"What a lovely idea," I thought.

So today I am joining along with Ginny's Yarn Along over at Small Things. This is the crochet pattern promised in the last post, a little handbag. It is written in American terms, but a terminology translation can be found here.

Ruffled Drawstring Bag

(4 ply yarn, about 3 oz; size F/5 3.75 mm hook)

With main colour, ch 6, sl st to form ring.

Rnd 1:  ch 1. 12 sc in ring. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 2: ch 2. 2 dc in each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 3: ch 1 *sc in first dc, 2 sc in next dc. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 4: ch 2. *dc in first two sc, 2 dc in next sc. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 5: ch 1. *sc in first three dc, 2 sc in next dc. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 6: ch 2. *dc in first four sc, 2 dc in next sc. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 7: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 8: ch 2. dc in back loop only of each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 9: ch 2. dc in each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 10: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 11: ch 2. dc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnds 12 & 13: ch 1. sc in each st around.sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 14: ch 3 tr in each st around. sl st in ch-3.

Rnds 15 & 16: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 17: ch 2. dc in each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 18: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnds 19 & 20: ch 2. dc in each st around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 21: ch 1. sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 22: ch 1. *sc, ch 1, skip next st, repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 23: ch 3. *dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 24: ch 1. *sc in ch-1 space, ch 1, repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 25: same as for rnd 23.

Rnd 26: same as for rnd 24.

Rnd 27: same as for rnd 23.

Rnd 28: same as for rnd 24.

Rnd 29: ch 1. sc in front loop only of each st around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 30: ch 2. * dc, ch 1 and skip next st, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, ch 1 and skip next st. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-1.

Rnd 31: ch 3. (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 space. *ch 1, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-1 space, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-1 space. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2.

Rnd 32: ch 3. dc, ch 1, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1. *(dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 space, ch 1, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch-1 space, ch 1, (dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1) 3 times. repeat from * around. sl st in ch-2. End off.

Rnd 33: Join with accent colour. ch 1, sc in each st around. sl st in ch-1. End off.

Handle: With accent colour, ch 200. Thread through rnd 27. sl st in first ch. End off, pulling both strings through loop.

As for the reading bit, I've been spending a lot of time with Bleak House by Charles Dickens on the kindle (my token bit of technology). I have enjoyed reading it so far, though I couldn't stop myself from watching the BBC miniseries. And somehow it didn't spoil it, which must be a sign of a good book.