Magic Decanter Crochet-A-Long
Interlocking Crochet:
Yardage and Foundation Rows
June 2023 CAL
This is the first time I’m hosting a CAL (Crochet-A-Long) using an older pattern instead of something brand new.
Magic Decanter was originally published in May 2021. This throw blanket can be done using the interlocking crochet or overlay mosaic crochet technique.
Interlocking Crochet
This page is the introduction for the interlocking crochet version of Magic Decanter.
Free Written Pattern
I like it when everyone can join in a CAL, so I’m putting the full line-by-line written pattern here on my website for free viewing.
Paid Option
You can purchase an ad-free, printable PDF that includes the full written pattern and charts for both techniques, or you can follow along with the free written pattern here on my website!
CAL Discount
Save 40% on Magic Decanter for the duration of the CAL. No code needed, just add it to your cart to see the discount applied; offer valid on Ravelry and Etsy. Expires 11:59 pm CST August 8, 2023.
Interlocking Crochet Spring Market Bag Crochet-A-Long
As part of my 5th Designaversary Celebration I’ve updated my Interlocking Crochet Spring Market Bag pattern and put it here online so we can all crochet together! This bag has two mesh sides and a decorative interlocking crochet strap.
The written pattern will be available on my website here (scroll down) for free in two parts or you can purchase an ad-free, printable PDF.
Interlocking Crochet Only
This bag was designed as an introduction to interlocking crochet and does not have a mosaic crochet counterpart. The mesh panels are a good way to practice the stitches you need to know for the interlocking crochet technique; the strap is a small repeatable design that you can use as a warm-up before trying one of my big, graphic blanket designs (or not, if you’re the type to just jump right in that works too!).
Free Written Pattern
I like it when everyone can join in a CAL, so I’m putting the full line-by-line written pattern (in two parts) here on my website for free viewing.
CAL Discount
For the month of April 2025, you can save 25% on any of my designs (including this Interlocking Crochet Spring Market Bag) with the code “2025SALE“.
This was one of the first designs I ever published! I used some inexpensive acrylic yarn I had available; it has pilled quite badly over 5 years of use by the kids but it’s still one of their favorite bags!
Spring Market Bag CAL Schedule
This Crochet-A-Long will be posted in two parts.
April 4, 2025: Part One is where we make the mesh sides.
April 11, 2025: Part Two is where we make the interlocking crochet strap. You’ll also have to take a little bit of time to join the pieces together.
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It’s not quite a stash-buster but compared to the quantity of yarn needed for one of my blankest this feels like a small, quick project.
– If you share on Instagram, tag me @AshleesLint so I can see your pretty projects!
– If you are in Facebook groups that allow it, share your progress and let others know they can come join in the fun!
– If you’re in my Facebook group, share your progress at any time and upload the photo(s) of your finished blanket in the album!
Interlocking Crochet Technique Help
If you’re unfamiliar with the interlocking crochet technique, I suggest you start with some smaller tutorials and practice squares first.
This pattern does not have a walk-thru video to go with it, but my tutorials should give you the skills you need to read it and do it.
Market Bag for Spring
According to the Ravelry definitions, a market bag is slouchy.
I’m not 100% sure this bag counts but that’s the category I labelled it with anyway.
When I think of a (slouchy) market bag I always picture some romantic, imaginary, Parisian setting where someone is buying a crusty loaf of bread and a few pieces of fruit. Here in Canada I don’t often see people using market bags like that (ok, never – I never see people using market bags like that).
I truly designed it around the idea of helping people learn how to do the interlocking crochet technique. Having a finished bag at the end was sort of just an extra bonus.
It was April 2020 when I designed this pattern, and although we still have snow here in Canada, spring is right around the corner!
Yarn Choice
You’ll notice I don’t have a specific yarn brand or color listed for this pattern. I am not sponsored by any yarn companies, so I don’t need to advertise for any of them.
Some people prefer natural fibres like cotton and wool, whereas others prefer the more cost-effective acrylic yarns. The design will work with any type of yarn.
I designed this bag to be made with worsted weight yarn (4 – medium) and a 4.5 mm hook. In 2020, I used some acrylic yarn I had in the house and it all turned out well. In 2025, when updating the pattern for this CAL, I used 100% cotton yarn and I needed a 5 mm hook.
My 2nd bag is heavier due to the worsted weight cotton yarn and the first bag has a lot more stretch to it with the acrylic yarn. I also made a slightly shorter strap the 2nd time around because my 5 year old daughter really, really wants it to be hers. It still fits on my shoulder and hangs near my hip but I wouldn’t be able to wear it across my across my torso.
You can use any weight yarn and an appropriately-sized hook to make this bag. Just adjust the size of your mesh panels and then repeat the strap length until it works for you!
If you make changes, the yardage amounts will be different of course.
Why Yards?
A common question asked is ‘why do you give yardage amounts, why not tell us how many skeins we need?’
The simple answer is because it depends on which yarn you use. I do not have any agreements with yarn companies trying to convince you to use one brand over another. And I have customers from all across the world who have access to different types of yarn. So I have tried to give the information that would allow people to make good choices with what they have available to them.
For example, 100 grams of cotton yarn will have a much different amount of yardage than 100 grams of wool yarn because the one fibre is much heavier than the other.
However, the lengths of the yarn, no matter what fibre, will be nearly the same.
I know that some brands of yarn do not list the yardage on their labels. Ravelry lists almost every yarn out there with information on its yarn weight (thickness), fiber, yardage/meterage, and how much a single skein weighs.
You can use this information to figure out how many skeins you will need in your chosen yarn.
Quick reminder (probably telling the people that don’t need to know): copyright status applies to free patterns as well.
You can see my copyright statement here: https://ashleeslint.com/2021/03/23/copyright/
Important Details
- Cotton worsted weight yarn (390-440 yards total)
- Two 11” mesh squares – 70 yards each, 140 yards total
- Interlocking crochet strap
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- Main Color (MC) – 15 yards per repeat, 125-150 yards for 70-80” strap
- Accent Color (AC) – 15 yards per repeat, 125-150 yards for 70-80” strap
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- Body of bag: 11” / 29cm square
- 5 mm hook (H-8)
- Gauge: 7 (DC, ch) x 7 rows = 4”
Key (US terminology)
Some of these terms will only be relevant in part two of the Crochet-A-Long.
AC = accent color (white on chart / background color)
ACB = put AC yarn to the side facing away from you
ACF = bring the AC yarn to the side facing you
B = double crochet (dc) behind, and chain 1
Back = the side not facing you
ch = chain
dc = double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, *yarn over, pull through two loops* twice
EB = end stitch in back: using AC, dc into the last AC window, working behind MC
EF = end stitch in front: using AC, dc into the last AC window, working in front of MC
ES = end stitch: dc into the last window space
F = double crochet (dc) in front, and chain 1
Front = the side currently facing you
MC = main color (blue on chart)
RS = right side: the side of your work that will show the finished design
sc = single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through both loops
sk = skip a stitch
tr = treble crochet: yarn over twice, insert hook, yarn over, pull up loop, *yarn over, pull through two loops* three times
WS = wrong side: the back of your project
Interlocking Crochet Tips
- Remember, each color is worked into itself only and there is a chain space between each double crochet.
- Don’t confuse RS / WS with Front / Back.
- The interlocking crochet strap will have a pretty side (the Right Side/RS) and a Wrong Side/WS.
- When you’re crocheting, it doesn’t matter which side is facing you, a Front stitch means you work your double crochet in front of the other layer and a Back stitch means you work the double crochet behind the other layer.
- For an explanation of the brackets: https://ashleeslint.com/2020/08/29/brackets-in-crochet-patterns/
Crochet-A-Long: Part One
The first thing we need to do is crochet two mesh panels that will be the walls of our bag.
You can adjust the size of these panels to suit your purposes. Any adjustments made will affect the finished size of your project and change how much yarn you’ll need.
Mesh Panels
Make 2. Approximately 70 yards used per side.
The walls of your bag are simple mesh squares.
I’ve used a multi-colored yarn that is different than the MC and AC I used for the strap, but you can easily make the walls using your MC or AC (or for fun, do one of each)!
Remember, you need two mesh panels for your bag.
The single crochet border at the end is optional.
Steps:
- Create 20 windows using the chainless technique (chain 5, dc into first stitch, chain 1, tr into same space, *chain 1, tr into 2nd part of the previous tr* repeat as many times as needed). See how at https://youtu.be/_3So3Pe8GWc?t=100
- Alternatively, you can chain 43, then DC into the 5th from your hook. *Ch 1, Sk 1, DC* repeat until the end.
- Chain 3 (counts as DC and chain), *Sk 1, DC, ch* repeat until the end, finish with a final DC in the last window.
- Repeat STEP 2 until you have a mesh square 20 windows across and 20 windows high.
Optional SC Border: 2 SC in each gap (40 per side), chain 2 in each corner.
We want to create a lot of small squares in our mesh panel, so each double crochet goes into the previous row’s double crochet. We DO NOT want to put our stitches into the chain space – that would create diamonds.
What’s Next?
That’s it for PART ONE of the Interlocking Crochet Spring Market Bag Crochet-A-Long!
PART TWO will be published on April 11. Newsletter subscribers will be notified via email.
