Tapestry Crochet - Who Knew?

Since I'm a dilettante and largely self-taught, I had no idea that these bags that I've been crocheting for years are a technique called "tapestry crochet." I always called them like-the-bag-my-friend-Rinku-brought-back-from-India bags.

I've made many of these puppies, usually out of Takhi or Provence's mercerized cotton, and given them away as gifts. They last forever and can be washed in the machine. Here's a picture of one:


I just like to point out my ignorance whenever possible. Tapestry crochet. Huh.

Harlequin Bags - Introduction

Right after college when we were living in a ratty apartment in Durham, NC, my friend Rinku had a bag she brought back from India, made of purple and orange yarn. I had just learned how to crochet that year and recognized the stitches on the bags for what they were. I figured out how the craftsperson passed the alternating colors of yarn through the middle of each crochet stitch to make a diamond pattern. The stitches looked nearly as good on the inside as the outside plus the fabric was super thick and strong. Here's the first bag I made.


The colors were beautiful, in part because I used Provence mercerized cotton -- a fantastic yarn. There were many goofs, though. Like these conjoined-twin-diamonds:


Well, so what. I figured out how to count. Here's another one. I use this as a computer sleeve for my laptop as well as a purse:


Here's how it looks on the inside. No running threads:

And a close-up.

Because of the diamond pattern, I call this pattern family "harlequin bags."