How to Crochet a Starfish Sea-Themed Bag

I constantly find myself being too busy to truly enjoy taking a break and starting a new art project. Often times, crocheting and painting were great ways for me to just waste time and create something new. But as college came around the corner, I was quickly bombarded with deadlines and strenuous tests to prepare for; Consequently, my little art passions were put on hold for the duration of the school year.

However, their are a few months allocated each year where students are finally able to let go of their stressors... SUMMER. As I've enjoyed the past month off of school, I've slept a lot, binged watch many tv shoved, and also began delving back into my previous passions.

As I am very much so a big beach girly at heart, I wanted to crochet a piece with leftover yarn that highlighted something I loved. So after seeing many crochet bags being advertised online I decided to try a sea-themed bag consisting of a starfish body and little jellyfish key chain (I've seen different iterations of this online).

I hope you enjoy this project just as much as I did!

1. Green Yarn
2. White Yarn
3. Crochet Hook
4. Crochet Sewing Needle
5. Thread
6. Sewing Needle
7. Scissors
8. Button

Pictures 1-17 walk through the process of creating a "magic circle."

1. A magic circle is a crochet technique used to begin working in the round, allowing you to create a tightly adjustable loop instead of a gaping center hole

Following pictures 1-7 guides you into creating the base of the magic circle which will later be pulled tight, it is important to follow the stitch crossing on the palm of your fingers and the parallel lines on the back. For clarification, the fourth pictures showcases a hook grabbing the parallel line further up the hand, and pulling it down past the other line; Then, the hook twists the yarn around once before grabbing the other line and pulling it through the self-made loop.

The Next goal is to attach 2 chains to the piece before adding in 20 double crochets, wrapping around the magic circle.

1. Chain: to create a chain you simply need to wrap the working yarn around the hook and slip that loop through the original loop. In other words, chaining consists of wrapping and pulling the yarn through loops until the desired chain count is reached.
2. Single crochet: to create a single crochet, begin by inserting the hook into the desired stitch and wrapping the active yarn around this hook. Proceed to pull this loop through the stitch, before once again wrapping a loop around the hook and pulling through the two other loops on the hook.
3. Double crochet: with practice you'll learn that each stich method incorporates a loop and pull method, the double crochet is of course a continuation of this idea. So, you begin by lopping the active yarn around the hook, but this time you don't pull through right away; Instead, you keep the loop and bring the hook under the line of the circle (or in chaining cases, into the chain that your working on). From here, you once again loop the yarn around the hook and pull only this single loop through from under the working area. Currently, you should have 3 loops on your hook. Now, you will once again loop the yarn onto the hook and pull this most recent loop through 2 other loops (you are left with two loops on the chain). Once again, add another loop onto the hook and pull through the remaining two loops (this is one double crochet, repeat this process 19 more times).

Once 20 double crochets are circling around the magic circle, grab the yarn that is not actively around the loop (should be short and sticking out) and strongly pull it further out in order to close the gaping center hole. Once your chains are touching each other, complete a slip stitch to hold the piece together.

1. Slip Stitch: A slip stitch is much simpler than a double crochet and is completed rather quickly. Using your hook, slip it into the top chain of the two single crochets completed previously. Once the hook is inserted, loop the working yarn around the hook and pull it through the chain. Now, you should have two loops on the hook, the loop that is closer to the hook should now be grabbed by the hook and pushed through the other loop. This seals the work together and once again leaves you with a single loop on your hook.

Note: For future reference I will not be explaining how to do a chain, single crochet, double crochet, or slip stitch again; Rather, just refer to the directions explained above.

To begin, pictures 1-3 are a continuation of the previous step, showcasing a clearer representation of a slip stitch.

Continuing from the slip stitch, you should:

1. Chain 2
2. Double crochet into the following two stitches
3. In the third stitch, you will do 3 double crochets followed by a chain 3 and once again followed by 3 double crochets
4. Double crochet into the following two stitches
5. Skip 2 chains
6. Repeat

Repeat these steps another 4 times until 5 triangle shapes are created to mimic a star

Once the final triangle is created slip stitch into the first chain

1. Continuing from the last step, do once single crochet into the current stitch
2. Chain 2
3. Double crochet into the following 3 stitches
4. In the fourth stitch, you will do 3 double crochets followed by a chain 3 and once again followed by 3 double crochets
5. Double crochet into the following 3 stitches
6. Skip 2 chains
7. Repeat four times
8. Slip stitch to end

1. Continuing from the last step, do once single crochet into the current stitch
2. Chain 2
3. Double crochet into the following 4 stitches
4. In the fifth stitch, you will do 3 double crochets followed by a chain 3 and once again followed by 3 double crochets
5. Double crochet into the following 4 stitches
6. Skip 2 chains
7. Repeat four times
8. Slip stitch to end

1. Continuing from the last step, do a single crochet into a color change
2. To change the color of the yarn, there are many methods, but I personally enjoy inserting the hook and wrapping the new yarn around. Pull this yarn through the loop and then finish off a normal single crochet by wrapping the yarn and pulling it through again. Once completed, and tight, cut off the extra from the original yarn and tie the two small ends together, leaving the new working yarn free to continue the following stitches.
3. Chain 2
4. Double crochet into the following 6 stitches
5. In the fifth stitch, you will do 3 double crochets followed by a chain 3 and once again followed by 3 double crochets
6. Double crochet into the following 6 stitches
7. Skip 2 chains
8. Repeat four times
9. Slip stitch to end

Now, for my specific pattern I follow a 3-2-2-2 row order. In other words, the first white section is the largest with three rows, and the following color sections only repeat for two rows before switching.

The same color change method is used as described above for each following row.

To provide further guidance, you will notice a pattern begins to form based on how many double crochets are needed, this pattern counts by two and will be demonstrated in the further instructions.

1. Continuing from the last step, do once single crochet into the current stitch
2. Chain 2
3. Double crochet into the following (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, ...) stitches
4. In the fifth stitch, you will do 3 double crochets followed by a chain 3 and once again followed by 3 double crochets
5. Double crochet into the following (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, ...) stitches
6. Skip 2 chains
7. Repeat four times
8. Slip stitch to end

Once the last row is created, and the slip stitch completed, cut the yarn with roughly 3-4 inches to spare. Using the hook pull the chain through and essentially create a knot.

Before even beginning this step, the next process is repeating steps 1-6 to recreate another star shape.

Once two stars are placed before you, locate the side with all of the knots and tighten them again. I personally did three knots into each color change. Once the colors are fastened off cut the loose ends so that they do not stick out everywhere.

Now that both stars are 'cleaned up,' grab the yarn of the last color you used and cut a decently sized bit off (roughly 2ft give or take). Double knot one end of this yarn to a crochet sewing needle to ensure that it remains fastened to the needle. Then align two of the stars, with the insides (side with knots) facing out and on top of each other. Hold the point up towards yourself and insert the needle into the two inner crochets as showcased in picture 3. Pull the yarn almost all the way through and repeat this for every single stitch that follows until three of the triangles are completed as shown in picture 6.

Now, we will move onto the next crucial component of a bag which is the straps.

To begin, loosely chain 150 stitches (Make sure these stitches are not too tight or else it will be a serious struggle to crochet into the stitches, the loose structure also allows for a better wrap around your shoulder and longer look with fewer stitches).

Once the 150 chains are created, flip your work and double crochet into each and every stitch. Once the end is reached chain two, flip your work and once again double crochet into every stitch.

Once two rows are completed, slip stitch the yarn, cut it, and pull through.

Following the previous color switch description, grab the outer color yarn and tie it into the piece (double knot it to one of the loose strands) and single crochet down the 150 stitches.

Repeat this step for the other side of the strap to make the striped pattern.

Now, as shown in picture one, loop the loose yarn into itself to create a knot before cutting off the excess.

Now returning to the star bag, grab the loose yarn from one of the triangle sides and attach it to a crochet sewing needle as shown in picture 2. Moving forward, grab one of the handle sides and place it into the bag as shown in picture 3. Once at the edge, begin sewing the two pieces together until you've gone the length of the strap. Once again, loop the loose yarn twice to create a knot and cut off the excess.

Repeat this process for the other side of the handle on the other triangle.

Now, locate the topo of the star, which should be the only triangle that is left fully loose. Once located, grab a button that is roughly 1/2 an inch wide in order to fit into the automatic hole created by the crochet pattern. Place this button onto the inner star, over the top hole. The grab a proper sewing needle and proper sewing thread (I chose a white color to blend more smoothly) and sew the button into the piece by repeatedly going through the four holes. Once done, fasten off the thread and you now have a closable bag. (Open in picture 3, closed in picture 4)

Alrighty, just as we did in step one we're going to once again create a magic circle... the only difference being that the stitches placed inside will consist of 6 single crochets. Don't forget to tighten the work and slip stitch to combine.

Now to crochet the body of our little friend we will:

1. chain 1, and do a single crochet increase into each stitch to create 12 stitches (to increase basically means to do two stitches into one).
2. chain 1, now repeat between a single crochet and a single crochet increase into the following stitches to create 18 stitches.
3. chain 1, now repeat between two single crochets and a single crochet increases in order to create 24 stitches.
4. Finally, do five more complete rows (1 row is 24 stitches) of single crochets

Now, every jelly fish requires a little floof on the bottom to bring its body to life. This process is extremely easy and quick to do as the crochet friend is incredibly small. So, continuing where we left off, slip stitch and then chain 2. From the chain 2 do a full row that includes a double crochet increase. The only difference for this increase is that you will be doing 3 double crochets into one stitch in order to create a ruffle effect. Slip stitch once finished, and cut off the loose end.

As you can see in picture three, the yarn is pulled through as a hanger. In order to accomplish this, insert your hook through the 'head' and grab the loose yarn that is inside, pulling it through.

Green Tentacles:

1. One tentacles chains 15, the other chains 20
2. Once the chain length is reached, skip 2 chains and single crochet increase into every following stitch (do three single crochets for this increase as well)
3. The influx of stitches forces the yarn to automatically pull itself into the spiral shape as shown in pictures 3,4, and 5
4. Once the top is reached, do 3 stitches formed around the loose yarn just to fasten them together as shown in picture three. Tie off and cut this yarn, ensuring that the original strand is still long and intact.

White Tentacles:

1. I did not count the amount of chains each strand has, purely because its based on how long you want them to be. I did four different strands of chains, some shorter and some longer. To finish, you just tie the off and cut the loose end.

Now, once all the tentacles are created, grab the loose strands from each piece and gently pull them through the top of the head just as done in the previous step. Once completed begin to knot the pieces together for extra stability and support. Next, section up the strands into 3 pieces and braid them together as seen in the last two pictures. Tie off and cut the loose strands, leaving the main strand still visible as seen in the last picture.

Now, grab the bag handle and have the loose strand from the jellyfish wrap loosely around one side. then insert this loose strand into the braid itself before fastening it off and cutting any excess. This creates an easy diy chain.

Lastly, go out and enjoy. These projects often times require a lot of sitting down and constant hand work. While it may seem daunting and time consuming, I promise that each piece you make will be followed with pride as you can go and flaunt your newest creation.

Happy crocheting!