcorn and Lace)
• BAG 23: Victorian Bride’s Pouch (uses Popcorn and Lace)
• BAG 24: Tasseled Arm Candy (uses Popcorn and Lace)
• BAG 25: Lacy Linen (uses Venetian Star)
• BAG 26: Raspberry Attache (uses Venetian Star)
• BAG 27: Cell Phone Minder (uses Venetian Star)
• BAG 28: Zippered Case (uses Pretty Posy)
• BAG 29: Backpack with Cell Phone Holder (uses Pretty Posy)
• BAG 30: Sparkle Amulet (uses Pretty Posy)

As an added bonus, QuartoKnows (part of the Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.) has provided us with a free copy of the Tasseled Arm Candy Bag Crochet Pattern.

Tasseled Arm Candy

Make a bold statement with this tote. Combine two contrasting colors, add some .owers and beads, garnish with a couple of tassels, and you have the perfect recipe for a bit of retro-glam whimsy.

SQUARES
Make 12 Popcorn and Lace Squares (page 79) all in A. Fasten off, leaving a long sewing length.

BACK/FRONT (MAKE 2)

Using whipstitch method, sew 6 squares into a rectangle,

GUSSET
Using A, ch 9.

ROW 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc in each ch across, turn. (8 dc)
ROW 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), dc in each dc across, turn.
Rep Row 2 until Gusset measures 42″ (106.5 cm) from beg. Fasten off A.

SHOULDER STRAP
With B, ch 16.
ROW 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc in each ch across, turn. (15 dc)
ROW 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), dc in each dc across, turn.
Rep Row 2 until Shoulder Strap measures 22″ (56 cm) from beg. Fasten off B.

FINISHING
Line Front, Back, and Gusset with main lining fabric. Pin Gusset in place. Using whipstitch method, sew Gusset to Back and Front from the RS.
SQUARE EIGHT BAG 24

TOP BORDER

RND 1: With RS facing, join A with a Sl st in top right-hand corner ch-3 sp on Front, ch 3, *sk next dc, dc in next dc, dc in each of next 10 ch-1 sps, sk next dc, dc in next dc, sk next dc, dc in next ch-3 sp**, dc in each of next 2 ch-3 sps*, rep from * to * across to Gusset, ending last rep at **, dc in next ch-3 sp, work 6 dc evenly spaced across top of Gusset, dc in next ch-3 sp, rep from * to * across to next Gusset, ending last rep at **, work 6 dc evenly spaced across top of Gusset, join with a Sl st in top of beg ch-3. (96 dc)
RND 2: Ch 3, dc in each of next 9 dc, dc2tog over next 2 sts, *dc in each of the next 10 dc, dc2tog over next 2 sts, rep from * around, join with a Sl st in top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (88 dc)

SIDE TAB (MAKE 2)
With A, ch 16.

ROW 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc in each ch across, turn. (14 dc)
ROW 2: Ch 3, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, rep from * across, turn. (22 dc)
ROW 3: Ch 3, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, rep from * across, 2 dc in top of ch-3, turn. (33 dc)
ROW 4: Ch 1, sc in .rst dc, *sk next 3 dc, 5 dc in next dc (shell made), sk next 3 dc, sc in next dc, rep from * across, turn. (4 shells)
ROW 5: Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), *5 dc in center dc of next shell, ch 1, dc in next sc**, ch 1, rep from * across, ending last rep at **. Fasten off A.

Fold Tabs in half, mark center, mark center of Gusset, place Tabs on either side of top of bag, matching center of Tab to center of Gusset. Sew Tabs in place.
Line Shoulder Strap with contrasting lining. Sew Shoulder Strap to top of bag, centering ends over Gusset. Sew Shoulder Strap halfway up side Tabs, leaving the 2 shell rows free.

FLOWER (MAKE 3)
With B, make 3 Libelle Dahlia Squares (page 16), working only the first 4 rnds for Flower. Fasten off, leaving a sewing length. Sew one bead in center of each flower if desired.

TASSEL (MAKE 2)
Wrap B around a 4½” (11.5 cm) piece of cardboard 12 times. Wind a piece of yarn under loops at top and tie tightly. Slip the loops off the cardboard. Tie another piece of yarn around the loops ½” (1.3 cm) below the top. Cut the loops at the other end. Thread a bead at top of each tassel if desired.

FINISHING
Sew Flowers and Tassels to bag using photo as a guide.
Cover a ¾” (2 cm) snap with main lining fabric. Sew snap to inside at center top of bag.

SQUARE EIGHT – POPCORN AND LACE

Skill Level: Intermediate

Beginning cluster (beg cluster): Ch 3, [yo (twice), insert hook in st or sp, yo, draw up a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, draw through 2 loops] 3 times in same st or sp, yo, draw through 4 loops on hook.

Cluster: [Yo (twice), insert hook in st or sp, yo, draw up a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, draw through 2 loops] 4 times in same st or sp, yo, draw through 5 loops on hook.
Beginning popcorn (beg pc): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in same st or sp, drop loop from hook, insert hook in the 3rd ch of beg ch-3, pick up the dropped loop and draw through.
Popcorn (pc): Work 5 dc in same st or sp, drop loop from hook, insert hook in the first of the 5 dc just made, pick up dropped loop and draw through.

Ch 8, join with a Sl st to form a ring.

RND 1: Beg cluster in ring, *ch 3, 1 cluster in ring, ch 5**, 1 cluster in ring, rep from * twice, rep from * to ** once, join with a Sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (8 clusters, 4 ch-3 sps, 4 ch-5 sps)

RND 2: Sl st to center of next ch-3 sp, ch 1, 1 sc in same sp, *9 tr in the next ch-5 sp, 1 sc in next ch-3 sp, rep from * around, omit last sc, join with a Sl st in first sc. (4 groups of 9 tr)

RND 3: Beg pc in first sc, *ch 2, sk next 2 tr, 1 dc in next tr, ch 2, sk next tr, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next tr, ch 2, sk next tr, 1 dc in next tr, ch 2, sk next 2 tr**, 1 pc in next sc, rep from * twice, rep from * to ** once, join with a Sl st in top of first pc.

RND 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), *[2 dc in ch-2 sp, 1 dc in next dc] twice, 1 dc in next dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next ch-3 sp, 1 dc in next dc [1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in ch-2 sp] twice**, 1 dc in next pc, rep from * twice, rep from * to ** once, join with a Sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3.

RND 5: Ch 6 (counts as dc, ch 3), 1 dc in same st at base of ch-6, *sk next 2 dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 pc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next ch-3 sp, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, 1 pc in next dc, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, sk next 2 dc**, (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc) in next dc, rep from * twice, rep from * to ** once, join with a Sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-6.

RND 6: Sl st to 2nd ch of next ch-3 sp, ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1), *sk next dc, 1 dc in next dc, [ch 1, sk next st, 1 dc in next st] 4 times, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next ch-3 sp, [1 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next st] 5 times**, 1 dc in 2nd ch of next ch-3 sp, ch 1, rep from * twice, rep from * to ** once, join with a Sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4.

Fasten off.

Excerpted from 10 Granny Squares 30 Bags by Margaret Hubert. Copyright © 2016 Creative Publishing International an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Used by permission of the publisher.

All rights reserved. Photography by Glenn Scott Photography.

If you have ever wanted to make a crochet bag this book is a definite “must have” for your crochet book collection. It includes 30 beautiful designs and specific techniques to make your bags spectacular!

You can pick up your own copy at amazon:

10 Granny Squares 30 Bags

For more information about Quarto Knows, visit their website, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter!

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Happy crocheting!

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