purlJam

# The Gabbi-Style Textured Hobo Bag

A slouchy, softly textured hobo bag worked seamlessly in the round from the base up. The body features a subtle alternating texture stitch for depth, finished with an eyelet round, a generous **scrunchie-style gathered handle**, and a coordinating **i-cord drawstring** fastening that cinches the top closed.

**Difficulty:** Intermediate

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## Finished Measurements

- Width (at widest point): approx. **30 cm (11¾ in)**
- Height (excluding handle): approx. **28 cm (11 in)**
- Handle drop (gathered): approx. **22 cm (8¾ in)**

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** DK weight cotton or cotton blend, approx. **450 g / 1000 m** in your chosen colour (main colour, MC). A firm, non-splitty cotton is recommended for structure.
  - Suggested: Drops Paris, Scheepjes Cahlista, or similar.
- **Hook:** **4 mm (UK 8 / US G-6)** crochet hook
- **Notions:**
  - Stitch marker (for marking round beginnings)
  - Tapestry needle
  - Scissors
  - Optional: toy stuffing or 80 cm length of 1 cm cord to pad the scrunchie handle
  - Optional: two small beads or tassels for i-cord ends

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## Tension (Gauge)

**20 sts × 15 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** in htr, worked in the round, after light blocking.

Take time to check your tension. A firm fabric is essential for the bag to hold its shape.

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## Abbreviations (UK Terminology)

- **ch** – chain
- **sl st** – slip stitch
- **dc** – double crochet (US sc)
- **htr** – half treble (US hdc)
- **tr** – treble (US dc)
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **sp** – space
- **BLO** – back loop only
- **FPtr** – front post treble
- **2htr-tog** – work 2 htr together (decrease)
- **PM** – place marker
- **rep** – repeat
- **rnd** – round

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## Construction Notes

- The bag is worked **in continuous spiral rounds** from an oval base. Do **not** join unless instructed. Move your stitch marker up as you go.
- The **texture stitch** uses front post trebles worked into the round below to create a gentle pebbled fabric.
- The **handle** is a long tube, seamed into a loop, gathered over the top edge of the bag to create the scrunchie effect.
- The **i-cord drawstring** is worked as a flat 4-st i-cord and threaded through eyelets at the top.

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## Pattern

### Part 1 – Oval Base

**Foundation:** Ch 21.

**Rnd 1:** 2 htr in 2nd ch from hook, 1 htr in each of next 18 ch, 3 htr in last ch; working along the opposite side of the foundation chain, 1 htr in each of next 18 ch, 1 htr in the same ch as the starting 2 htr. PM in this last st. **(42 sts)**
*Math check: 2 + 18 + 3 + 18 + 1 = 42 ✓*

**Rnd 2:** 2 htr in next st, 2 htr in next st, 1 htr in next 18 sts, (2 htr in next st) 3 times, 1 htr in next 18 sts, 2 htr in last st. **(48 sts)**

**Rnd 3:** (1 htr, 2 htr in next st) twice, 1 htr in next 18 sts, (1 htr, 2 htr in next st) 3 times, 1 htr in next 18 sts, (1 htr, 2 htr in next st) once. **(54 sts)**

**Rnd 4:** (2 htr, 2 htr in next st) twice, 1 htr in next 18 sts, (2 htr, 2 htr in next st) 3 times, 1 htr in next 18 sts, (2 htr, 2 htr in next st) once. **(60 sts)**

**Rnd 5:** (3 htr, 2 htr in next st) twice, 1 htr in next 18 sts, (3 htr, 2 htr in next st) 3 times, 1 htr in next 18 sts, (3 htr, 2 htr in next st) once. **(66 sts)**

**Rnd 6:** (4 htr, 2 htr in next st) twice, 1 htr in next 18 sts, (4 htr, 2 htr in next st) 3 times, 1 htr in next 18 sts, (4 htr, 2 htr in next st) once. **(72 sts)**

*Math check: 6 increases per end × 2 ends = 12 increases per rnd; 42 + 6×5 = 72 ✓. Base measures approx. 22 × 10 cm.*

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### Part 2 – Sides (Transition)

**Rnd 7:** Working in **BLO**, 1 htr in each st around. **(72 sts)**
*This creates a crisp fold between base and sides.*

**Rnd 8:** 1 htr in each st around. **(72 sts)**

**Shape the hobo curve** – increase gradually to 120 sts over the next 6 rounds:

**Rnd 9:** *1 htr in each of next 8 sts, 2 htr in next st; rep from * around. **(80 sts)**

**Rnd 10:** 1 htr in each st around. **(80 sts)**

**Rnd 11:** *1 htr in each of next 9 sts, 2 htr in next st; rep from * around. **(88 sts)**

**Rnd 12:** *1 htr in each of next 10 sts, 2 htr in next st; rep from * around. **(96 sts)**

**Rnd 13:** *1 htr in each of next 11 sts, 2 htr in next st; rep from * around. **(104 sts)**

**Rnd 14:** *1 htr in each of next 12 sts, 2 htr in next st; rep from * around. **(112 sts)**

**Rnd 15:** *1 htr in each of next 13 sts, 2 htr in next st; rep from * around. **(120 sts)**

*Math check: 72 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 120 ✓*

**Rnds 16–17:** 1 htr in each st around. **(120 sts)**

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### Part 3 – Textured Body

**Texture Pattern (worked over a multiple of 4 sts):**

**Texture Rnd A:** *1 htr in next 3 sts, 1 FPtr around the st 2 rnds below next st; rep from * around. **(120 sts)**

**Texture Rnd B:** 1 htr in each st around. **(120 sts)**

**Texture Rnd C:** *1 FPtr around the st 2 rnds below next st, 1 htr in next 3 sts; rep from * around. **(120 sts)**

**Texture Rnd D:** 1 htr in each st around. **(120 sts)**

This 4-round sequence (A, B, C, D) creates an alternating pebble texture.

**Work the 4-round texture repeat a total of 5 times** (20 rounds total, Rnds 18–37).

*The body now measures approx. 18 cm from the base fold.*

**Rnds 38–40:** 1 htr in each st around. **(120 sts)** – plain band before the eyelet round.

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### Part 4 – Shaping the Hobo Curve (Decreases)

**Rnd 41:** *1 htr in next 13 sts, 2htr-tog; rep from * around. **(112 sts)**

**Rnd 42:** *1 htr in next 12 sts, 2htr-tog; rep from * around. **(104 sts)**

**Rnd 43:** *1 htr in next 11 sts, 2htr-tog; rep from * around. **(96 sts)**

**Rnd 44:** 1 htr in each st around. **(96 sts)**

*Math check: 120 → 96 over 3 decrease rnds (8 dec each) ✓. Top opening circumference ≈ 48 cm.*

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### Part 5 – Eyelet Round (for I-Cord)

**Rnd 45:** Join with sl st to next st; ch 2 (counts as first htr). *Ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 htr in next 2 sts; rep from * around, ending with ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 htr in next st; sl st to top of beg ch-2. **(64 htr + 32 ch-1 sps)**

*Math check: 96 sts ÷ 3 = 32 repeats; 32 × (1 ch + 2 htr = 3 sts used after initial) ✓. 32 eyelets evenly spaced.*

**Rnd 46:** Ch 2, 1 htr in each htr and each ch-1 sp around; sl st to top of beg ch-2. **(96 sts)**

**Rnd 47:** Ch 1, 1 dc in each st around; sl st to first dc. **(96 sts)**

Fasten off and weave in ends. This completes the bag body.

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### Part 6 – Scrunchie-Style Handle

Worked flat as a long rectangle, then seamed into a tube and gathered.

**Foundation:** Ch 17.

**Row 1 (RS):** 1 htr in 3rd ch from hook (skipped ch count as first htr), 1 htr in each ch to end, turn. **(16 htr)**

**Rows 2–130:** Ch 2 (counts as first htr), 1 htr in each st across, turn. **(16 htr)**

*Handle strip measures approx. 80 cm long × 8 cm wide. Adjust length here if you prefer a longer or shorter drop – work in multiples of 2 rows.*

Fasten off, leaving a long tail (approx. 80 cm) for seaming.

**Assemble the handle:**

1. Fold the strip lengthways, right sides together, and seam the long edge using mattress stitch or whip stitch to form a tube. Turn right side out.
2. **Optional padding:** Thread a length of soft cord or lightly roll toy stuffing through the tube for a plumper scrunchie effect.
3. Bring the two short ends together to form a loop; seam closed, enclosing any padding.

**Attach the handle:**

1. Lay the bag flat. Mark the centre front and centre back of the top opening.
2. Position the handle loop so that its seam sits at one side of the bag.
3. **Gather/ruche the handle** over the top edge of the bag: pin the tube around the top opening, distributing gathers evenly so the 96-st top edge is covered by the scrunched tube.
4. With yarn and tapestry needle, stitch the **inside** of the tube to the inside top edge of the bag (just below the eyelet round, on the WS of the dc edging), using small whip stitches. The outer side of the tube remains free to scrunch.

*Tip: The handle should sit like a gathered ruffle around the top of the bag, with the gathered drop forming two carrying loops — one on each side.*

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### Part 7 – I-Cord Drawstring

**Foundation:** Ch 4.

Using a 4 mm hook (or work as knitted i-cord on DPNs if preferred in crochet-equivalent):

**Crochet i-cord method:**

**Row 1:** Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook, yarn over, pull through (2 loops on hook); insert hook in next ch, yarn over, pull through (3 loops); insert hook in next ch, yarn over, pull through (4 loops); yarn over, pull through all 4 loops. **(1 st group)**

**Subsequent rows:** *Without turning*, insert hook into each of the 3 vertical bars along the left side (from top to bottom), pulling up a loop in each (4 loops on hook); yarn over, pull through all 4 loops.

Repeat until i-cord measures **90 cm (35½ in)**.

Fasten off, weaving tail back through the cord end.

**Finish the i-cord:**
- Tie a small knot at each end, or attach a tassel or bead for decoration.

**Thread the i-cord:**
- Starting at the centre front, weave the i-cord in and out through the 32 eyelets around the top of the bag.
- Bring both ends out at the centre front. Pulling the ends draws the top closed.

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## Finishing

1. Weave in all remaining ends on the wrong side.
2. **Block** the bag: dampen with a spray bottle, shape over a towel-stuffed form (or a cushion) and allow to dry fully. This evens out the texture stitch and sets the hobo curve.
3. Trim any stray fibres.

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## Care Instructions

Hand wash in cool water with gentle detergent. Reshape while damp and dry flat. Do not tumble dry. Remove i-cord before washing if desired.

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**Congratulations — your Gabbi-style textured hobo bag is ready to wear!** The scrunchie handle will soften with use, and the i-cord keeps your essentials secure.

*Design © [Your name]. For personal use. Please credit the designer if sharing finished items on social media.*