Not Your Granny's Crochet Tote

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• J/10-6.00mm crochet hook
• Lion Brand® Pound of Love Yarn:
• Fern - 1 skein
• Sugar Cookie - 1 skein
• Pumpkin Spice - 1 skein
• Cascade - 1 skein


• MEASUREMENTS: Finished bag measures 13" wide x 12.5" tall


• GAUGE: 3 dc sts with the yarn held double = 1" wide

DIRECTIONS:

ABBREVIATIONS:
Ch - chain
Sc - single crochet
Dc - double crochet
Hdc - half double crochet
Sl - slip
St(s) - stitch(es)
2 dc cl - 2 double crochet cluster
3 dc cl - 3 double crochet cluster

STITCHES:
2 dc cl: yarn over, insert hook into space and pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook, yarn over, insert hook into same space and pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

3 dc cl: yarn over, insert hook into space and pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook. Repeat 2 more times. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on the hook.

PATTERN:
This tote is made by crocheting two large, identical squares. They will then be crocheted together, and a strap will be attached last.

Round 1: Color 1 Cascade
Holding the yarn double, create a slip knot and ch 5.
Sl st into the the 5th ch from the hook to create a ring.
Ch 2 (counts as first dc).
Work 15 dc into the center of the ring you created (16 total).
Join with a sl st to the top of the first dc (not the ch 2).
Fasten off.

Round 2: Color 2 Fern
Join new color into the top of any stitch.
Ch 2, dc into same stitch.
*Ch 1, 2 dc cl in the next stitch* 15 times around the circle.
Ch 1, sl st into the top of the first dc you worked after the ch 2.
Fasten off.

Round 3: Color 3 Sugar Cookie
Join new color into any ch 1 space from the previous round.
Ch 2, 2 dc cl into the same ch 1 space.
*Ch 1, 3 dc cl into the next ch 1 space* Repeat 14 more times around the circle.
Chain 1, sl st into the top of the first cluster.
Fasten off.

Round 4: Color 4 Pumpkin Spice
Join new color into any ch 1 space from the previous round.
In the same space, (ch 2, 2 dc cl, ch 2, 3 dc cl). This is one corner.
*(Ch 1, 3 dc cl into the next ch 1 space) 3x, in the same space (ch 1, 3 dc cl, ch 2, 3 dc cl)* repeat this pattern 2 more times.
(Ch 1, 3 dc cl into the next ch 1 space) 3x.
Ch 1, sl st into the top of the first cluster.
Fasten off.
The circle should now resemble more of a square with 4 corners.

Round 5: Color 1 Cascade
Join new color into the ch 2 space of one of the corners from the previous round.
In the same space, (ch 2, 2 dc cl, ch 2, 3 dc cl). This is one corner.
*(Ch 1, 3 dc cl into the next ch 1 space) 4x, in the same space (ch 1, 3 dc cl, ch 2, 3 dc cl)* repeat this pattern 2 more times.
(Ch 1, 3 dc cl into the next ch 1 space) 4x.
Ch 1, sl st into the top of the first cluster.
Fasten off.

Round 6: Color 2 Fern
There are no clusters in this round, only normal double crochet stitches.
Join new color into the ch 2 space of one of the corners from the previous round.
In the same space, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). This is one corner.
Work 3 dc in the next ch 1 space. Repeat 4 more times (5 total).
In the same space, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). This is the second corner.
Repeat the pattern of working 3 dc in each chain space and (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in each corner until you get to the beginning of the round.
Sl st into the top of the first dc.
Fasten off.

Round 7: Color 3 Sugar Cookie
Repeat round 6.
Sl st into the top of the first dc, sl st into the next st, sl st into the ch 1 space.
Do not fasten off.

Round 8:
Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same space.
Repeat the pattern of working 3 dc in each chain space and (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in each corner until you get to the beginning of the round.
Sl st into the top of the first dc.
Do not fasten off.

Round 9:
Ch 1, hdc in each st around (place one hdc in each ch 1 space and 3 hdc in each corner space)
Sl st into the top of the first hdc.
Fasten off.

Make another square exactly the same. You may want to wet block or steam them if they are not very flat.
Weave in all ends.

You will now connect the two squares together and add a strap to complete the bag.

Place the wrong sides together so the right sides are facing out.

Using color C, attach the yarn to the middle hdc in any of the corners to join the squares together. Single crochet in each hdc of both squares around 3 sides, leaving one side open for the top of the bag. Your last sc will be in the middle hdc of the 4th corner.

Now continue to sc along the top of the square in the back and then around the front. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.

To make the strap, make 3 long chains with a single strand of Sugar Cookie yarn, about 70" long each. Next, braid the chains together to create a thick, rope like strap. Tie each end of the strap to each size of the top of the bag and weave in the ends on the inside. My strap is approx 40", but you can make yours shorter or longer.

JOANN HACKS:

• For this pattern, the yarn is held double to make a bigger and thicker tote. I wound a small ball of yarn from each skein before starting so it would be easier to pull the yarn double.