%
ANATOMY
OF A
C OUN TERFEI T
Tips and
tricks
to crochet
your own
designer
bag.
B Y STEPHANIE SYJUCO
Idon’t have a formal pattern for this particular build up shapes in no time at all.
handbag, but wanted to share tips on how I The body of the bag is made of worsted-weight
made it. So far, I’ve been “freeforming” it on every brown and mustard acrylic yarn that I bought at my
counterfeit handbag I’ve made, trying to be inventive local drugstore ( 1 skein each is more than enough).
on how to interpret the textures and parts. I’m hoping I really like the chunky look, and it’s faster to work with
that folks try out their own techniques and ideas in a thicker yarn. Also, I make no bones about this being
making their bags, but it’s also useful to know what a “fancy” purse made out of nice or expensive yarn
others have done, to get your creative juices flowing. — for me it’s all about both “debasing” the original
The following instructions assume a basic and using common materials to interpret the couture.
knowledge of crochet, and a healthy sense of experi- The purse has a front flap (where the logo is) that
mentation on the maker’s part. I found it helpful buttons down. Four little gold “grommets” (hand
to rummage through a few crochet books to choose crocheted) are at the top corners, and a long handle
from basic stitch patterns, and got inspiration from is run through them to make an adjustable long
a few vintage 70s ones as well. There are great single strap or 2 shorter double straps, depending
online tutorials on how to crochet that will help you on how you like to wear it.
START »
1.MA KE THE BODY.
The main body is made in 4 separate pieces:
a) The front is a rectangle measuring about 11" wide
and 6" long.
b) The sides/bottom are one long piece measuring
about 1" wide and 23" long, or the length that it
takes to wrap around the sides and bottom of
the front.
c) The back/flap consists of a square measuring
11" wide and 11" long.
d) The logo panel is a smaller square measuring
6" wide and 6" long. This will eventually have
the logo appliquéd to it, and is whipstitched to
the back/flap.
