Crocheting with Raffia

[stormy]

Hi!

Just wondering if anyone has crocheted a purse with Raffia. Is it easy to work with and what size hook would be best?

 

My niece wants me to make her a purse that is kind of... lacey? but she doesn't want it to be stretchy. So I thought this might work well, though I haven't a pattern yet.

[crochetdiva]

Well, it definitely won't stretch. But I found it hard on the hands to crochet with. I haven't made anything big like a purse tho.

[Jamie]

Have you tried that curling ribbon crochet? It won't stretch out and it comes in a huge variety of colors. Don't know if it's hard on the hands or not.

[Suebee42]

I have some raffia that I was planning on making into a basket... haven't tried it yet! I already had a pretty good idea that it would be hard on the hands... so it'll be a small basket. LOL!

[Jimmie Lu]

It is hard on your fingers and the main thing for me was that you have to knot it (dont know if it comes in a continuous spool) Also I did not like the basket type look it gave!

try something small first like a change purse that will tell if it is something you want to commit to working a whole project with.

[stormy]

Thanks for the replys all, they have certainly been helpful!

Think I'll try to find something else not so stretchy to crochet the purse with, I'll probably wind up using cotton.

[double2]

Hi

I wonder if you soaked the raffia in warm water and tried crocheting with it when it is still damp. Just an idea.

double2

[sparkles]

Tryng to think where I saw it, but I saw a cute little purse crocheted with curling ribbon recently and beaded. Wish I could think where...