Flea Market Bag

Crocheted Tote

Technique used: Crochet

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bag measures approximately 22 1/2"/57cm circumference x 14"/35.5cm tall

MATERIALS

Vickie Howell for Caron Sheep(ish) (70% Acrylic/30% Wool; 3oz/85g, 167yds/153m)
#0020 Chartreuse(ish): 2 skeins

One size US H-8 (5mm) crochet hook, or size to obtain gauge.

T-pins
Blocking board
Yarn needle

GAUGE
Rounds 1–5 measure about 5"/12.5cm wide;

In cluster pattern (sides of bag), 2 pattern repeats and 8 rows = 3 3/4"/9.5cm. Note: One pattern repeat consists of all the stitches from the first stitch of one V-Cl to last chain before next V-Cl.

Gauge is not critical for this project.

STITCHES USED
Chain (ch), double crochet (dc), single crochet (sc), slip stitch (sl st)

SPECIAL STITCHES
V-Cl: V-stitch cluster—(Cl, ch 2, cl) in indicated ch-2 space.

Cl: cluster—Yarn over, insert hook in indicated stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook (2 loops remain on hook), yarn over, insert hook in same stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook

SPECIAL TECHNIQUE

Adjustable-ringmethod—Wrap yarn into a ring, ensuring that the tail falls behind the working yarn. Grip ring and tail firmly between middle finger and thumb. Insert hook through center of ring, yarn over (with working yarn) and draw up a loop. Work stitches of first round in the ring. After the first round of stitches is worked, pull gently, but firmly, on tail to tighten ring.

NOTES

1. Bag is worked from the bottom up.

2. When instructed to work into a V-Cl, insert the hook in the ch-2 sp, between the two clusters, of the V-Cl.

BAG

Make an adjustable ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 11 dc in ring; join with sl st in top of beginning ch—12 dc.

Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, 2 dc in each dc around; join with sl st in top of beginning ch—24 dc.

Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st, [dc in next st, 2 dc in next st] 11 times; join with sl st in beginning ch—36 dc.

Round 4: Ch 3, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, [dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st] 11 times; join with sl st in beginning ch—48 dc.

Round 5: Ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, [dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st] 11 times; join with sl st in beginning ch—60 dc.

Round 6: Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, [dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st] 11 times—72 dc.

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, V-Cl in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, *sc in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc, V-Cl in next dc, ch 2, sk next 2 dc; repeat from * around; join with sl st in first sc—12 V-Cl, and 24 ch-2 sps.

Round 8: Ch 2, (dc, ch 2, Cl) in same st as join (counts as first V-Cl), ch 2, sc in next V-Cl, ch 2, *V-Cl in next sc, ch 2, sc in next V-Cl, ch 2; repeat from * around; join with sl st in first dc.

Round 9: Sl st in ch-2 sp of first V-Cl, ch 1, sc in same V-Cl, ch 2, V-Cl in next sc, ch 2, *sc in next V-Cl, ch 2, V-Cl in next sc, ch 2; repeat from * around; join with sl st in first sc.

Rounds 10–29: Repeat Rows 8 and 9 ten times.

Round 30: Sl st in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, 3 sc in same ch-2 sp, *2 sc in next ch-2 sp, 3 sc in each of next 2 ch-2 sps; repeat from * around to last 2 ch-2 sps, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, 3 sc in last ch-2 sp; join with sl st in first sc of round—96 sc.

Rounds 31 and 32: Ch 1, sc in each sc around; join with sl st in first sc.

Begin Handles

Round 33: Ch 1, sc in first 6 sc, ch 40 (for first handle), sk next 36 sc, being careful not to twist ch, sc in next 12 sc, ch 40 (for second handle), sk next 36 sc, sc in last 6 sts; join with sl st in first sc of round—24 sc, 2 ch-40 sps.

Round 34: Ch 1, sc in first 6 sc, working in back bars only, sc in next 40 ch, sc in next 12 sc, sc in back bars only of next 40 ch, sc in remaining 6 sc; join with sl st in first sc of round—104 sc.

Round 35: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sc, sk next sc, sc in next 40 sc, sk next sc, sc in next 10 sc, sk next sc, sc in next 40 sc, sk next sc, sc in remaining 5 sc; join with sl st in first sc of round—100 sc.

Round 36: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sc, sk next sc, sc in next 40 sc, sk next sc, sc in next 8 sc, sk next sc, sc in next 40 sc, sk next sc, sc in remaining 4 sc; join with sl st in first sc of round—96 sc.

Round 37: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sc, sk next sc, sc in next 40 sc, sk next sc, sc in next 6 sc, sk next sc, sc in next 40 sc, sk next sc, sc in remaining 3 sc; join with sl st in first sc of round—92 sc.

Round 38: Sl st in each st around. Fasten off.

FINISHING

Handle Edging

With RS facing, join yarn with sl st in inside edge of one handle opening, sl st in each st around inside of handle opening. Fasten off. Repeat around second handle opening.

Using yarn needle, weave in all ends. Soak bag in cool water and gently block to finished measurements.