OMG I've finished it!

In a remarkable departure from tradition - I've actually finished something I started. Not only that, but it all seems to have happened in under a week. Here it is...

As you can see, I've departed from the pattern slightly as the original was open at the top and I'm not too fond of a bag into which any little thief can dip his hand. So, I did a few extra rows and created a fold over bit at the top.

This has also meant I've had to do a button and button hole so that's been interesting trying to work out what to do - After an interesting conversation with my pseudo-cousin Terri (well if her mum is my "auntie who isn't really an auntie" then T is my cousin!) over on facebook yesterday, I originally was going to cover a button with the silk I was using to line the bag. (Another departure from the design) However, after some experimentation, I realised that the silk I had was too thin, the lovely gold plush velvet I had was too thick, so I had to go with a plain cream cotton for the lining, and therefore had to come up with plan B for the buttons.

In the end I used a tutorial over on "Crochet Me" to help me create a round flower base but which has no hole in the centre - using a magic loop technique - and it looked like a button to me to I went with that.

I also used a technique I learned whilst doing the initial flowers to create the button hole. To make the flower petals, rather than using the same size stitches as you do to create regular rows of fabric, you use stitches of increasing size on one side and then decreasing size on the other, which creates a soft curved petal shape. I sort of did the same for the button hole but instead of filling in the whole of the petal part, I just left a loop for the button. Look...

So, a double, a half treble and then a treble on the right, 7 chains, a treble, a half treble and a double on the left. (You crochet from right to left) I never knew I could be so inventive! I finished the chain off by doing what I *think* is called a buttonhole stitch over the chain links just to make it tough. It's not a crochet stitch, it's just effectively wrapping the thread round the chain using a needle and a sort of blanket stitch (with no blanket!).

Then we come to the lining. I knew the bag would be next to useless if I didn't line it. How does one line a bag. Never done it. I thought I'd google it and found "Future Girl's Craft Blog". Google had found her FAB tutorial for how to create a lining for a crochet bag. I followed the instructions to the letter...even filling in the lining chart as instructed...

And so, the whole thing looks rather superbio - even though I do say so myself...!

So, Auntie Bo, who doesn't read this blog - look out - it's coming to a post-box near you very soooooon!