PATTERN: Double Spiral Clutch

Hello everyone! 

You're lucky enough to have me twice this week, as Anne is on holidays in Sweden for her birthday :) Comment with some birthday love for when she gets home!

We really do appreciate your reading our little blog, especially at this very busy time of year. Your views, likes and comments give us a little thrill every time :) 

For the last week or so I've been dreaming about what to do with my Double Spiral Square Motif. Afghan? Too time consuming to be able to blog about today. Market bag? Too many colours to choose from, plus I want to make a nice big one :P Bright pink and black clutch? BINGO! 

Here is how I made it, in very basic terms. I would also love to hear what you are thinking of doing with this motif! 

Queue or favourite this pattern for later on Ravelry here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-spiral-clutch 

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PATTERN: DOUBLE SPIRAL CLUTCH

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Yarn: 8 ply 100% acrylic, two colours (Pink Variegated and Black)

Hook: 3mm

Step 1

Make 6 Double Spiral Square Motifs, 3 with Pink Variegated as Colour A and Black as Colour B, and 3 with the colours reversed.

Step 2

Stitch motifs together in groups of 3. I used a zipped ladder stitch (tutorial here) so that the joins were invisible, and the motifs sat squarely next to each other. You could definitely whip stitch or crochet the motifs together if you want to get a different kind of look :)

Step 3 

2 rows of single crochet (US terms) in Black around each panel of 3 motifs. I continued using the same cornering technique as in the motifs, alternating (2sc, 1hdc) (1hdc, 1sc) and (1sc, 1hdc) (1hdc, 2sc) in the hdcs on each corner.

Step 4

Make strap: Foundation single crochet enough stitches to get a strap length that suits you. Remember the strap goes all the way around the bag. 

If you're not comfortable with the foundation single crochet stitch, go up to a 4mm hook and do enough chain stitched to get a strap length that suits you. 

Join to first fsc, ch1 and sc all the way around. Do another rows of sc in black (1fsc row, 2sc rows or 1ch row, 4sc rows in total). Change colours, do two rows of pink variegated sc. Change colours again, and do 4 rows of sc in black. Finish and weave in ends.

Step 5

Pin strap to motif panels, making sure the join in the strap is at the bottom of your bag. Slip stitch motif panels to strap with pink variegated yarn. Weave in all your ends, and ta-dah! A Double Spiral Clutch!

Just the right size for two of my favourite books :) 

I wish you all a very merry Christmas, and hope that you are able to rest and relax a bit over the holidays! I'll be back before New Years with an update from the lake :)