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Open Crochet Bag in Chenille and Gold (1847): vintage crochet pattern
A Victorian round bag in fine chenille: a flat 14-row bottom, a gold vandyke band, then stripes of black and gold plain crochet alternating with pairs of open crochet rows in scarlet, blue and white. Originally published as "An open Crochet Bag in Chenille" in My Crochet Sampler (Miss Lambert) by D. M. Peyser in 1847, it is.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Fine (#2) |
| Yardage | 22–24 yd (20–22 m) |
| Hook | 3.5 mm |
| Gauge | Not printed. Work to the size of the article; the book sizes by counted stitches or measurement. |
| Finished size | Not printed. |
| Time | about 4 hours |
Materials
- Fine chenille yarn (about sport weight, CYC #2): about 16 skeins in all (skein size not printed), in blue, black, scarlet and white
- 24 yd (22 m) metallic gold cord
- Tapestry needle for weaving in (“running”) the ends
- Hook: Start with 3.5 mm (US E-4) and adjust to suit your chenille; no hook size or gauge is printed.
Yarn Kit & Substitution Options
This pattern calls for 24 yards of weight #2 yarn. Select a suggested yarn to see required skeins and estimated cost:
Lion Brand Coboo · 50% Cotton, 50% Bamboo
232 yds per skein · Silky breathable drape, lovely stitch shine
1 skeins required
approx. $$6.49 total
Abbreviations (US terms)
- chain
- single crochet
- double crochet
- stitch
- stitches
- increase
- row
- repeat
- skip
Notes before you start
- Source: "An open Crochet Bag in Chenille", My Crochet Sampler (Miss Lambert), D. M. Peyser, 1847. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: fine blue chenille; About sixteen skeins of chenille, and twenty-four yards of gold cord. Gauge: Not given.
- Modernisation note: Victorian stitch names converted to modern US terms strictly by the book's own definitions (pp. 15–21, 57), not by modern UK equivalents: “plain double crochet”, “plain crochet”, “plain stitch” and “plain stitch double crochet” = sc; “plain single crochet” = sl st; “chain” = ch; “open crochet” = dc with ch 1 over a skipped st; the “double stitches” / “long stitches” of open crochet = dc; “double open crochet” = pairs of dc with an open space; “treble open crochet” = groups of 3 dc alternating with open spaces; “plain stitch open crochet” = ch-5 loops joined by sc to the centre of the loops below; “dividing”, “seam” or “raised” stitch = 2 sc in one st under both loops, stacked; “treble increased stitch” = 3 sc in one st; “double stitch crochet” = sc under both loops; “raised” or “ribbed” crochet and “plain stitch elastic crochet” = sc in back loop only, turning each row; “to increase” = 2 sc in one st; “to decrease” = sc2tog or sk 1; “to make a stitch” = ch 1 at each end of the row; “fasten off” = draw the yarn through the last st; “fasten on” = lay the new end along the work and crochet over both; “run the ends” = weave in ends. Note that the book's “double crochet” is a modern sc, and its “treble” never means a modern tr.
- Modernisation note: The book implies that ordinary plain crochet picks up only one loop of the stitch below (the seam stitch is made “under both loops instead of one”, and “double stitch crochet” takes “both meshes”), but it never says which loop. Instructions say sc. Check: for the period texture, try working through one loop as the book implies.
- Modernisation note: Period wording modernised: “needle” / “crochet needle” written as “hook”; “commence” as “begin”; “unite the ends” / “join both ends together” as “join into a ring” (the book does not name the joining stitch); “a chain and first row” as “ch, then Row 1”; “cheques” as “checks”. The book says “row” even when working round and round; “row” is kept as printed.
- Modernisation note: Printed paragraphs split into one step per row or instruction; no colours, counts or rows added, removed or reordered. Colour-sequence rows are written as “Row 4 (sc): 1 light green, 1 black, 5 red brown …”, meaning that many sc in each colour, in order.
- Modernisation note: Period chenille (fine or coarse) is approximated by modern chenille yarn. The book advises introducing colours “in short lengths” when working chenille and not using seam stitches with it.
- Modernisation note: “Gold”, “gold cord”, “gold thread” and “gold passing” were metallic threads; use a modern metallic thread or cord of about the same thickness as the silk or wool.
- Modernisation note: No hook (needle) size and no gauge is printed — the book names only “steel” or “ivory” needles. The modern starting hook is an approximate suggestion only.
- Modernisation note: Colour swatches are approximate modern readings of the period colour names; they are not in the book. “Gold colour” is a golden-yellow yarn, whereas “gold” on its own in the silk designs means metallic gold thread or cord. “Ponceau” is poppy red, “drab” a dull greyish brown, “stone colour” a pale greyish beige, “claret” a deep wine red. By the book's own definitions (p. 24), “chiné” yarn is dyed in two or more colours at intervals along one thread, and “ombré” yarn shades gradually from light to dark in one colour.
- Modernisation note: “A chain of six loops” written as “ch 6”.
- Modernisation note: Check: the number of increases per row in the bottom is not printed (“a sufficient number … to keep the work flat”).
- Modernisation note: Check: “one stitch of gold to every fifth of the coloured ground” is read as a 6-st repeat (1 gold, 5 ground), matching the next two vandyke rows (3 + 3, 5 + 1).
- Modernisation note: Check: colours of the repeated open crochet rows after the first two pairs are not stated; the bag's depth is not printed.
- Modernisation note: Metric conversions added.
Row progress: 0 of 2 done (0%)
Stitches
0 of 2 done- Stitch (book's definition): “Plain double crochet,—where two loops are kept on the needle, and the wool drawn through both before the stitch is finished” = single crochet (sc). The book adds that “unless any other stitch be mentioned, the plain, or double crochet stitch, is always to be employed”, so every stitch in these directions is sc unless another stitch is named. A “plain row” is a row of sc in one colour.Mark row complete
- Stitch (book's definition, “Open crochet”): begin with “one plain stitch”; yo, insert hook in the first loop of the chain and draw the yarn through (3 loops on hook), yo and draw through 2 loops, yo and draw through the last 2 loops (= dc); “through this one, make one plain stitch” (= ch 1), then work the next dc in the third loop of the chain (sk 1). Open crochet = sc, *dc, ch 1, sk 1; rep from * — a dc-and-ch-1 mesh (engraving No. 2).Mark row complete
Working on:
Stitch (book's definition): “Plain double crochet,—where two loops are kept on the needle, and the wool drawn through both before the stitch is finished” = single crochet (sc). The book adds that “unless any other stitch be mentioned, the plain, or double crochet stitch, is always to be employed”, so every stitch in these directions is sc unless another stitch is named. A “plain row” is a row of sc in one colour.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Open Crochet Bag in Chenille and Gold (1847) pattern is in the Vintage Crochet Hats, Bags & Accessories
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Bottom
- Vandyke and stripes
- Finishing
Included with 202 patterns for $12 — $0.06 per pattern.
Errata
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the An open Crochet Bag in Chenille pattern from?
It was published as "An open Crochet Bag in Chenille" in My Crochet Sampler (Miss Lambert) by D. M. Peyser in 1847. The publication is in the public domain in the United States; this version is transcribed and modernised by crochetpatterns.io.
What yarn or thread do I need for the An open Crochet Bag in Chenille?
fine (#2) yarn. As printed: about 16 skeins of chenille (skein length not printed) and 24 yd (22 m) of gold cord.
What hook should I use?
Start with 3.5 mm (US E-4) and adjust to suit your chenille; no hook size or gauge is printed. Gauge: Not printed. Work to the size of the article; the book sizes by counted stitches or measurement.
