Pattern Description:
This is a free, beginner-friendly corner-to-corner (C2C) crochet pattern for a Nine Men’s Morris game bag.
The finished piece functions as both the playing board and a special bag to store all the game pieces.
Using the C2C technique, it creates a textured, visually appealing, quiet, and easily portable project that serves as a great introduction to C2C crochet.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
Materials:
- Yarn (Mary Maxim Mellowspun DK Yarn):
- 1x sand
- 1x taupe (note: can use leftover sand)
- 1x white
- Yarn (Mary Maxim Glimmer): black
- Hook: 4.5mm hook
- Tools:
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Optional: Tulip Knitting Machine for I-cord
Measurements and Specifications:
- Size: 16 x 16 inches.
- Gauge: 3 dc pixels with 3 dc’s each = 2 square inch.
- Main Piece Construction: The pattern instructs crocheting a 43 x 43 pixel DC C2C piece according to the Pixel Graph.
- Game Pieces: You will need to crochet 18 game pieces (9 in each color—black and white).
- Drawstring: One drawstring, about 88 inches long, is needed, which can be made using a small hand-held knitting machine.
Abbreviations Used:
- Dc – Double Crochet
- C2C – Corner to Corner (worked using double crochet blocks)
Instructions for Making the C2C Nine Men’s Morris Game Bag Pattern:
Board Construction (Crocheting the C2C Piece)
To create the main game board piece:
- Crochet a 43 x 43 pixel DC C2C piece.
- Follow the instructions according to the provided Pixel Graph.
Adding Game Board Lines
After completing the main C2C piece, the lines that form the game board must be added:
- The lines must correspond to the black lines indicated on the game graphs.
- Lines can be created by either sewing a chain or by crocheting surface crochet lines. Both methods yield the same visual appearance.
- The easiest way to approach this step is to first sew or crochet the three main squares, and then add the crossing lines on top last.
Crocheting the Game Pieces (18 Total)
You must crochet 18 total game pieces: 9 pieces in black and 9 pieces in white.
For each piece, follow this instruction for Row 1 (R1): R1: Start with a ring (e.g., Magic Ring), add 12 dc into the ring, close the ring, and weave in the ends.
Making the Drawstring
A drawstring is essential to convert the board into a storage bag:
- Make one drawstring that is approximately 88 inches long.
- Start in the center of one edge and weave the drawstring through every second pixel.
- Weave the drawstring through 1 pixel at the corners.
- Finally, knot the ends together.
Optional Finishing Step
It is optional to add a backing to the game board.
