Hobo Bag

 My favourite Hobo Bag

I know, I know, there are lots of lovely slouchy hobo bucket bags around.

And here is mine!

It's the one I make again and again.

The bag part is about 30cm x 30cm flat plus handle/strap, but will stretch out to nearly 40cm!

What you need:

4mm hook

Hand bag: 75g Stylecraft Special DK 

Cross body bag: 85g Stylecraft Special DK

Link to PDF on Ravelry.

Pattern:

Start: Ch3, join with slip stitch (JSS) to form a ring. You can also use a magic circle but I prefer the more sturdy chain ring start for a bag.

Row 1. Ch3, 11dc into ring, JSS, turn. = 12 stitches

Row 2. Ch3, dc in same stitch, 2dc in each stitch around, JSS, turn. = 24 stitches

Row 3. Ch3, dc in same stitch, (1dc in next stitch, 2dc in next stitch)x 11, 1dc in last stitch, JSS, turn. = 36 stitches

Row 4. Ch3, dc in same stitch, (1dc in next 2 stitches, 2dc in next stitch)x 11, 1dc in 2 remaining stitches, JSS, turn. = 48 stitches

Row 5. Ch3, dc in same stitch, (1dc in next 3 stitches, 2dc in next stitch)x 11, 1dc in 3 remaining stitches, JSS, turn. = 60 stitches

Row 6. Ch3, dc in same stitch, (1dc in next 4 stitches, 2dc in next stitch)x 11, 1dc in 4 remaining stitches, JSS, turn. = 72 stitches

Row 7. Ch3, dc in same stitch, (1dc in next 5 stitches, 2dc in next stitch)x 11, 1dc in 5 remaining stitches, JSS, turn. = 84 stitches

Row 8. Ch3, dc in same stitch, (1dc in next 6 stitches, 2dc in next stitch)x 11, 1dc in 6 remaining stitches, JSS, turn. = 96 stitches

Row 9-20. Ch3, dc in next stitch all around, JSS, turn. = 96 stitches

Row 21. Ch3, dc in next 5 stitches, 2dc together, (1dc in next 6 stitches, 2dc together)x 11, JSS, turn. = 84 stitches

Row 22. Ch3, dc in next stitch all around, JSS, turn. = 84 stitches

Row 23. Ch3, dc in next 4 stitches, 2dc together, (1dc in next 5 stitches, 2dc together)x 11, JSS, turn. = 72 stitches

Row 24. Ch3, dc in next stitch all around, JSS, turn. = 72 stitches

Split for handles:

Row 25. Ch3, 2dc 2 together, 1dc in next 20 stitches,  2dc 2 together, 1dc, turn leaving remaining stitches unworked (for now) = 24 stitches.

Row 26. Ch3, 2dc 2 together, 1dc in next 18 stitches, 2dc 2 together, 1dc, turn = 22 stitches

Row 27. Ch3, 2dc 2 together, 1dc in next 16 stitches, 2dc 2 together, 1dc, turn = 20 stitches

Row 28. Ch3, 2dc 2 together, 1dc in next 14 stitches, 2dc 2 together, 1dc, turn = 18 stitches

Row 29. Ch3, 2dc 2 together, 1dc in next 12 stitches, 2dc 2 together, 1dc, turn = 16 stitches

Row 30. Ch3, 2dc 2 together, 1dc in next 10 stitches, 2dc 2 together, 1dc, turn = 14 stitches

Row 31. Ch3, 1dc in next stitch across, turn = 14 stitches. 

Row 32. Ch3, 2dc 2 together, 1dc in next 8 stitches, 2dc 2 together, 1dc, turn = 12 stitches 

Row 33. Ch3, 1dc in next stitch across, turn = 12 stitches. 

Row 34. Ch3, 2dc 2 together, 1dc in next 6 stitches, 2dc 2 together, 1dc, turn = 10 stitches

Hand bag:

Row 35-38. Ch3, 1dc in next stitch across, turn = 10 stitches. 

Fasten off.

Shoulder bag:

Row 35-55 (approx). Ch3, 1dc in next stitch across, turn = 10 stitches. 

Fasten off.

Crossbody bag:

Row 35- 65 (approx). Ch3, 1dc in remaining stitches, turn = 10 stitches

Fasten off.

Second side:

Go back to row 24 and skipping 10 stitches, reattach yarn. Work rows 25- 38, 55 or 65 as before.

Before you fasten off the second side slip stitch the 2 handles together taking care not to twist them!

If you want to try it out for size before you cut the yarn, be sure to give it a good hard stretch before you measure, or load it up and try it on. It can be alarmingly stretchy!

Job done!

Making it a different size:

To make it wider or narrower; work more or less of the increase rows.

To make it longer or shorter; work more of less of the straight rows.

You can change to a smaller hook to make a tighter thicker fabric or a bigger hook to make a looser, more net like fabric.

Remember: it’s crochet, it will stretch!

Which I think is really the whole point of a good crochet hobo bag.  😉

Let's see how much I can shove in it…

Yup, that’s 6 full balls of Stylecraft Special dk 100g to fill it right up.

Bonus pouch:

Row 1. Ch 24 + 3 for turning = 27ch.

Row 2. Dc in forth ch and along to end, turn and work down the other side of chain, JSS, = 48 stitches.

Row 3- 15. Ch3, dc in each stitch around, JSS. = 48 stitches.

Fasten off. Add a zipper or a button closure if desired.

You can either sew this on, leave it loose in the bag or clip it on so you can move it between bags if you have more than one that you use.

I tried velcro, putting the scratchy part on the pocket and the fluffy part on the bag. That way if I wasn’t using the pocket the bag didn't have a nasty scratchy patch on it!