Zoom Loom Eclectische Kunsttas

Ontworpen en geweven door Margaret Stump

Zoom Loom Eclectic Art Bag

Designed and woven by Margaret Stump

This design is intended for those extra Zoom Loom squares that somehow didn’t get turned into a project. It is also the time to use all those wonderful bits of wispy yarn and crazy novelty tape that never quite fit anywhere else. The bag plan is based on a traditional Japanese rice bag called a komebukuro. These bags were traditionally made from scrap fabric and used for carrying temple offerings of rice and other items.

Each side and the bottom of the bag is made from four 4" x 4" squares. You will use four additional squares to create loops at the top edge. The bag closes and is carried by a cord running through the loops.

I think of this Eclectic Art Bag as a canvas that we can each create and embellish in our own style. Each bag is guaranteed to be a unique personal expression. I have included information on making a lining so that the bag can be both finished and functional. I do hope you enjoy creating your art bag as much as I have enjoyed making this one.

Project Specs

Finished size: 7" wide x 8" high x 7" deep

Weave structure: plain weave

What You'll Need

Equipment & Tools

Schacht Zoom Loom
4.0 mm crochet hook
5.5 mm crochet hook
tapestry needle
small (1.75 to 2.0 mm) crochet hook used to pull yarn ends into the fabric
packing comb or fork
1/4" paper punch
Optional: The Incredible Rope Machine

Materials

Consider constructing your bag from leftover squares. You can use all sorts of imperfect squares for the bag. Holes and tears give you the opportunity to add high contrast darning and reweaving.
Yarn amounts will vary, depending on how many new squares you make, how much you want to embellish, and so on.
Each woven Zoom Loom square requires 8 yds of yarn. The bag uses at least 24 squares: 16 for the sides, 4 for the cord loops, and 4 for the bottom.
I mixed and matched 16 leftover squares for the sides, plus 4 more squares as embellishments.
For the bottom, choose or make 4 squares that match in size—I made squares in Patons Classic Wool Worsted in Green.
For the cord loops, choose or make 4 squares that match in size—I made squares in Patons Classic Wool Worsted in Brown.
You'll need about 40 yds of yarn in two colors for the top edging, bottom edging, and cord; I used Patons Classic Wool Worsted in Black for the bottom edging, Brown for the top edging, and then combined these two colors for the cord.

Notions

Jim Holtz metal key, other metal findings, pins, embroidered badges, or jewelry
7" x 7" plastic to stiffen bag bottom. I used pieces cut from a plastic three ring notebook purchased at a thrift store
25" x 25" cloth for lining

Directions

Make the Bag Body

Line up sixteen squares in a 2 x 8 pattern for the bag. Keep in mind that each 2 x 2 group will be one side of the art bag. You want each side to look good on its own, as well as to visually flow into the next side.
Join the squares using a double overcast stitch, using a color that matches one of the two attached squares (for a subtle stitch) or a contrasting color (for a stitch that stands out). The double overcast stitch is a doubled-up version of the whipstitch: Start by placing the two edges you want joined, right sides together. The loops will probably be staggered, which is good. Starting at one end on the bottom layer, pull your threaded tapestry needle up through the first pair of loops. Then take a second stitch through the same two loops to securely knot the cloth. Continue to the next pair of loops and bring the needle back through that pair of loops two times; repeat until you reach the end. After joining, open the squares and pull them gently to help flatten them along the join. You should notice that the right side is flat with an almost indiscernible join, the back side will have a noticeable ridge.
Keep the bag body laid out flat until you have completed all the designs and embellishments.

Add Embellishments

This is the place to go nuts with novelty yarn. Experiment weaving squares using light novelty tape or combining layers of novelty tape with light yarn for the weaving.
Add a woven square, or two, to serve as outside pockets.
Make raggedy flowers by first making a basic Zoom Loom flower (using a small crochet hook, pull on a middle horizontal and vertical thread to pucker the four sides of the woven square, making four petals). Stitch the flower on to the bag using a second color in the middle to create a more flower-like look. Then round out the ends of the petals, cutting the corners off the flower and fraying the edges.

Add Stitching, Darning, Reweaving, and Ephemera

Using contrasting yarn, fill in some spaces with lines of running stitches or other stitch patterns. Add findings such as small metal pieces, printed cloth, embroidered badges or any of the many items available for scrapbooking.

Assemble the Bag

I wanted the cord loops and top edge of the bag to match to help draw the piece together, so I worked these steps with Brown. You could choose to use a different color for the loops, or you could mix and match leftover squares.
Use the 4.0 mm crochet hook to crochet a single crochet edge along the top of the bag.
Weave 4 Zoom Loom squares for the cord loops, or select 4 leftover squares.
Fold a cord loop square in half. Center it on one of the 2 x 2 bag sides, with about 2/3 of the square showing above the crochet edge. Stitch this square to the back of the bag side. I used two rows of back stitch to make certain that it was secure since it will be carrying the weight of the bag. Repeat on the other three sides of the bag.
Fold the 2 x 8 strip of squares in half and join along the short edge to create a round bag. Use the a double overcast stitch.
Crochet a single crochet edge along the bottom of the bag (I used Black).
Weave 4 Zoom Loom squares for bag bottom, or select 4 leftover squares. (This is where I use my most boring squares.) Join the squares in a 2 x 2 pattern. Using the 4.0 mm crochet hook, crochet a single crochet edge—I used Black to match the bottom edging.
Cut a 7" x 7" piece of plastic. Punch a hole about every 2" around the edge of the plastic. Place the plastic piece on top of the wrong side of the bottom squares. Using a tapestry needle and black yarn, lightly stitch the plastic to bottom piece.
Whipstitch the bottom piece to the bottom of the bag with the plastic piece on the inside.

Making the cord

The cord needs to be 60" long and strong enough to carry a bag filled with stuff, so use at least 3 strands of yarn. You can crochet a chain with a 5.5 mm crochet hook (I used 2 strands of Black and 1 strand of Brown). You could also use The Incredible Rope Machine or knit an I-cord.
Run the cord through each of the four cord loops and tie in an overhand knot.

Making the lining

Lay out a piece of 25" x 25" cloth. Cut an 8" square out of each corner to make a cross-shaped lining. The center of the cross will sit on the bag bottom; its arms will line the bag sides. You may find it helpful to mark the 7" x 7" bottom square, so you know where to stop stitching.
With right sides together, stitch the bag sides together using a 1" seam allowance. Clip or trim the corners so the seams will lie flat. Press the seams open.
Turn under 2" and press along the top edge of the lining.
Insert the lining into the bag, wrong sides together. Hand stitch the top edge of the lining to the bag, just below the crocheted edge.
You have now completed your first Eclectic Art Bag. Enjoy! And make some more!