Cell-Faux Sak
PIN it here!
If you haven’t tried Lion Brand’s newest yarn called For The Home Cording, you are totally missing out!
This post may contain affiliate links that help me to continue to post free content. To skip the ads and have a printable pdf of this pattern, you can find it for relatively little cost in both my Esty and Ravelry shops.
I ordered some during their most recent sale and I am in LOVE with it! Not only is it basically the same material used in making The Sak purses, it makes the most gorgeous stitch definition I have ever seen. There isn’t much yardage, which kind of stinks, but there’s just enough in one skein to make this quick little cellphone purse that is perfect for even the largest cellphone.
Because this cording gives such a distinct and beautiful stitch definition, it does cause a bit of a problem in my design that I set out out to fix. If you have been crocheting for any length of time, you’ve probably been frustrated with the seam lines that show up in our projects that is caused by ending and beginning a new round. I usually use an Invisible slip stitch to fix this issue, but even that technique showed the seam plainly with this yarn.
I was really determined to make my project look as if it were professionally made by The Sak company and so I set out to fix this ugly seam line. I am happy to say that I was successful in my endeavor, as I was able to come up with a technique I haven’t seen anyone else use before. Not only does this technique make the most invisible seam line I’ve ever seen, it is reversible—WOOT!!!
As you can see from this photo above, a regular seam line is very obvious and slants in the project. The project on the right is where I am using my new technique and the seam is actually showing in the photo, but you can BARELY see it (which I am totally excited about if you can’t tell)!
I created this technique with the use of no beginning chains at the beginning of the rounds, making use of a single crochet to start off the round (making a sort of “half” half double crochet), and then slip stitching over the top of that single crochet at the end of the round (to make the other “half”). You then mark the slip stitch and work into it as if it were a stitch (because it technically becomes the top of the stitch). That’s it!
If that sounds too confusing, don’t worry! I made a YouTube video tutorial to show you how it works and I actually write out the steps in its entirety within the pattern itself. You can check out the YouTube video below:
This project works up in less than 2 hours, making it a great vendor market prep item. If you catch this yarn on sale, you could realistically make as much as $20 off of each skein. Sometimes there’s even enough yarn left to make a keychain wristlet, which would add even more to your profits.
Let’s make it!
Supplies Needed
-65-68 yds. of Lion Brand for the Home Cording
-Sizes 5.0 mm and 6.0 mm hooks, or size needed to obtain gauge
-1 1/2 - 2" button
-Tape measure, stitch marker, scissors, yarn needle
Terms Used and Abbreviations
Pattern is written in US terminology.
Back Loop Only - BLO
Begin(ning) - beg
Chain(s) - ch(s)
Front Loop Only - FLO
Half Double Crochet - hdc
Place Marker - PM
Repeat - rep
Right Side - RS
Single Crochet - sc
Skip - sk
Slip Stitch - sl st
Stitch(es) - st(s)
Stitch Marker - SM
Wrong side - WS
Special Stitches
Invisible Join- After making last st, cut yarn, leaving a longer tail for sewing purposes. Pull tail all the way through last st and thread to yarn needle. Insert needle from back to front under both bars of very first st, then from top to bottom through the top of last st of the round. Weave tail extremely well since there is no knot to secure (or you can make a knot to secure further down the inside of the project prior to weaving in).
Gauge
14 hdc and 9 rows = 4" using the smaller hook. Note that gauge is important in this particular project if you wish to have enough yarn to finish. There is very little extra leftover.
Finished Measurements
5" x 7.5" not including strap and when empty and lying flat. Strap should measure approx. 50".
Pattern Notes
-The first st of every round will always be the same st as joining.
-I prefer the look of the WS of the hdc sts and will be instructing you to keep the WS facing outward throughout. If you wish to change this, simply make your sts in the BLO instead of the FLO in Round 2 and flip it RS out if you desire.
-To create the seamless look using my new method of a seamless hdc join, you will need to follow the instructions exactly, as it will be unusual.
Instructions
Bag is made from the bottom up in the round, adding the strap and button last.
Round 1: Using your smaller hook ch 16, 2 hdc in 3rd st from hook, hdc in next 12 sts, 4 hdc in last st, turn so that you are working up the opposite side of the ch and hdc to last st, 2 more hdc in last st. Join with a sl st in first hdc, PM in joining sl st. [32 hdc]
Round 2: Do NOT ch, working in the FLO in each st around, sc in first st, hdc next 15 sts, 2 hdc in next st, hdc to SM, hdc in marked st, sk over sc and join with a sl st in first hdc, PM in joining sl st. [34 sts]
Round 3: Do NOT ch, working through both loops sc in first st, hdc in each st around and in marked st, sk over sc and join with a sl st in first hdc, PM in joining sl st. [34 sts]
Rounds 4-18: Rep Round 3.
Round 19: Working in the FLO loosely sl st in first 5 sts, ch 12 (button loop made), sl st in same st once more and in each st around. Make invisible join (see special sts) and weave in tails. NOTE: Make sure your button loop looks centered to your bag before finishing completely.
Make your strap
The strap is made using a Romanian Cord and the larger 6.0 mm hook. If you are unfamiliar with the Romanian Cord, see my video. Simply make a Romanian cord until it is 50" in length, leaving a bit of tail on each end to sew to each corner of the bag.
Sew button to front of bag at desired level, between Rounds 16 and 17. Weave in all tails.
Your Cell-faux Sak is complete! I would love to see your finished work! If you want to tag me on IG, I’m @dayscrochetnc. You could also use the hashtag #cellfauxsak to follow what others are making. I can’t wait to see your projects! If you would like to see other versions that I will be making after this publication, be sure to check me out on IG!
Please note that you do not have my permission to sell, illegally share, copy, or duplicate this pattern or my photos in any way. Please do not use this pattern for a video, blog, or class tutorial. Thank you so much for following these simple rules! Please message me on Facebook or send me an email at dayscrochetnc@gmail.com with any questions.
What did you think of this project? Let me know in the comments!
Happy hooking!
~Dana