Obelia Origami Bag

Obelia Origami Bag by Mel Harrison

What is Being Made

The Obelia Origami Bag is a textured, seashell-inspired origami bag designed by Mel Harrison. This intermediate-level crochet project consists of three square motifs that are assembled together to create a finished bag measuring 45 x 60cm including the handle. The design draws inspiration from natural seashell forms, translating organic textures into a functional accessory through the origami bag construction method.

Craft and Construction Method

This is a crochet project that uses the origami bag technique. The bag is constructed by creating individual square motifs that are then joined together. Each square motif requires 125 meters of yarn and measures 25cm wide, allowing for modular construction and customization. The origami bag style creates dimensional folds and structure through the arrangement and assembly of these geometric components.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Obelia Origami Bag employs a variety of crochet stitches and techniques to achieve its textured, seashell-inspired appearance:

• Slip stitch (Sl st) — used for joining and finishing
• Single crochet (Sc) — foundational stitch for structure
• Double crochet (Dc) — used for height and texture variation
• Back loop only stitches (Bl) — creates ridged texture by working into the back loop exclusively
• Front post stitches (Fp) — such as front post double crochet (fpdc), which adds dimensional texture
• Back post stitches (Bp) — such as back post single crochet (bpsc), creating additional textural depth
• Puff stitches — specialized stitch technique that creates puffy, dimensional elements reminiscent of seashell textures
• Chain spaces (Ch-sp) — used for creating openwork and structural elements
• Stitch markers — essential for tracking pattern repeats and maintaining accuracy throughout each square motif

Materials and Specifications

The Obelia Origami Bag was designed using DK weight (8 ply) cotton yarn, which provides structure and definition for the textured stitches. The total yarn requirement for the complete bag is 500 meters. The pattern calls for a 4mm crochet hook, which is the recommended size for achieving proper gauge with DK weight yarn. The gauge for this pattern is measured over rounds 1-6, equaling 10cm. Additional materials needed include stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a wool or darning needle for weaving in ends and assembling the square motifs together.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. Crocheters should be comfortable with foundational stitches and have experience working with post stitches and specialty techniques like puff stitches. The modular construction and the combination of textured stitch techniques require solid foundational skills and the ability to follow detailed stitch abbreviations and pattern instructions.