The Aurora Make-up Bag – a Great Free Crochet Pattern
The Aurora make up bag was designed especially for the Mother’s Day Gift Ideas event hosted by Me n My Hook.
A pattern borne from boredom!
The Aurora make up bag was an idea that came to me one day when I was ill. Richard insisted that I try to do nothing and relax. Thats like asking a toddler to sit still and be quiet all day! It wasn’t long before I felt bored and restless so out came my hook and yarn during an unsupervised moment. It uses the Starburst stitch, which is much easier than you would think!
Within an hour I had this bag made with some Paintbox Simply Aran left over from making the squares of our Friendship Blanket CAL.
And then I was on a roll. Out came the #4 weight paintbox cotton in the grey, white and pink so I could make a more jazzy version and write the pattern down as I went.
The perfect size
At only 8″ wide and 6″ tall this bag is the perfect size to use as a make up bag, be kept in a handbag or add a strap to turn it into a wristlet and accessorise an outfit! It would also make a good pencil case.
The versatility of the Aurora make up bag and its gorgeous texture makes it suitable for all ages. And you will be surprised how much you can get in this one!
Easy to line
The pdf version of this pattern shows you how to line this project. I would recommend that you line it because of the stitch used. You don’t want those make up brushes or pens poking through the yarn and snagging it! I couldn’t decide whether to add a button or a zip to this so I did one of each! I think depending on the intended use depends on which you should use.
PDF Pattern Links:
You can get an inexpensive PDF Pattern in our shops:
Our shop here
Ravelry here
Etsy here
Lovecrafts here
The Aurora Make up Bag Free Pattern:
** This is a free pattern on the blog. Please do not copy and paste any part of it or print this pattern out. Please bookmark this page and use the website to work up your pattern. This helps my small business greatly as it provides a little bit of ad revenue which will in turn will allow me to continue to create free content for you!**
Please note that only the paid pdf will show you how to line this project.
Materials:
- 100-120 yards of #4 weight yarn or cotton – I used paintbox simply aran for the single color version and paintbox simply cotton in aran weight for the multi colored one.
- 5mm hook
- Stitch markers (recommended)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Button of choice or 6” zipper
- 13 x 10” of material
Gauge:
Not important for this project but for reference mine was 8 sc x 8 rows for 2” square
Abbreviations used:
- Ch(s)–chain(s)
- St(s)–stitch(es)
- rep–repeat
- sk—skip
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- dc9tog – double crochet 9 together
- fsc – foundation single crochet
- YO—yarn over
- FO—fasten off
Notes:
- Written in US terms.
- Any ch stitches at the beginning do not count as a st unless otherwise stated.
- The stitch count is in parenthesis at the end of each row.
Special Stitches:
dc9tog: This makes the top half of the starburst stitch in the middle section of the bag. To work this you should:
*YO, insert hook into next st, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook* repeat from * to * 8 more times across the next 8 sts and then yo and pull through all 10 loops on hook. Ch1 to close – we will call this ch1 the ‘eye’.
Alt ch3: This is a way of starting the row without using the ch3 which can look gappy at the edges. To do the alt ch3 turn your work, sc into the first st and then ch2. This counts as a stitch.
Fsc : You can find our tutorial on the foundation stitches:
For right handed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPHOG4VIi_Q&t=109s
Left handed – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqkTFzCja-A
I find this has a more aesthetically pleasing finish than the chain starts to projects.
Camel Stitch: This is also known as “third loop” hdc. To do this: YO, insert hook into the THIRD loop of the HDC from the previous row (this will be a horizontal bar below the two loops you normally work into. If working in the round, it will be on the INSIDE of your work). Pull up a loop, YO and pull thru all 3 loops on your hook.
You can find our video tutorial on how to do this here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUuktGH7tmw
Let’s get started!
In grey:
Round 1 – Fsc 32 OR ch33, sc in second chain from hook and each st across
Then rotate your work and sc across the bottom of the chain row or foundation row. Do not join! (64)
Round 2-4 – Note: we are working in continuous round for this part so use a stitch marker to mark the first or the last st in every round.
Sc in each st around. Do not join. (64)
Round 5 – hdc in each st around. SS to join at the end of this round. (64)
Round 6 – Ch1, camel st in each st around. SS to join. (64)
If you are changing colors change to white here and join anywhere on the previous round.
Round 7 – Alt ch3 and work 8dc in the same st, sk3 sts, sc in the next st, sk3 sts, *9dc in the next st, sk3, sc in the next st, sk3 sts* Rep from * to * around. SS to the top of the alt ch3 to join. (8 x 9dc sets and 8 sc’s)
Change to color pink here and join to the 5th st of any 9dc set.
Round 8 – If you are using a solid color ss to the 5th st in the first 9dc set.
All versions – Sc in the same st, *ch3, dc9tog over the next 9 sts, ch3, sc in the next st (which will be the 5th stitch of the 9dc set from the previous row) *
Rep from * to * around. SS to join (8 dc9tog and 8sc’s)
Round 9 – SS to the ‘eye’ of the next dc9tog. See photo below
*9dc into the ‘eye’, sc in the next sc from the previous round*. Rep from * to * around. SS to the first dc to join (8 x 9dc sets and 8 sc’s)
Change to color white here and join to the 5th st of any 9dc set.
Round 10 -11 – repeat rounds 8 and 9
Change to color pink here and join to the 5th st of any 9dc set
Round 12 – repeat round 8.
Change to color pink here and join to any ch3 sp.
Round 13 – ch1, work 3hdc into each ch3 sp and 1 hdc into each ‘eye’ and sc around. SS to join (64)
Round 14 – ch1, camel st in each st around. SS to join (64)
Rounds 15-16 – ch1, sc in each st around, ss to join (64)
Round 17 – ss in each st around and ss to join (64)
FO and weave in ends.
Will your Aurora Make Up Bag have a button or a zipper? Below are the instructions for attaching a button.
The PDF Pattern for the Aurora Make Up Bag contains a step by step photo tutorial on how to line your bag and add a zipper.
If you are attaching a button (or 2):
Mark where your button is going with a st marker.
Attach yarn to the corresponding sc from round 16 on the back of the bag.
Chain an appropriate length to get a good sized loop for your button (I chained 20) and sc in each st back.
Insert a ss into the same st from round 16 that you started the chain in.
FO and weave in ends.
Line your bag and then you are finished!
This pattern was featured in the Mother’s Day Gift Ideas event
On 19th February 2021 we offered this pattern as a free pdf for one day only as part of the Mother’s Day Gift Ideas event. If you are looking for some inspiration, you can still still all of the patterns that were included in this event by clicking the button below!
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Last Minute Crochet Gifts event:
From 4th-11th October 2021 we also featured this pattern in the Last Minute Gift Ideas event. You can find the main round up by clicking the button below.
