Hello Needleworkers! Happy new week! Trust we're all good? 🤗
It's good to be back on this crafty community to share my needlework experience with you all.
Unlike my previous posts here, I wouldn't be sharing a self project but an actual work I did for a customer.
So, last week, a friend of mine chatted me up about that red tote bag I crocheted as my first wip project on this community. I had earlier posted the photo on my WhatsApp status and she was keen on buying. But I offered to recreate it for her instead and we both agreed on a fine price.
Honestly, I have no idea where that confidence sprung from. Despite being fully aware that I'm just a learner who isn't yet ready to monetize her crochet skill, I still took it upon myself to do a neat and nice work for my customer.
Initially, I was excited (I still am) and nervous at the same time… excited because it's my first order and nervous because I was somewhat afraid I might ruin everything along the line.
However, after getting the needed materials at the market, I proceeded to begin work last Friday.
Since my friend chose the same colour and style as the bag I previously made, it was going to be a lot easier (I thought). Although, this bag is smaller because she's much more petite than I am. And so, the previously used measurements were reduced.
Well of course, I started by making a slip knot with my doubled yarns (two balls of 40g Acrylic).
After which I proceeded to make my foundation chains using my 5mm hook and I chained 30 for this work.
Then, I started working on my first stitch (using the double crochet pattern) which started the base part of the bag.
Now, that was the complicated part of this work. I didn't do an oval base in my previous project but I wanted to make this one more unique and better so I thought about doing it. At first, it was a little hard for me that I had to loosen once and start afresh. I was beginning to get frustrated until I sought help from YouTube, I followed through a tutorial video and finally got a hang of it.
Now that I look at it, it's actually quite simple to make an oval base. It just entails working increases by adding certain numbers of double crochets into certain stitch holes and repeating until a specific round. I repeated my process untill the third round which completed my oval base. Then, I continued the fourth round for the rest of the bag until I reached my specified length (12 inches).
Afterwards, I crocheted the bag handles by chaining 125 and working the same pattern until the second stitch. Then, I sewed them on to the bag using a needle and a strand of yarn. But before that, I used a measuring tape to measure and mark down where I wanted the handles to be attached, so as to ensure equality.
Now that my handles were attached, I sewed on a bigger sized button to each of the handles in front using a needle and black thread. You know, to add a simple finishing touch.
And at last! 🤩 I completed the order which took 13 hours (totalling the hours I spent from Friday to Sunday) and 3 balls of yarn.
I must admit, there was this urge to rock the bag but nooo... my customer should be given the right to flex her order first, lol. I just took photos of the finished work, packaged it and sent the photos to her. She was very pleased with the outcome and I was even more glad that I didn't disappoint but delivered to my best ability 🤗.
Was this work easy? Not really, it was tiresome and time-consuming but regardless, I enjoyed every part of it.
Will I be taking more orders? Oh yesss! I'm already looking forward to more of this in the nearest future. ☺️
How did you feel during the time of your first order, were you also nervous?... excited? Let's discuss it in the comments please 😁. Also, do you think it was okay for me to take orders without first setting up an official business brand?
All photos are mine and taken with my mobile phone.
THANKS FOR READING! ❤️
