Here’s my lockdown CAL pattern which first appeared on my blog page
If you need extra help at any point, don’t forget, you can still head over to the relevant blog post, which has step-by-step pictures too: Part 1 (materials etc plus rounds 1-6 of main square), Part 2 (rounds 7-9 of main square), Part 3 (finishing the main square), Part 4 (the small squares), Part 5 (side strips), Part 6 (completing side sections), Part 7 (making the gusset), Part 8 (strap squares), Part 9 (finishing the bag), and Lining the bag.
Materials
The granny square bag CAL requires a quantity of a variety of colours of DK weight yarn. In total it takes around 200g.
3mm or 3.5mm crochet hook (The 3mm gives a firmer fabric, but with some yarns, this may be too small, so use a 3.5mm instead)
Abbreviations (UK terminology)
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
dtr = double treble
htr = half treble
tr = treble
tr2tog = treble 2 together
3tr-cluster = 3 treble cluster *
rem = remaining
rep = repeat
sp = space
ss = slip stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
* to work a 3 treble cluster, yarn over, hook through chain space and yarn over, bring hook back to front (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over and hook through same chain space, bring hook back to front again (4 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yarn over, hook through same chain space, yarn over and bring hook back to the front again (5 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), finally yarn over and draw through all 4 loops.
Main Square (make 2) – Rounds 1-6
Round 1: In a magic circle, work 4ch [counts as tr + 1ch], then (1tr, 1ch) 7 times, join with a ss into third ch. Fasten off. (Alternatively start with 4ch joined into a ring with a ss.)
Round 2: Join yarn into a 1ch-sp, and work *(2ch, tr, dtr, tr, 2ch, ss) into sp, 1ch, ss into next 1ch-sp, repeat from * 7 times. Do not fasten off here.
Round 3 (in the same colour): Working chains behind the petals, work (3ch, dc in next 1ch-sp between petals) 8 times, ss to first chain you made. Fasten off.
Round 4: Join yarn into a 3ch-sp, and work 3ch [counts as tr], tr2tog, 2ch, 3tr-cluster, *1ch, in next 3ch-sp work 3tr-cluster, 2ch, 3tr-cluster, repeat from * 6 times, 1ch, ss to 3rd ch. Fasten off.
Round 5: Join yarn in a 2ch-sp and work 4ch [counts as dc and 3ch], dc in same sp, *2ch, dc in 1ch-sp, 2ch, dc in 2ch-sp, 3ch, dc in same 2ch-sp, rep from * 6times, 2ch, dc in 1ch-sp, 2ch, join with ss to first ch. Fasten off.
Round 6: Join yarn in a 3ch-sp and work 1ch [counts as a dc] (htr, tr, htr, dc), *(work 2dc in next 2ch-sp) twice,** in next 3ch-sp work (dc, htr, tr, htr, dc), repeat from * six times, then from * to **, join with ss to first ch. Fasten off.
Rounds 7-9
Round 7: Join yarn in sp between pairs of 2dc, and work (3ch [counts as tr], tr, dtr, 2tr), * work 2ch behind group of sts on row below, in sp between pairs of 2dc work 2tr, dtr, 2tr, repeat from * six times, then 2ch, join with ss to 3rd ch. Fasten off.
Round 8 : Join yarn in sp between tr and dtr on a ‘fan’ and work (4ch [counts as dtr], 2dtr, 2ch), work 3dtr in next sp [between dtr and tr], *work tr in 3ch, work tr in back loop of tr (middle of group of stitches on round 6) at the same time as through 3ch-sp, tr in 3ch-sp, work 2htr in sp between first two sts of ‘fan’, dc in next sp, 1ch, dc in next sp, 2htr in next sp, work tr in next 3ch sp, tr in sp and at the same time through the back loop of tr on round 6, tr in 3ch-sp, ** work 3dtr in sp between tr and dtr, 2ch, work 3dtr in sp between dtr and tr, repeat from * twice, then from * to **, join with ss to fourth ch. Fasten off.
Round 9: Join yarn in corner sp and work (3ch [counts as tr], 2tr, 2ch, 3tr), *3tr in sp before next 3tr, then 3tr in sp before 2 htr, 3tr in 1ch-sp, 3tr in sp before next 3tr, 3tr in sp before next 3dtr, ** (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in corner 2ch-sp, rep from * twice, then from * to **, join with ss to top or 3ch. Fasten off.
Rounds 10-12
Round 10: Join yarn in corner, work (3ch [counts as tr], 2tr, 2ch, 3tr), * work 3tr in each sp between groups of tr to next corner,** in corner 2ch-sp work (3tr, 2ch, 3tr), repeat from * twice, then from * to **, join with ss to 3rd ch. Fasten off.
Round 11: Join yarn in corner and work (3ch [counts as dc and 2ch], dc), *work (3ch, dc in next sp) to corner, work 3ch,** in 2ch-sp work (dc, 2ch, dc), repeat from * twice, then from * to ** join with ss to first ch. Fasten off.
Round 12: Join in corner sp, (3ch [counts as dc, 2ch], dc), *work 1dc in each dc, and 3dc in each 3ch-sp, to corner sp, ** (dc, 2ch, dc) in corner, rep from * twice, then from * to **, join with ss to first ch. Fasten off. You should have 35dc on each side. That’s the end of the main square.
SMALL SQUARES (make 6)
Round 1: In a magic circle work 3ch [counts as htr, 1ch], then work (htr, 1ch) seven times, join with ss to 3rd ch. Fasten off.
Round 2: Join yarn in a sp with a ss, (3ch, ss into next sp) 7 times, 3ch, join with ss to first st. Fasten off.
Round 3: Join yarn in a sp on Round 1, ch1 [counts as dc], (2ch, dc in next sp on Round 1) 7 times, 2ch, join with ss to 1st ch. Fasten off.
Round 4: Join yarn in a 2ch-sp and work (3ch [counts as tr] 2tr, 2ch, 3tr),* in next 2ch-sp, work 3htr, in next 2ch-sp work (3tr, 2ch, 3tr), rep from * twice, work 3htr in next 2ch-sp, join with ss to third ch. Fasten off.
Round 5: Join yarn in corner sp and work (3ch [counts as dc, 2ch] dc), *(2ch, dc in next sp between groups of trebles) 3 times, 2ch, dc in same sp, rep from * twice, (2ch, dc in next sp) twice, 2ch, join with ss to first ch. Fasten off.
Round 6: Join yarn in corner sp and work (2ch [counts as dc, 1ch], dc), then * (dc in next st, 2dc in 2ch-sp) 3 times, dc in next st, (dc, 1ch, dc) in corner sp, rep from * twice, then (dc in next st, 2dc in sp) 3 times, dc in next st, join with ss to first ch. Fasten off.
SIDE STRIPS (make 4)
Foundation chain of 36 ch, turn.
Foundation row: Starting in 2nd chain, work back along foundation chain with dc in each ch, fasten off. Do not turn work.
Next Row (starting at same side as foundation row with right side of work facing): Join yarn in first st and work across as follows, 4ch [counts as dtr] (tr, htr, dc, ss, dc, htr, tr, dtr) 4 times, then tr, htr, fasten off. Do not turn.
Next row (starting at same side as previous row with right side facing): Join yarn in first st [ie top of 4ch], and work across with (ss, dc, htr, tr, dtr, tr, htr, dc) 4 times, then ss, dc, htr, fasten off. Do not turn.
Next row (starting at same side as previous row with right side facing): Join yarn in first st and work dc in each st. Fasten off.
Now you need to darn in all the ends and block out each of the pieces, so that you’re ready to join the pieces together.
MAKE UP EACH SIDE
For each side you need 1 main square, 3 small squares, 2 side strips
First join three small squares together:
Place two squares, wrong sides together, and join by working dc through one st from each square, catching the outer loop on each square for each st. Now join these two squares to another square in the same way.
Next join a side strip to the side of the square. Place wrong sides together, pin, matching top and bottom edges and easing along the side, and join with dc in each st all the way along, catching one loop on the main square and one loop on side strip for each st. Now join the other side strip to the other side of the square. Finally join the top strip to the square with side strips attached, with wrong sides together and catching one loop on each piece and working in dc. (When working across the short edge of the side strip, you will be working into the row end.) You now have one side completed.
Repeat for the other side.
Work 10ch, turn.
GUSSET
Work 10ch, turn.
Starting in second ch, work 1dc in each st, turn.
Next row: 1ch, dc in each st along, turn.
Repeat last row until gusset is long enough to fit down one side, across the bottom and up the other side.
Pin the gusset to one side with wrong sides together easing the gusset round the corners. Now join with dc as before, working through 1 loop on the main piece of the bag and one loop from the edge of the gusset all the way along, and working 3dc in the same sp at each bottom corner. Repeat for the other side.
STRAP SQUARES
(make 12 or as many as you prefer for the length of the strap)
Round 1: In a magic circle, work 2ch [counts as htr], 2htr, (2ch, 3htr) three times, 2ch, join with ss to top of second ch. Fasten off.
Round 2: Join yarn in a 2ch-sp, and work (2ch [counts as htr], 2htr, 1ch 3htr), * in next 2ch-sp work (3htr, 1ch, 3htr), rep from * twice, join with ss to 2nd ch. Fasten off.
(For first square only) Round 3: Join yarn in 1ch-sp, (3ch [counts as tr], 2tr, 2ch, 3tr), * in next sp between groups of htr on row below, work 3tr, in corner sp work (3tr, 2ch, 3tr), rep from * twice, in next side space work 3tr, join with ss to 3rd ch. Fasten off.
(All subsequent squares) Round 3: Join yarn in 1ch-sp, (3ch [counts as tr], 2tr, 2ch, 3tr), * in next side sp, work 3tr, in corner sp work (3tr, 3ch, 3tr), in next side sp work 3tr, in next corner sp work 3tr, 1ch, put hook from front to back through bottom right corner of completed square and ss, work 3tr in corner sp on current square, ss round next sp on completed square, 3tr in next sp on current square, ss through next sp on completed square, work 3tr in corner sp on current square, 1ch, ss through corner space on completed square, then 3tr in corner sp on current square, work 3tr in final side sp on current square, join with ss to 3rd ch. Fasten off. (It may be easier to refer to the pictures on the blog post for this process – see here.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Now attach and edge the strap to the bag. Position one of the short edges of the strap next to the end of the gusset with wrong sides together, and strap facing you. Starting at the corner, work across in dc catching one loop from each side as before. Carry on with 1dc in first corner sp, now turn the work and work along a long edge of the strap with 1dc in each st and 1dc in each corner sp. Work 1dc in corner sp, and positioning the short end against the gusset, again with wrong sides together and strap facing, work across short sides, then along long side of the strap as before. Join with ss to first st. Fasten off.
Finally, edge the tops of the sides by joining yarn in corner sp of gusset and with right side of bag facing, work in dc across the top edge, finishing with a dc in the space on the gusset again. Complete other top edge to match.
Get in touch if you get stuck and don’t forget to tag #SpringbagCAL on social media as I’d love to see the colours you choose…
Pattern ©Annie Windley. Not for publication or resale