A Hand Crocheted Leperchaun and Pot of Gold

This is a unique and cute idea that I created and it was a lot of fun to make too.

I made up my own pattern for the Leprechaun too!!!

Materials needed: 1 three liter pop bottle bottom only. a hand held hole puncher, a small crochet hook, any regular size crochet hook, green, black, beige, or tan colored yarn and white too. Darning needle, bright orange thin yarn, fiber fill and lots of gold and silver wrapped chocolate coins and a pair of scissors.

To make the purse/pot of gold.

Cut a 3 liter pop just under the half way point. You will have to trim it around to make sure it is even. I usually draw an even line going around and just follow it. It will still require some trim work when done with the initial cut of the bottle.

next, mark little dots evenly spaced out around the top edge of the bottom of bottle.

Now you are ready to cast on your yarn. Using the green yarn, and the small crochet hook, cast the yarn onto the bottle bottom through a hole you have punched in the pop bottle.

Once you have cast on the first row with the smaller crochet hook, now you can build up to the next row. chain 2 and then do a double crochet and keep on double crocheting around until you get the desired size of your bag. (It should be enough that you can take and fold it down over the pop bottle bottom when done.

In doing the last row on the top, Do a chain up and then do two double crochets in the same hole. Then do 3 double crochets all the way around and then tie off. Chain two equal size strands of yarn about 70 chains per each strand. These will be your draw strings for the purse.

Weave the strings in and out of the top part of the bag. Then tie them off. Each string will pull separate from opposite sides which creates the close and open of the purse.

When you open the bag wide, you can then fold the crocheted part of the bag down over the pop bottle. Viola!!! You now have a pot for your gold coins. (place a heaping amount of foil wrapped gold and silver coins in the bottom of the pot.

To make the Leprechaun:

I made two equal squares for the legs and two equal smaller squares for the arms. (Using green yarn of course.)

For the face: I used a beige yarn and crocheted in the round two equal circles.

For the body, I crocheted one big square.

I sewed and stuffed all of these parts except I did not fill the legs.

I added black crocheted boots and beige colored hands onto the legs and the arms.

I detailed in the eyes, mouth and beard along with a black belt around the waist. with a white belt buckle.

I also added a beige nose and ears.

I finally crocheted a small black hat with a green band and clover on the hat.

The Leprechaun fits right inside the crocheted bag and it is your choice if you want the head in or out.

Once the bag is opened up and folded down over the bottom of the pop bottle it is your choice how you want to display it now. You can leave the Leprechaun sitting on the top of the pot, or you can have him sit on the outside of the pot.

Makes a great gift for kids, Teachers and anyone who loves to celebrate their Irish Heritage.