Quick Christmas Bags

December 17th


In Norway, we often hang kremmerhus on the Christmas tree.  These are paper cone-shaped bags for want of a better description.  We fill them traditionally with fruit and nuts, but often in reality with sweets nowadays.

Crocheted gift bags

I last blogged about them in 2013 and if you follow the link, scrolling down you will find instructions how to make your very own paper kremmerhus, this is a fast and quick paper craft, easy to make with small ones too! 

Instructions for making paper kremmerhus cones

Taken from the internet,
not my photo
 

Taken from the internet,
not my photo

I decided this year it would be lovely to have some crocheted kremmerhus on the tree filled with a very small gift that I could give to any unexpected guests or in case I needed a quick prize for any festive game playing that we inevitably play over the coming season.  My hook out, I soon began to crochet up a quick little cone-shaped bag.  Made in less than an hour, plus time to embellish, though not necessary, did add a little extra touch.  Want to have a go... then this is what I came up with, instructions are at the end of the post.

Crocheted kremmerhus

Crocheted kremmerhus

I then found a lovely pattern from the very clever and prolific crocheter, Karen, over at Just Pootling who designed these lovely little bags for just the same purpose, for her pattern for these rectangular bags, see the end of this post.

Little crocheted bags using Karen's pattern 

This bag was an adapted version of Karen's pattern

For the kremmerhus 'cone' bags

You can use any yarn with the appropriate size hook, gauge does not matter. 

Beginning at the tip of the kremmerhus:
R1  Magic circle, 4 dc into the magic circle. sl st into first dc
R2  2dc into each stitch: 8 sts
R3  ch 1 *1dc into each st*
R4-5 *1dc into each st*, note you do not need to ch 1 at the beginning of these rows
R6  *1dc in the first stitch then 2 dc into next stitch* repeat between **: 12 sts
R7  ch 1 *1dc into each st*
R8-9 1dc into each st*, note you do not need to ch 1 at the beginning of these rows
R10  *2dc then 2 dc into next stitch* repeat between **: 16 sts
R11  ch 1 *1dc into each st*
R12-13  1dc into each st*, note you do not need to ch 1 at the beginning of these rows

Adding decorative crochet edging to the kremmerhus

R14  *3dc then 2 dc into next stitch* repeat between **: 20 sts
R15  ch 1 *1dc into each st*
R16-17  1dc into each st*, note you do not need to ch 1 at the beginning of these rows
R18  *4dc then 2 dc into next stitch* repeat between **: 24 sts
R19  ch 1 *1dc into each st*
R20-21  1dc into each st*, note you do not need to ch 1 at the beginning of these rows
R22  *ch 5 skip 1dc and sl st into the next stitch*  repeat to the end of the row, you should end up with 12 hoops,(see photo)  sl st in the first dc DO NOT FASTEN OFF
Basket handle: chain enough length to reach the other side, then sl st between hoop 6 and 7, the halfway point the ch length for the handle will depend on what handle size you would like for your kremmerhus.  I vary the length depending on the yarn and what feels right, this could be anywhere from chain 25-35.
Cut and fasten off, fill with goodies and hang on your tree.

And to make Kate's lovely rectangular bags, see: Just Pootling Bags I adapted her pattern to make the basket bag.  All I did was begin in the same way as Kate did and stopped at the halfway height adding just a chain for the handle but then crocheting a dc into each chain to make the handle a little wider.  No more complicated than that. 

Crocheted gift bags

♥  Do you have small gifts ready for unexpected visitors 

or as impromptu prizes?  ♥