Scripture Carrier

My husband and I are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the things that we do in our faith is that our children aren't baptized until they are eight years old. My daughter had looked forward to the day that she would be baptized for years and years, and to celebrate the day, we decided to give her her very own set of scriptures.

Knowing that she would need something in which to carry them, I decided that I'd try my hand (literally-ha ha) at making her a scripture carrier.

Here's what I eventually came up with:






SCRIPTURE CARRIER
Use size G hook and cotton yarn

Granny Square, make 14

Chain 4 and join in a circle, then using hdc, and two-stitch "shells"' with one ch in between each one, make 4 rows, one with 4 shells, one with 8, one with 12, and one with sixteen. Finish off.

Stitch or sc squares together in panels, three panels of two squares each and two panels of four squares each.

Lining

For each panel, make a corresponding swatch of the same size, using sc rows, bordered with one round of sc. When complete, sc each lining swatch to corresponding square panel.

Assembly

Use the three 2-square panels as bottom, and side panels of bag. Use the two 4-square panels as front and back of bag. Sew all panels together in this manner. To "square up" top corners, use ribbon, rope, or chain/sl st "ropes", and run a small piece through the top of each corner, securing each with a know or a bow.

Carry Strap

Switch to size F hook.

Ch 200, being careful not to twist ch, join.

Rnd 1, sc in each chain, join, ch 3

Rnd 2, dc in each chain, join, ch 2

Rnd 3, sc in each dc, join.

Rnd 4, sl st in each sc around, join, fasten off

Join yarn in any foundation chain, sl st in each ch around, join, fasten off.

Make lining (strengthener) for strap using sc in rows and borders as with panels. Sc to strap.

Secure strap to bag by placing in long skinny oval across bottom of bag, and bringing sides up to form handles. Tack in place on bottom, and at top and bottom of front and back panels. 

Strengthener of bottom panel

Cut a piece of thick cardboard to the dimensions of the inside bottom panel of bag. Using sc, crochet a "cozy" around cardboard, sewing up,both ends with cardboard inside. Place in bottom of bag.

Add snaps, buttons, zippers, and other embellishments as desired.

Plarn, the multi-faceted material

I made this bag ages ago, took pictures of it, and never posted it here. So, better late than never, eh?

I made it out of plastic grocery sacks, which I turned into plarn, following the directions that I posted here. Once I had the plarn, I followed this pattern  for a box-bottom tote at kaylaksthriftyways.com. I found the pattern easy to follow, and pretty enjoyable.

To be honest, the most time consuming part of it all was making the plarn, but it's a really handy bag and I love it. Although I'm sure it would make a great grocery bag, I use it for swimming mostly, I fold it up and put it inside a large canvas bag along with our suits, sunscreen, etc. Then when we're done swimming and have changed into our street clothes, I wrap the wet suits in a towel and toss them in this bag. It means that I leave the pool with two bags (my canvas bag and my plarn bag), but it also means that I don't end up getting everything in my canvas bag all wet from the suits. It's an awesome solution to what can often be a pesky problem.