I finish the rose garden tote redux

This morning, I woke up determined to finish the rose garden tote I had made using this pattern and Red Heart Super Saver yarn.

When I last blogged about this project, I had completed all of the pieces, but had yet to attach them:

rose garden crochet tote
The rose garden crochet tote before assembly

(There is a slide show that chronicles how I laid the pieces here.)

Armed with my Clover chibi and the wondrous bent-tipped yarn needles contained therein, I set to work attaching staps, leaves, roses, and curliques. Here is how it looked when I was done:

rose garden crochet tote
Rose garden crochet tote redux fully assembled

While I was attaching the pieces to the bag, I decided that this would be the perfect vehicle for toting the cookie project that will not let me rest, and I took the materials I have collected so far to see how they would fit:

crochet rose garden tote
My newly completed rose garden crochet tote redux stuffed with stash for the crochet cookie project

I then put the bag in a window seat that gets some afternoon sun:

crochet rose tote
My new crochet rose tote sunning itself

and got a detail shot of the rose design, made with worsted weight acrylic yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

crochet roses
Detail of the crochet roses on the unfelted crochet rose garden tote

When I began this project, I was most uncertain as to how the roses would translate from the felted to the unfelted version. I think the unfelted roses are a joy, and I am thrilled with how the bag came out; I will certainly try it again.

I think for my next unfelted iteration, however, I will either substitute a half-double crochet stitch for most of the double crochet stitches, or I will use an H or I hook, two strands of yarn, and reduce the number of stitches in the initial chain while preserving the proportions of the bag.

In the meantime, I have some cookies that need my attention.

8 thoughts on “I finish the rose garden tote redux

  1. Ooooh, it came out gorgeous. Your blue version has inspired me to finally attempt felting. I’ll be using this project using Debbie Stoller’s Full O’ Sheep yarn. It’s relatively inexpensive and readily available at my local Joann’s and Michaels stores. Nice job as always!

    1. @Stephanie, I am delighted with this version of the bag as well. I haven’t used the Full O’Sheep yarn yet, but I love the colors; I bet it will be amazing when you are done.

  2. Love this darling bag! I didn’t need a new project, as I have too many works in progress as it is. But this is so cute, I can’t help myself! Great job. I love it!

  3. Yes, more life and happiness in this bag than is the felted one.

    Perhaps, we can imagine with a version felted bag and unfelted roses. We will keep the dynamism of the unfelted roses and the qualities of the felt bag.

    1. I can see that. Crochet the bag and straps as indicated in the pattern, and then felt. Meanwhile, the roses, leaves, and curliques could be crocheted with a smaller hook (3.5 or so) and then sewn on. That would be a pretty awesome bag.

  4. I adore the look of crochet, and while I completely appreciate the magic of felting, it does sadden me that the definition of the individual stitches is lost.

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