Chapter XIX: Mary Marie’s School Bag

AFTER everybody had admired the little slippers, the Yarn Baby said, “If Mary Marie goes to kindergarten, she should have a little school-bag to carry her pictures and books in, I think.”

“Wouldn’t that be splendid!” cried Mary Frances. “What kind of yarn shall I use?”

“Let me look into the box,” replied Wooley Ball, rolling over to the end of the sewing table and peeping over the edge of the chest, “Oh, there is the very thing to use—ecru crochet cotton. Cotton will wear much better than wool for a bag.” As Mary Frances picked up the ball, the Yarn Baby began to give the directions for making—

DOLL’S CROCHETED BOOK BAG

(See color plate page 40)

Material: Ecru crochet cotton (mercerized).

Steel hook No. 7.

Directions:[F]

1. Make 26 chain stitches.

2. Put 1 double crochet stitch into the fourth chain
stitch from the needle.

3. Put 1 double crochet into the fifth chain stitch.

4. Put 1 double crochet stitch into the sixth chain.

5. Make 2 chain stitches.

6. Skip 2 chain stitches in the first row, and put 1
double crochet into the next chain stitch; that is,
into the third chain stitch from the last double
crochet stitch which you made.

7. Put a double crochet in each of the next 2 chain
stitches.

8. Repeat directions No. 5, 6, and 7 to end of chain.

9. Make 5 chain stitches to use in turning.

10. Put 3 double crochet stitches into the first space
of the row just made.

11. Make 2 chain stitches.

12. Continue making clusters of 3 double crochets in
each space with 2 chains between—to end of row. The
last stitch in the row will be 1 double crochet taken
into the top of the 3 chain stitches which were used in
turning the row below.

13. Continue making rows like these two until there are
6 rows. This makes one side of the bag.

14. Taking up the threads on the other side of the
first row of chain stitches which you made, make other
side of bag like first side. (See picture below.)

15. Fold the two sides of bag together, along the row
of chain stitches first made, and fasten them together
with single crochet stitches along the edge, catching
each side.

16. Make 1 row of single crochet all around the top of
the bag.

_To Make the Handle_

1. At the top of the first cluster of double crochet
stitches from the side, make 2 single crochet stitches.
(See picture, page 118.)

2. Make 1 chain stitch to use in turning.

3. Make 2 single crochet stitches.

4. Continue directions Nos. 1 and 2 until handle is 2½
inches long. Fasten the end of handle into the top of
the first cluster of double crochet stitches from the
other side of the bag, using slip stitch.

5. Make another handle on opposite side of bag in same
way.

NOTE.—In fastening ends of threads, be sure to pull the
last stitch very tight before cutting off the ends.

When Mary Frances had finished making the little bag, she hung it on the dolly’s arm.

“Doe to tool! Doe to tool, now!” cried Mary Marie.

“Not in your bathrobe and slippers, darling!”

“Den what s’all I do?” asked Mary Marie. “I’se tired of ball! Wish I had a dolly!”