Crochet Hippy Purses

Groovy Baby! Fashion is FUN. What started out as lessons crocheting squares, later were fashioned into my chic hippy purses that softy caress the hips with a splash of colorful distraction!

Winter is my time for handiwork and learning techniques. I came across a how-to-do video of crocheting the 'Circles of The Sun Overlay' originally designed by Lilla Bjorn Crochet World.

The below video is a demonstration by Esther (www.itsallinanutshell.com inspiring my latest challenge crocheting 'Circles of the Sun Overlay'. 

I did a lot of ripping out until I got the pattern correct. My advice...to myself... count each row before moving on to the next row to stop the need for ripping out...when will I learn! The stitch count will either be right OR wrong, with no fudging... simple to follow the rhythms of the hook but my mind wonders so this is when my crochet goes WRONG. Fortunately, the crochet stitch is easy to rip out and the act of 'making' is a form of meditation so all is good in the wrong!

After a good month of crocheting the Circles of the Sun series of 9 different patterns, it was time to decide what to do with the crochet squares. I KNOW, let me make fringy hippy bags! 

I have seen a few ideas online for Boho purses and figured out a design but not without lots of ripping out till the functional geometric pieces came together to make the purse design workout.

The crochet purses needed to have a stiff lining. I had some scrap batik fabric leftover from one of my home improvement projects of sewing hand-stiched shelf drapes....read more here about DIY drapes.

 

I wanted to add some kind of fringe and something different to edge the bottom of the bags. I came across Oana who demonstrates the crocheted floral border as seen in the video below.

I had made this Blue/Orange hippy purse with thicker wool and designed the fringe with leaves and yellow needle-felted beads. I found a crochet leaf demonstration by Laura on Happy Berry Crochet channel.  See the video below...

What I enjoy about crochet is the fast sculpture quality and the dancing rhythms the crochet hook makes while moving vigorously into stitches. The crochet Hippy Purses do sit lightly on the hips and are meant to be more about BLING for the fashionable style of the BOHO look that is so popular right now. Wear these chic hippy bags and find random conversations with those who notice the hippy BLING.

 Peace, Minaz