Crochet Ball Holder, Plate 7 (Crochet Reticule)

 I sometimes start so many projects at once, I can't help it.

I'm making another little 'bag', what Victorians and Edwardians called a thread ball holder. You usually make two sides, and put the ball of thread in there, and then pull the thread tail through the hole. You wear the bag over your wrist while crocheting. It is part of my 'reticule' series. I like making small bags (reticules) that could have been used in the 1800s and early 1900s.

I mostly don't use the hole. I may cover it in needle lace, I don't know!

Anyway, here is the entire pattern. You are not mistaken. There are no pages missing. This is the entirety of the pattern, and the crocheter is meant to derive the pattern from the old, black and white, tiny picture. 😆

This is fairly common for some antique pattern books. They give you the initial instructions and then say 'follow the picture'.

I used a US size 7 hook and size 10 crochet thread.

What I did: I have a 1 inch ring I used. I indeed used the picture as a guide to make up the bag. 

I made 65 sc over the ring, making sure it was divisible by 5. 

I did a row of double crochet around the ring.

All of the chains are chain 5, sc in the next chain. Where the rectangular blocks are, those are 4 dc. The chain supporting the block is 4 ch instead of 5.

After the square block motif is made, it looks like one more plain row is done, and then an increase row is done, and then a plain chain row.

You make the second half just like the first, or find a way to fill in spot where the ring would be. You join with more ch 5 sc stitches.

You then work back and forth in rows using chain 5 to make the strap.

You make 5 or 6 sc around the openings where the strap is.

I can write more detailed instructions later, perhaps. I will definitely update when I have more pictures of my own to share.

-jtp

New Project, 3 cornered Bag (reticule)

Hello again all! I'm starting yet another reticule bag project.

A reticule is basically a small purse women 8n the 1700s, 1800s and early 1900s used to carry small accessories like cosmetics, handkerchiefs, calling cards, and more.

Many of these bags are called 'opera bags' on websites, and this is not incorrect. Many handmade bags like these were used to go to the opera and other evening events, as well as day events.

I like making mine because they are pretty, they're good for holding yarn and projects, and they can hold a cellphone, a card, some cash, and, albeit a small project. Depends on the size!

This new bag is called (on this website) 'A three cornered bag'.

I'm making it with a 1.3mm us size 10 hook and size 20 dmc cebelia cotton. I almost want to make it with size 30 cotton, as the original pattern calls for but I am unsure if it will be too small. I have been making a lot of irish crochet motifs lately so I am well used to the thread size.

Will update with pictures of my work on this reticule!

-jtp