The Tardis Bag - A love story in 3 parts

My friend Kendra sent me the most wonderful picture a couple of weeks ago:

As a longtime Dr. Who fan, I totally freaked out.  She had turned the London Crochet Bag into a Tardis!  I emailed her and pretty much demanded that she tell me what she did so that I could make one myself (LOL!) and so that I could share the pattern with you!  And being the sweetheart that she is, she sent me her pattern.

I, of course, made one and loved it!  My only issue was that I wanted to be able to carry it as a purse, but the LCB (if you've made the bag you'll know) is kinda huge for every-day use.  So I've made a smaller version as well.  (Either one would make an excellent trick-or-treat bag...)

This is my version of Kendra's bag!

Only, I got it in my head that I wanted to line the bag, so I've given you the option of making it with a button, or with a magnetic snap closure.  Whew!  So, that's why this love story is broken into 3 parts.  Today I'm giving you the patterns for the Main Bag (Original LCB size - pattern by Kendra Harris, Purse Size with Button, and Purse Size with lining).  In the next post, I'll give you the pattern for the strap, and then in the last post I'll be doing the lining instructions (including some fun with the knit picker!).

 And, as the Tenth Doctor said (in Fear Her), “There’s a lot of things you need to get across this universe. Warp drive… wormhole refractors… You know the thing you need most of all? You need some yarn to hold.” **

**I may have mis-quoted here... It was really 'You need a hand to hold' but that didn't make my argument very well, did it?

Abbreviations used:
fpdc - front post double crochet
bpdc - back post double crochet
ch - chain
hdc - half-double crochet
sl st - slip stitch

Tardis LCB 
pattern modification by Kendra Harris

Supplies:
Blue Worsted Weight Yarn ( I used Caron One Pound 100% acrylic in Royalty, but you could also use Red Heart Super Saver in Royal)
Size G hook
Small amount of Worsted Weight Yarn in White and Black (I used Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic in White and Black)

ch 61
R1-51: Follow normal pattern for the London Crochet Bag
R52: hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each ch sp, (2 fpdc, 17 hdc) 2 times, 2 fpdc, hdc in each ch space across (60 st)
R53: ch 1, 10 hdc, (2 bpdc, 17 hdc) 2 times, 2 bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R54-61: Repeat R52-53 4 more times
R62: ch 1, 10 hdc, 40 bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R63: ch 1, 10 hdc, 40 fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R64: ch 1, 10 hdc, (2 fpdc, 17 hdc) 2 times, 2 fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R65: ch 1, 10 hdc, (2 bpdc, 17 hdc) 2 times, 2 bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R66-73:  Repeat R64-65 4 more times
R74: ch 1, 10 hdc, 40 bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R75: ch 1, 10 hdc, 40 fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R76: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 fpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, fpdc) 3 times, fpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, fpdc) 3 times, fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R77: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 bpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, bpdc) 3 times, bpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, bpdc) 3 times, bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R78: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 fpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, fpdc) 3 times, fpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, fpdc) 3 times, fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R79: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 bpdc, (5 hdc, bpdc) 3 times, bpdc, (5 hdc, bpdc) 3 times, bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R80:  ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 fpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, fpdc) 3 times, fpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, fpdc) 3 times, fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R81: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 bpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, bpdc) 3 times, bpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, bpdc) 3 times, bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R82:  ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 fpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, fpdc) 3 times, fpdc, (change to white, 5 hdc, change to blue, fpdc) 3 times, fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R83:  ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 bpdc, 34 hdc, 2 bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R84: ch 1, 10 hdc, 40 bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R85: ch 1, 10 hdc, 40 fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R86: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 fpdc, change to black, 36 hdc, change to blue, 2 fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R87: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 bpdc, change to black, 14 hdc, ch 8, skip 8 st, 14 hdc, change to blue, 2 bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R88: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 fpdc, change to black, 14 hdc, 8 hdc in the ch space, 14 hdc, change to blue, 2 fpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R89: ch 1, 10 hdc, 2 bpdc, 36 hdc, 2 bpdc, 10 hdc (60 st)
R90: ch 1, 60 hdc (60 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Sew side seams together following the instructions for the original London Crochet Bag.

Make Button following original London Crochet Bag instructions using white yarn.  Using buttonhole as a guide, center and sew on button.

There was a lot of confusion with the original London Crochet Bag about Row 51.  I took pictures as I did R51 on this bag, so that you can see exactly what I'm talking about.  I'm left handed, so for you righties, imagine the stitches in the 3rd picture on the other side... :D

This is where we leave off on R50

ch 10 (actually this one is for the smaller sized bag, so it's a 5 ch, but you get the idea)

hdc across all stitches of R50...

And then more chain stitches on the other side!
Now you're all set for R52 with 61 stitches on your row!
(Or in the case of this picture, 41)

And now, for the smaller, Purse-Sized Tardis patterns!

The Purse-Sized Tardis Bag with Button...
It's bigger on the inside...

Tardis Bag - Purse Sized with Button
Approx. size: 11" tall x 8 1/2" wide x 3" deep
Supplies:
Blue Worsted Weight Yarn ( I used Caron One Pound 100% acrylic in Royalty, which will make two purse sized bags from one skein.  It's a little 'slubby' but if you don't mind the lumps every once in a while, the price is right.  Otherwise, use a royal blue in Red Heart Super Saver.)
Size F hook
Small amount of Worsted Weight Yarn in White and Black (I used Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic in White and Black)

With Blue ch 41
R1: hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each ch across (40 st)
R2-30: ch 1, hdc in each st across (40 st)
R31: sl st in next 5 st, ch 1, 30 hdc, ch 1, turn (you're going to skip the last 5 st of the row) (30 st)
R32: hdc in each st across (30 st)
R33-35: ch 1, hdc in each st across (30 st)
Fasten off.

R36: With new piece of yarn, ch 5, 30 hdc across all st of R35, ch 6 (41 st)
R37: hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each ch, 2 hdc, 26 bpdc, 2 hdc, hdc in each ch (40 st)
R38: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, 11 hdc, 2 bpdc, 11 hdc, bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R39: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, 11 hdc, 2 fpdc, 11 hdc, fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R40: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, 11 hdc, 2 bpdc, 11 hdc, bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R41: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, 11 hdc, 2 fpdc, 11 hdc, fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R42: ch 1, 7 hdc, 26 fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R43: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, 11 hdc, 2 fpdc, 11 hdc, fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R44: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, 11 hdc, 2 bpdc, 11 hdc, bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R45: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, 11 hdc, 2 fpdc, 11 hdc, fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R46: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, 11 hdc, 2 bpdc, 11 hdc, bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R47: ch 1, 7 hdc, 26 bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R48: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, 11 hdc, 2 bpdc, 11 hdc, bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R49: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, 11 hdc, 2 fpdc, 11 hdc, fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R50: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, 11 hdc, 2 bpdc, 11 hdc, bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R51: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, 11 hdc, 2 fpdc, 11 hdc, fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R52: ch 1, 7 hdc, 26 fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R53: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, (change to white, 3 hdc, change to blue, fpdc,) 3 times, 2 fpdc, (change to white, 3 hdc, change to blue, fpdc,) 3 times, 7 hdc (40 st)
R54: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, (change to white, 3 hdc, change to blue, bpdc,) 3 times, 2 bpdc, (change to white, 3 hdc, change to blue, bpdc,) 3 times, 7 hdc (40 st)
R55: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, (3 hdc, fpdc,) 3 times, 2 fpdc, (3 hdc, fpdc,) 3 times, 7 hdc (40 st)
R56: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, (change to white, 3 hdc, change to blue, bpdc,) 3 times, 2 bpdc, (change to white, 3 hdc, change to blue, bpdc,) 3 times, 7 hdc (40 st)
R57: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, (change to white, 3 hdc, change to blue, fpdc,) 3 times, 2 fpdc, (change to white, 3 hdc, change to blue, fpdc,) 3 times, 7 hdc (40 st)
R58: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, (3 hdc, bpdc,) 3 times, 2 bpdc, (3 hdc, bpdc,) 3 times, 7 hdc (40 st)
R59: ch 1, 7 hdc, 26 bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R60: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, change to black, 24 hdc, change to blue, bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R61: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, change to black, 24 hdc, change to blue, fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R62: ch 1, 7 hdc, bpdc, change to black, 24 hdc, change to blue, bpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R63: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, 10 hdc, ch 4, skip 4 st, 10 hdc, fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R64: ch 1, 7 hdc, 11 fpdc, 4 hdc in ch space, 11 fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R65: ch 1, hdc across all st (40 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Using the original London Crochet Bag as a guideline, sew the sides together.


Button
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn in White (I used Red Heart Super Saver 100% acrylic in White)
Size F crochet hook
Tapestry needle
Scissors

R1: 7 sc in magic loop, pull loop tight, sl st to first st to close round (7 st)
R2: ch 1, 2 sc in each st, sl st to first st to close round (14 st)
R3: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, sc) 7 times, sl st to first st to close round (21 st)
R4: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to first st to close round (21 st)
R5: ch 1, (sc next 2 st tog, sc) 7 times, sl st to first st to close round (14 st)
R6: ch 1, (sc next 2 st tog) 7 times, sl st to first st to close round (7 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Using buttonhole as a guide, center and sew on button.

Purse-Sized Tardis Bag, ready to be sewn together and lined!!

Tardis Bag - Purse Sized with Lining
Follow all of the instructions from the Tardis Bag - Purse Sized with Button, but replace R63-64 with these instructions:
R63: ch 1, 7 hdc, fpdc, 24 hdc, fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)
R64: ch 1, 7 hdc, 26 fpdc, 7 hdc (40 st)

Oh yeah, and don't make the button if you're making this bag, we'll be doing something else...


Whew! Come back on Thursday and we'll make the Police Public Call Box Strap!  It's gonna be awesome!!

And, for all of you following at home, the Captcha is off for the next week!  Let's see what happens!  Fun experiments for everyone!  And double Dynamo points for a heads-up if something spammy or offensive gets posted.  I'll pull it as soon as I see it.

xoxo