Halloween Handbag: Webster Witch’s Makeover

Have you ever been all dressed up for Halloween, looking amazing, and then grabbed your purse before heading out the door only to realize your purse is putting a serious cramp in your Halloween style? Often, we forget to considerhow we are going to bring our essentials with us when we go out to celebrate this spooky season. Here is the solution: make a Halloween handbag!

Webster Witch’s Makeover

Interweave Knits magazine editor, Kerry Bogert, mentioned to me recently that she had thought of making my Webster Witch amigurumi into a purse, which was a fantastic idea, so I leapt at the chance to make this into a reality. This would be the perfect thing to complement my witch costume for this year’s festivities, and I could conceal all my essentials inside her cute little body!

I figured out a way to do it that would be easy for others to replicate. I used the same directions as the original Webster Witch pattern with the addition of two basic rectangles and a zipper.

Here is how I did it:

Making the Halloween Handbag

I worked the Head/Body as normal up until I had completed the first round of CC1 in the third stripe of the body. At this point, I wanted to add a slit-shaped opening in the top of the body, so I worked about 42 stitches (now my hook was at the point where I wanted the opening to begin). I chained 20, and skipped the same number of stitches (20) before completing the rest of the round in SC. This left a long slit open, to be used later for an internal pocket.

On the next round, I worked into each one of those chain stitches. I was able to complete the rest of the Head/Body as the pattern directed, except that I did not stuff it (yet).

Crocheting the Internal Pocket

To create the internal pocket I worked up a rectangle in single crochet in purple yarn that was 20 stitches wide (the same number of stitches as the width of the slit I had made in the body). I worked in turned rows until, when this rectangle was folded, it was about as tall as the body would be (this ended up being 38 rows).

By the way, the pocket can be any color—it will not be visible from the outside of the spider.

Crocheting the Handle

Next, I made a black rectangle that was 36 stitches wide by 12 rows. I rolled this up tightly like a jellyroll to create a log-shaped handle for the purse. I used a yarn needle and yarn tails to whip stitch the long edge along the handle to keep it rolled up. This makes for a nice solid handle.

Installing the Zipper

I had to shorten a zipper to fit into the opening in my bag because I didn’t have a 5” zipper on hand. Next, I pinned then stitched the zipper into the opening. Make sure there is enough space between the teeth and the edge of the fabric so that the pull doesn’t get stuck on the crocheted fabric.

Assembling the Interior Pocket

After installing the zipper, I folded the pocket in half and stitched along each side of the pocket with yarn tails, pulling rather tightly. I wanted the pocket side seams to be secure, and I also wanted those bottom corners to come up just a bit, since they were going to be so close to the bottom (inside) of the bag. I pinned one side of the pocket into the opening. Using a sewing needle and thread, I stitched the top edge of one side of the pocket in place along the inside of the zipper.

Stuffing the Head and Body

I flipped the pocket to the outside of the bag, and then stuffed the spider firmly from the head, to the pocket. Next, I flipped the pocket back into the slit and stuffed the rear of the spider. I pinned the other edge of the pocket in place and stitched it (with needle and thread) to the inside edge of the zipper.

Adding the Handle

I used CC1 yarn and yarn needle to sew the edges of the handle to the bag on stripes 2 and 4. I used a whip-stitch and stitched all the way around each end of the handle twice to make a very secure seam.

Then, to make sure that the handle could not stretch out the fabric of the purse where it is attached, I made a couple of very long stitches all the way through the body of the spider and out through the underside a couple times.

In order to do this, I used my longest yarn needle. I squished the body with my hands to get the needle to come through to the underside, making sure to “unsquash” the body so that the stitch doesn’t create dimples or change the shape of the body. I also made sure that the areas that the needle came through on the underside, would be covered up by the legs when they were attached. Then I made a stitch from the handle through the body and out on the underside under the right leg, then back up through the attachment point of the handle then down again through the body, this time where the left leg would be attached.

If I had x-ray vision, I could see these long strands creating an upside-down “v” shape through the body. I did this for each end of the handle. This step isn’t absolutely necessary, but it will help keep the shape of the spider even if you fill it with heavier items.

Finish and Style the Handbag

After attaching the handle, I completed Webster as per the original directions. Isn’t she a cutie? I cannot wait to bring her along with me when I go out to celebrate!

And just so you know, I could fit my keys, a small wallet, and lip balm inside the pocket, but that was about it. Stuffing takes up most of the body, so there isn’t room for your potion bottles—you’ll have to bring those separately!

Brenda K. B. Anderson crochets, knits, and sews into the wee hours after her kids have gone to bed. She loves designing stuffies that make her laugh, and accessories that beg to be worn over and over again by her friends and family.

Brenda is the author of Beastly Crochet and Crochet Ever After and also teaches a Craftsy Class: Crochet Mittens and Fingerless gloves. She has contributed to several books and numerous magazines including Interweave Crochet, Crochetscene, and Knitscene. She lives in a little House in Saint Paul, MN where it is sweater weather nine months out of the year. Brenda blogs about her crafty adventures at Craftsplosion.com.