aiding and abetting

The new issue of
Craft Magazine features a wonderful project called "Counterfeit Crochet"

clicky for the direct link!


Well, I was completely taken by this concept of 'debasing designer handbags,' and I loved the way the Chanel bag looks! Unfortunately, the mag doesn't give exact pattern directions, merely freeform guidelines.

A couple of days of research in patterns online: no luck.

I bought the Crochet Stitch Bible: no luck.

Then, I sucked it up and posted a plea for help in several of the yahoo groups I belong to. I posted:

Has anyone else seen the new copy of Craft Magazine & the articles on
counterfeit crochet? I am inspired to make the Chanel bag, but the
stitch used is not described in detail.

Instead, the author/designer uses freeform crochet and so her instructions are very basic: Create a rectangle 11" wide and 6" long, etc.

I am desperately searching for the pattern she used. It looks like a
basketweave, but is on the diagonal, so it has more of a quilted
appearance.

If anyone has any ideas or stitch instructions, I would be your best friend forever. Okay, well, I'd really appreciate it, in any case.


Well, today, in my inbox were several responses, the first exact hit from this FELLA (!)

From: "Ray at Knitivity"

A trip to Google will help a lot:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%2B%22counterfeit+crochet%22&btnG=Google+Search

The stitch pattern on the brown bag is a basic box stitch, although it is called by many names. Here is one set of instructions:
http://crochet.about.com/library/blcrazyst.htm

Ray


Yay! Gasp! That's it! It's been driving me crazy for days! Hooray for Ray! Check out his blog here: KnitterMan on Knitivity.

I have also received helpful emails from others, but was most surprised by KnitterMan. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME AND START MAKING THIS BAG IN black and silver. Woohoot! *pumps fists in air*