Tapestry Tote
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
20 inches wide across top x 15 inches long, excluding Handle
MATERIALS
• DROPS Paris medium (worsted) weight cotton yarn (13/4 oz/82 yds/ 50g per ball): 8 balls #09 strong blue 2 balls #100 light wash • Size 7/4.5mm crochet hook or
size needed to obtain gauge • Tapestry needle • 2 corrugated plastic strips:
17 inches x 11/2 inches
GAUGE
14 dc = 4 inches; 8 rows = 4 inches
PATTERN NOTES
Weave in loose ends as work progresses. Bag is worked beginning with Front and Back Panels. For each Panel a Square is worked in Tapestry double crochet. Bottom edge stitches of each Square are picked up to work Bag Bottom. Yarn is then joined to work Bag Lateral Sides and corners are seamed. Bag Top Edge is crocheted in the round, then folded and sewn. Handles are worked separately and then inserted in Edging. Bag is worked in tapestry crochet that adds colorwork to projects. 1 strand of yarn is carried and wrapped in stitches of working color. Then, colors are switched by following a pattern to make a specific design. There are no floats on the wrong side of work and a stronger fabric is produced. When changing color in Pattern Stitch, carry and work over color not in use. Do not cut or fasten off unless otherwise stated. The Colorwork Chart is read from right to left. It shows the color to work each stitch in for that row. You will repeat each row of Chart 4 times per round. Chain-3 at beginning of rows or rounds counts as first double crochet unless otherwise stated. Chain-1 at beginning of rows or rounds counts as first single crochet unless otherwise stated. Join with slip stitch unless otherwise stated.
SPECIAL STITCH Cross double crochet (xdc):
Sk next st, dc in next st, working in front of dc previously made, dc in sk st.
TOTE FRONT PANEL
Square With light wash, ch 4 and join (see Pattern Notes) in first ch to form a ring. Work following rnds in Tapestry dc (see Pattern Notes), changing colors (see Stitch Guide and Pattern Notes) as shown in Colorwork Chart (see Pattern Notes). Rnd 1: Following Chart for color changes, ch 3 (see Pattern Notes), 1 dc in ring, [ch 2, 3 dc in ring] 3 times, ch 2, 1 dc in ring, join in 3rd ch at beg of rnd. (12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps) Rnds 2–13: Following Chart for color changes, ch 3, 1 dc in each dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each ch-2 sp, join in 3rd ch at beg of rnd. At end of last rnd, fasten off both colors. (204 dc, 4 ch-2 sps)
BOTTOM
With RS facing, join strong blue in ch-2 sp at right bottom corner of Square. Row 1: Ch 1 (see Pattern Notes), sc in each dc of edge across to next ch-2 sp, sc in last ch-2 sp, turn. (53 sc) Rows 2–6: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn. Fasten off.
BACK PANEL
With light wash, ch 4 and join in first ch to form a ring. Work rnds 1–13 of Square in Tapestry dc as for Front Panel, changing colors as shown in Colorwork Chart for Back Panel. Work Bottom as for Front Panel. Sew tog the 2 Panels along Bottom edges.
SIDES First Lateral Side
With RS facing, join strong blue in side of row 1 of Front Panel Bottom.
Row 1: Ch 3, work 12 dc evenly sp in row ends across Bottoms, turn. (13 dc)
Rows 2–4: Ch 3, dc in each dc across, turn.
Row 5: Ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, dc in each dc across until 2 dc rem, 2 dc in next dc, dc in last dc, turn. (15 dc) Rows 6–8: Rep rows 2–4. Row 9: Rep row 5. (17 dc) Rows 10–12: Rep rows 2–4. Row 13: Rep row 5. (19 dc) Rows 14–16: Rep rows 2–4. Row 17: Rep row 5. (21 dc) Rows 18–20: Rep rows 2–4. Row 21: Rep row 5. (23 dc)
Rows 22–24: Rep rows 2–4. Fasten off.
2nd Lateral Side
With RS facing, join strong blue in side of row 1 of Back Panel Bottom. Rep as for First Lateral Side. Fasten off.
HANDLES
Make 2. With strong blue, ch 91.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn. (90 sc) Rows 2–7: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn. Fasten off.
ASSEMBLY
Thread yarn needle with a length of strong blue and sew side seams of Panels and Lateral Sides.
Bag Top Edge
With RS facing, join strong blue in first dc of either Lateral Side.
Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 3, dc in each st and in each ch sp corner around opening; join in beg ch-3, turn. (152 sts) Rnds 2–8: Ch 1, sc in each dc around; join in beg ch, turn. Rnd 9 (handle insertion rnd): Ch 3, dc in next sc, xdc (see
Special Stitch) 11 times, dc in next dc, xdc 5 times, ch 2, sk next 2 sts, xdc 6 times, dc in next st, xdc 6 times, ch 2, sk next 2 sts, xdc 18 times, dc in next st, xdc 5 times, ch 2, sk next 2 sts, xdc 6 times, dc in next st, xdc 6 times, ch 2, sk next 2 sts, xdc 6 times, join in beg ch, turn.
Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch around, join in beg ch, turn.
Rnds 11–14: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join in beg ch, turn. Fasten off.
FINISHING
Fold handles lengthwise with WS tog. Join strong blue in last sc. Work sl st through both thicknesses of each sc across. Fasten off. Rep for 2nd handle. Fold Top Edge along rnd 9, with WS tog, over strips of corrugated plastic. Thread yarn needle with a length of strong blue and sew edging to inside of Bag. Insert handle ends at ch-2 sp handle insertion openings from the RS and sew them inside edging to secure. Rep for 2nd handle.
Twisted Cord
Cut light wash yarn a little over 4 times the length that is desired. Fold yarn in half and place the lp on a handle to hold it firm. At the other end, knot the ends of yarn tog and insert a pencil through the lp. Pull the yarn to keep it tight and start winding the pencil to twist the Cord. When tension is enough, slide lps off and hold both ends of yarns in your hand, allowing Cord to fold back on itself. Tie a knot in the open end of Cord to prevent it unwinding.
Tassel
Wrap light wash yarn around a cardboard of the desired length of Tassel. Thread a tapestry needle with a length of yarn and tie tightly around 1 end of the wrapped yarn. Remove needle and cut yarn lps at other end. Thread tapestry needle with another length of yarn and wrap tightly around lps just below top knot. Knot securely and bury ends inside Tassel. Remove needle and trim ends of Tassel evenly. Attach Tassel to twisted Cord and hang from handles.