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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Tardis Bag Strap

Welcome back to some more Dr. Who fun!  We made the bag part of the Tardis Bag last Tuesday, so today I'm going to show you how I made the Tardis Bag Strap.   The top of the strap was made using a quasi-tapestry crochet technique where I carried the yarn across the back of the piece.  This makes the wrong side Uh-huh-huh-huh-gleeee (that's 'really super ugly' to those of you who don't speak Jaime gibberish)!  So that's why we've got second piece to cover the ugliness up.  And it makes the strap stronger and less prone to stretch all out of shape.


This is my first attempt at charts.  I made my charts going from the top down (row numbers down the sides), but on my large strap charts I also numbered the stitches across the top. Please don't let this confuse you.   I'm not going to re-do them, since this is a free pattern, but I would love to know, was I supposed to do the chart from the bottom up?  I made mine go from top down, because my blog posts scroll from the top down, and I thought it would be inconvenient and more confusing if I made them go from the bottom up.  But now I don't know.


I made 3 different straps.  I made a big strap for the LCB version that looks exactly like the Tardis, and I made a thinner strap that looks a little less authentic, but is more appropriately sized for the smaller purse-sized bag in both a shoulder bag size and a longer crossbody size.  If you want, you can ditch the charts and just make a plain black strap for either of the bags, and I think they would still look really cool.

**IMPORTANT:  All charts are worked in single crochet.  Carry the yarn on the back of the piece, since we're going to cover all the loose threads up.  You can cut the white yarn between charts to keep the white from pulling weirdly on the piece from the back.  It's going to look wonky up close, so if you are working on the strap and think that it's turning out horrible, go get an iced tea, and take a break from it.  When you come back, look at it from across the room.  It will look much better.**


Tardis LCB Strap - front
approx 35" long
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn in Black and White (I used Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic in black and white)
Size G hook
Yarn needle
Scissors

using Black ch 14
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch space across (13 st)
R2-3: ch 1, sc in each st across (13 st)
R4-32: work LCB CHART A (13 st)
R33-35: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (13 st)
R36-56: work LCB CHART B (13 st)
R57-59: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (13 st)
R60-82: work LCB CHART C (13 st)
R83-85: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (13 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

LCB CHART A

LCB CHART B

LCB CHART C

Tardis LCB Strap - Back

Using Black, ch 14
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch space across (14 st)
R2-85: ch 1, sc in each st across (14 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.


Finishing strap:
Match front and back pieces with wrong sides together (to cover up all the loose threads!).  Pin in place. 
Using Black yarn, sc the 2 straps together along one of the long sides, using 1 stitch for each row.  Fasten off.  Repeat along the other long side.  
Center the strap along the top sides of the Main Bag (use the side seam as a guideline for centering the strap). Whipstitch the edge of the strap to the edge of the bag.  Repeat on the other side. Weave in ends.


Tardis Bag (Purse-Sized) Shoulder Strap- Front 
approx 35" long
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn in Black and White (I used Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic in black and white)
Size G hook
Yarn needle
Scissors

using Black ch 6
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch space across (5 st)
R2-5: ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
R6-31: work CHART A (5 st)
R32-36: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
R37-57: work CHART B (5 st)
R58-62: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
R63-77: work CHART C (5 st)
R78-82: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
R83-95: work CHART D (5 st)
R96-100: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

CHART A

CHART B

CHART C

CHART D

Tardis Bag (Purse-Sized) Shoulder Strap - Back
Using Black, ch 6
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch space across (5 st)
R2-100: ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Finishing strap:
Match front and back pieces with wrong sides together (to cover up all the loose threads!).  Pin in place. 
Using Black yarn, sc the 2 straps together along one of the long sides, using 1 stitch for each row.  Fasten off.  Repeat along the other long side.  
Center the strap along the top sides of the Main Bag (use the side seam as a guideline for centering the strap). Whipstitch the edge of the strap to the edge of the bag.  Repeat on the other side. Weave in ends.





Tardis Bag (Purse-Sized) Crossbody Strap - Front
approx 45" long
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn in Black and White (I used Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic in black and white)
Size G hook
Yarn needle
Scissors


using Black ch 6
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch space across (5 st)
R2-30: ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
R31-51: work CHART A (5 st)
R52-56: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
R57-77: work CHART B (5 st)
R78-82: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
R83-97: work CHART C (5 st)
R98-102: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
R103-115: work CHART D (5 st)
R116-145: using black, ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Tardis Bag (Purse-Sized) Crossbody Strap - Back

Using Black, ch 6
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch space across (5 st)
R2-145: ch 1, sc in each st across (5 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Finishing strap:
Match front and back pieces with wrong sides together (to cover up all the loose threads!).  Pin in place. 
Using Black yarn, sc the 2 straps together along one of the long sides, using 1 stitch for each row.  Fasten off.  Repeat along the other long side.  
Center the strap along the top sides of the Main Bag (use the side seam as a guideline for centering the strap). Whipstitch the edge of the strap to the edge of the bag.  Repeat on the other side. Weave in ends.

Okay, so for those of you who are making the unlined button-closure versions, you are now done!  Yippee!  For the rest of you, you fabric-lining darlings, I will see you on Saturday!  Bring a lining fabric (I'm going to use white cotton!) and your knit pickers.  

xoxo

12 comments:

  1. Yowza! You are doing some crazy crochet now, lady! The strap itself is a full sized project for me. And I have to admit that at one point I did feel like filling in some of those charts you posted with some letters because it reminds me of a crossword puzzle! LOL. But I love that you have broken this down and made something daunting into something even I can actually do! My husband has been watching Dr. Who lately and I have never seen it so I may have to start watching from the beginning or I will feel I am missing something. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I love how you explain the patterns and make then so understandable. You definitely have a teaching gift! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL Teeni! The charts looked like crossword puzzles to me too. The straps are insane!!! I am so glad that you could follow the instructions.
      The new Dr Who re-boot is really fun! If you like sci-fi stuff, it's totally worth trying out an episode or two.
      xo Jaime (and I totally love you for testing out the non-captcha for me!)

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  2. Whew! that's some detailed stuff! Looks awesome, thought I'm not sure when I'll get to try it out..... I would love to make this for my brother, actually, if only he wore purses, LOL!
    I know it's only Sep - but I'm starting to think about christmas, but first I need to make a halloween outfit for my boy.... decisions, decisions! Fantastic job, love, love, LOVE this project!!
    xoxo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I usually try to keep my projects pretty simple, but this is definitely in the advanced category! It was a fun challenge for me.
      Umm, diaper bag? Jake carried a 'purse' for years! LOL!!!
      Ooh! Halloween costumes and Christmas presents are on my mind too! ♥ETF♥

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  3. How do you work the chart? Do you just cross stitch into it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! The charts are worked in single crochet. The 4th paragraph of the post that explains how I did it. I suppose you could cross stitch it too, if you were more comfortable working that way. Good luck!
      xo Jaime

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  4. I am fairly new to crochet and I made the purse size bag following your pattern. My daughter and I LOVE Doctor Who and it turned out great so I feel pretty awesome, thanks! But now it needs a strap and I definitely want the one with words rather than the black one but I have no idea how to read those charts. Does each box equal one single crochet? Do you chain up? If so, does the chain count as a stitch?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Okay, here's the deal. Each box equals one single crochet. Each line equals one row. The instructions on how to make the strap have you do a few rows before you begin working the charts, so hopefully it will make more sense as you're doing it.

      They won't quite line up as neatly as the chart would have you believe (and it won't be pretty from the back) but it does turn out pretty cool! I'm hoping this answers you're question.
      xo Jaime

      Delete
    2. Ok, thanks... I'll give it a try again. Thanks for the advice!

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  5. I made the strap following the pattern (I really like how you did the pattern), but when I finished the strap, it seemed really small for the bag size (I made the big bag).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm in the process of making this bag now. I think I am going to make the all black backing strip first, keep a record of my row count, and do the math once I have the strap the length that I am looking for. Not much help for you since you've finished, but maybe this will help future project makers.

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  6. I'm just going to remake the bag in the smaller size. What I ended up doing is doubling the pattern for the strap and attaching it lower on the bag to provide more strength.

    ReplyDelete

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