Hey folks, hope you are well in your part of the world. I’ve got a lovely free-bee for you to enjoy today! Allow me to introduce the Bee-utiful Clutch bag – a small bag with big textured personality!

The bag uses a stitch that I’ve used before; on the Bee Keeper block in the Stitch Story CAL. At the time I thought the stitch pattern was so effective with creating such a beautiful texture that knew I wanted to use it again.

Fast forward three years or so to when I came across some yellow Anchor Creativa Fino in my stash. The stitch idea reignited itself as I thought I would make the bee themed clutch bag idea I’d got rumbling around in my head.

Super simple to make and with many practical uses for a clutch bag or makeup bag; this pattern is perfect for beginners, as it only uses simple stitches. I used some bee fabric to line mine, to finish off the inside, but with this stitch pattern you could probably get away with not lining it if you aren’t a fan of sewing.

The following Bee-utiful Clutch Bag is free here on the blog or you can make a beeline for the pattern in your favourite pattern stores where you can pick up a PDF of the pattern for a nominal price (links below).

The pattern is available in both UK and US crochet terminology via the PDF download; the pattern below is written just in UK terms. But you can view a handy conversion chart here on the blog.

Bee-utiful Clutch Bag

MATERIALS

Yarn Required: 100g of Yellow

Yarn used: Anchor Creativa Fino used in photos;

(Shade: #00306)

About the yarn: 4ply / Fingering Weight; 125m per 50g ball, 100% Cotton

Hook Size: 3mm (US size D/3)

Pattern will work in other hooks and yarns though finished size will be different.

You will also need:

· A yarn needle

· Stitch Markers

· 2cm (0.8”) Button

· Optional: Facing and material for lining your bag

Finished Size:      19cm (7.4 inches) wide x 12cm (4.7 inches) high

Gauge: 6sts = 2.5cm (1”)

Obtaining the correct gauge is not critical to this  project but if your gauge does not match the gauge stated then your finished item will be a  different size.

STITCH GUIDANCE

Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and draw through all loops.

Double Crochet (dc): Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.

Double Crochet 2 together (dc2tog):  Invisible double crochet decrease method: Invisible decreasing is a method of  removing stitches to shape your fabric without gaps. Insert hook in the FRONT LOOP ONLY of the first stitch indicated and pull up a loop [two loops on hook], insert hook in the FRONT LOOP ONLY of the next st, pull up a loop [three loops on hook], yarn over, pull through three loops on hook; decrease made.

Half Treble (htr): Yarn over, insert hook in next st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.

PATTERN NOTES

Working in the Back Loop Only: If you hold your piece of crochet in front of you with the Vs of the stitch on top, the part of the V closest to you is the front loop. The part of the V farther away from you on the opposite side is the back loop. When a pattern asks you to crochet into the back loop, insert your hook into the relevant loop and crochet as instructed.

Note: The ch1 at the beginning of a row, count as a st

PATTERN

Main Body of Clutch:

Tip 1: If you struggle with twisting the row 1 try adding a row of dc as row 1, then work row 1 as row 2 and so on.

Tip 2: You might also find using stitch  markers (or alternatives) to mark each row or where your last sl st, of each set of 5, helpful for this block.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 51, sl st into the 2nd ch from the hook and, sl st in the next 4sts * htr in the next 5 sts, sl st in the next 5 sts * repeat from * to * until the end of the row, turn (50 sts)

Note: From this point onwards work rows in the back loops only.

Row 2 (WS) : Ch1 *5 sl st in 5 htr then 5htr in 5 sl st * repeat from * to * until the end of the row, turn.

Row 3: (RS) Ch1, * 5 htr in 5 htr then 5 sl st in 5sl st * repeat from * to * until the end of the row, turn.

Row 4: (WS) Ch1, * 5 htr in 5 sl st then 5 sl st in 5 htr * repeat from * to *   until the end of the row, turn.

Row 5:  Ch1, 5 sl st in 5 htr then 5htr in 5 sl st * repeat from * to * until the end of the row, turn.

Row 6-52: Repeat rows 2-5 thirteen times

From this point onwards you will begin shaping the clutch flap;

Row 53: Ch1; dc2tog, 1dc in 46sts, dc2tog, turn. 48sts

Row 54: Ch1; dc2tog, 1dc in 44sts, dc2tog, turn. 46sts

Row 55: Ch1; dc2tog, 1dc in 42sts, dc2tog, turn. 44sts

Rows 57 – 71: Continue decreasing on each end until you have 14sts left.

Row 72: Ch1; dc2tog, 1dc in 3sts, ch4, miss 4sts, 1dc in 3sts, dc2tog, turn. 12sts

Row 73: Ch1; dc2tog, 1dc in 3sts, 1dc in each of the ch4 sts, 1dc in 3sts, dc2tog, turn. 10sts

Row 74: Ch1; dc2tog, 1dc in 6sts, dc2tog, turn, fasten off and weave in ends. 8sts

MAKING UP:

· Fold the bag in half, leaving the gap at the top open with the flap. and  seam both sides together on the wrong side.

· Turn your bag right side round and add your button to the body of the bag opposite the open button hole

· Optional: create a lining for your bag

And that’s it! Get ready for taking it out and about and bee-witching all who see your bee-utiful new clutch bag.

If you hook up the Bee-utiful Clutch Bag I hope you’ll tag @kcaco.uk on Instagram using the hashtags #kcacouk and #proud2craft or #anchoryarns (so the folks at Anchor Yarns can see) or share your projects in my Facebook group as I love to see your finished work! 

Until next time folks! Happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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