My father and I were both in our early twenties when we invited skulls into our lives. He was a sailor and I was a Peace Corps volunteer in highland Guatemala. He wore his skull tattoo to the grave, but after living with the shaped Maya skull I found in Jacaltenango for a few years, I buried it in Guatemala, where it belonged.
The skull motif is very popular now, but has had different meanings through space and time. The carved images like the one below probably inspired the skull and cross-bone motif of the pirates of the Caribbean who frequented the area.
Skull and crossed bones carved onto the surface of a Maya stone structure at Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, that dates to around 1000.
I decided to feature skulls on a bag big enough to hold lots of unfinished projects. The crossed bones were a logical choice for the handles, don’t you think?
I wasn’t sure who would publish the pattern, but when I found out that Laurie Wheeler (aka Camanomade) was looking for revolutionary crochet projects for a book that would liberate crochet stereotypes, I realized that it had found a home!
My UFO (UnFinished Object) Bag tapestry crocheted with size 18 Omega La Espiga Nylon.
Want to know more? Well you’ll need to look at the Crochet Liberation Front First Ever Book for the pattern and to read about my skull connection!
In addition to my UFO Bag, this book has lots of other original patterns, too!
For those of you who have the book, there are a few typos of minor consequence, but the following errors need to be fixed:
Rnd F should read: Sc 1 Black, *3 Ivory, decrease 1 Ivory, sc 148 Ivory (onto the bottom of the chain), decrease 1 Ivory, sc 3 Ivory, 43 Black*. Repeat from * -* 2 times. *Sc 3 Ivory, decrease 1 Ivory, sc 147 Ivory onto chain, decrease 1 Ivory, tapestry crochet 2 Ivory, 43 Black*. Repeat from * -* 2 times.
The first 146 in Rnd G should be changed to 147.
Deborah used Red Heart Super Saver, but Victoria used size 18 Omega La Espiga Nylon for her bag.
I hope you’ll give it a try, too!
IS THERE ANY POSSIBLE WAY THAT I CAN PURCHASE THE PATTERN FOR THE SKULL BAG WITHOUT BUYING THE ENTIRE BOOK?
This pattern is only available in this book, but I sell a felted skull pattern on Ravelry for left-handed and right-handed crocheters.
So I bought the pattern book. I don’t understand what type of yarn to get. I’m not familiar with size 18. Can you help please?
Thank you
It is a heavy cord like the type sold at some hardware stores. You could also substitute another yarn. It is not easy to crochet the nylon tightly, so you might want to use another yarn instead if you find it too difficult.
It means to decrease one stitch on the inside corner between the handle and rim. I look forward to seeing your bag!
Carol,
I am on the final steps of the bag. I have to tell you that this has been an experience for me. I was on row 26 the first time around and completely unraveled it and started over. I had my count wrong somewhere. I am so pleased with the way it is turning out though.
I have a question. On round E, I’m not understanding what you mean when you say to decrease an ivory. I see that is done in all of the remaining rounds. Can you explain that to me?
I want to make sure that you see a picture of the bag when I’m finished. I am making it for a coworker who loves anything with skulls. I’m using black and red and it does look great.
Thanks for your help,
Gayla
[…] you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know how I feel about skulls. If not, my UnFinishedObject Bag posting will fill you in. The cylindrical UFO bag has some things in common with this one; […]
[…] This bag is loosely tapestry crocheted with Lion Wool and a size K hook. The bag shrinks and felts like magic in a washing machine. The loose stitch makes it a fast project to crochet and a great first tapestry crochet project, too! For more about my interest in skulls, you might enjoy reading my UFO Bag blog. […]