© Lesley Arnold-Hopkins 2008

Tote Bag using regular and tapestry crochet.

Materials: • Double knitting weight yarn (this is a good “stash buster” project)

o 100g colour A o 75g colour B o Oddment – colour C for edging.

• 4mm crochet hook.

• 1 large button

Size: approx 16” x 13½ “ (40cm x 34cm)

Tension: not vital. Please note: instructions are given in UK English terms (eg – Double Crochet (dc) = Single Crochet in US terms).

Pattern: Using Colour A, make 64 chain. Row 1 Work 2 dc in the third chain from the hook, and then 1 dc in each chain. In the last chain of the row, work 4 dc. Turn the work, and work 1dc in each of the bottom loops of the original chain. In the last loop work 2 dc, and then join to 1st stitch, creating a sealed round of 128 sts.

Base row of bag:

© Lesley Arnold-Hopkins 2008

Rounds 2 - 5 – Work in dc increasing 3 sts at each “end” of the bag - 154 sts Rounds 6 - Work in dc increasing 2 sts at each “end” of the bag – 156 sts Work straight in DC for 5 more rows. Using tapestry crochet techniques of yarn carrying - follow chart – (13 st repeat.)

Work 1 round dc in colour A Work 1 round treble stitch in colour A Work 1 round dc in colour B Work 1 round treble stitch in colour A Work 1 round dc in colour B Work 1 round treble stitch in colour A Work 1 round dc in colour A Using tapestry crochet techniques of yarn carrying - follow chart (13 st repeat)

© Lesley Arnold-Hopkins 2008

Work 1 round treble stitch in colour A Work 1 round dc in colour B Work 1 round treble stitch in colour A Work 1 round dc in colour B Work 1 round treble stitch in colour A Work 1 round dc in colour A Using tapestry crochet techniques of yarn carrying - follow chart (13 st repeat)

Work 1 round dc in colour B. Button loop. In the middle of one side (between 2 of the triangles) work a 5” (14cm) chain in yarn B, join it back to the body of the bag. Turn, and work 37dc over this chain.

Strap. At one side of the bag, join the yarn and work 8 dc. Turn and work 48 rows in colour B and 48 rows in colour A. Join to the other side of the bag. To finish off:

• Sew button onto bag

• Join yarn C and work 1 row of dc around the sides of the strap (1 dc per row) and across the top of the bag. At the button loop, work 1 slip stitch into each dc in the loop.