Follow basic wrapping and knotting instructions in the tutorials section.

 

Using the magic loom, make 8 Butterfly Loom motifs of your choice wrapping 4 times.

 

Using the small loom, make 1 Butterfly Loom motif of your choice wrapping 4 times.

 

If you are making daisy patterns lay the motifs out and decide where they need to be placed, 4 back and 4 front. To see how to make a daisy pattern click here.

 

Before joining any motifs to each other always straighten out the loops to ensure you pick up all of the strands and use a damp cloth to press.

 

Take 2 motifs and hold them back to back, starting at one corner put your crochet hook through the loops of both motifs.  Put the crochet hook through the second pair of loops and make a double butterfly twist (DBT) (i.e. draw the second pair through the first pair).  Continue to the end and put an odd piece of wool through the end loop (to stop it unravelling and for easy identification).  You should now have a plait patterned join on the right-side of your work.  Repeat this for the remaining 3 pairs of motifs until you have 4 pieces, 2 back and 2 front.

 

To join the 2 front pieces together, hold the 2 front motifs back to back making sure the 2 end loops (with the odd wool through) are together.  Using the edges that have the end loops, start at one corner and repeat the DBT described above.  When you get to the join pick up the 2 loops (with your odd wool through) and twist them together through the first loop. You will now have what looks liked 2 bulky loops (16 loops) on the hook, pick up the next 2 loops and twist through leaving the 8 loops and carry on to the end and again put an odd piece of wool through the end loop.  Repeat for the 2 back pieces.  Now you have one back piece and one front piece.  Using a damp cloth press both pieces and the small motif.

 

On an edge where the end loops are (with the odd wool through), use the butterfly braid technique and braid the top edge to make a neat top for the bag, picking up the end loops when you reach them, do this for both of the bag pieces.

 

To make the lining fold the piece of material in half along the longest edge, this should roughly be the size of your bag.  Sew the 2 sides up leaving the top open.  Turn the open edge over about 1cm to hide the raw edge of the fabric and using the needle & thread slip-stich this to the wrong side of the top edges of the 2 sides of the bag, hiding the raw edge.  I used double thread for a bit of extra strength.

Lay the outer part of the bag flat on the lining and put the sewable part of the handles through the outer – I put mine 3 holes down and 3 holes in.  Sew the handles in place using the needle & thread, again I used double thread and went round twice for strength. Cover each handle where is is sewn in with a square of felt and sew into place, this will stop the handle tip from pushing through the outer layer.

 

Starting at the top of one side, join the back and front together using the DBT technique, when you reach the centre of the side you will come across the beginning join of the original joins, pick up ‘start’ loops and treat them as one (as you did for the end loops).  The edge will go in slightly but over time this will stretch out.  Finish your work by following this video.

 

Using the Butterfly Braid technique edge the small motif on 3 sides.  On the un-edged side, find the centre and position it on the back centre seam of the bag, using the twist technique attach one edge of the small motif to the 1st row. 

Cover a button template with a contrasting wool and sew onto the front centre seam lining up with the central hole on the small motif, this will create the ‘button hole’.

 

Options

Instead of using a covered button you could use a chunky wooden button or leave the top open.  If you do not have the small loom but want a closure you could crochet a simple loop for the button to pass through. 

If you do not want to buy handles, you could use the rectangle loom to make straps or use a peg loom or weaving sticks to make a handle.