Ester’s Tote Part Three

Making The Bag & Crocheting The Straps

VIEW INTRODUCTION AND LINK PAGE HERE!

PART THREE:

SKILL LEVEL:
Easy – Intermediate:

MATERIALS:
view introduction page

Hooks & Notions:
-Size
4.00 mm Hook
-Yarn Needle

I use US Crochet stitch terminology

Abbreviations:
SC – single crochet
SL ST – slip stitch

INSTRUCTIONS:

SEWING THE BACK & FRONT TOGETHER:
Place your front piece on top of the back piece wrong sides facing together (right sides facing outwards)

Starting at the top left corner, join yarn with a SC.
SC into each ST making sure to crochet through both pieces – joining them together.

Note: work 2 SC into bottom corner stitches

At this stage your bag might look like this – DO NOT PANIC! If both your
pieces have the same count of stitches (64 on the bottom) your bag pieces will line up!

Continue working along the bottom – working a SC into each ST,
and then up the right side.

WORKING THE TOP BORDER PIECE:
Note: DO NOT FASTEN OFF – continue working in the round working only through one piece.

RND 1: Work up 64 SC on the front piece and 64 SC on the back piece.
Remember you are working around the top part of your bag!
Join with a SL ST into first SC made;
RND 2 – 4: CH 1, work 1 SC into each ST. Join with a SL ST into first SC made.
On last round – Fasten off and weave in ends

CROCHETING THE STRAPS:
For this bag I made short straps – the original bag has very long straps.
You can make your straps adjustable to any length 🙂

Make 2

SHORT STRAPS: approx 65 cm in length
CH 101
LONG STRAPS: approx 130 cm in length
CH 201
ROW 1: Work 1 SC into 2nd CH from hook, work 1 SC into each foundation CH until end, (100/200 STS), TURN
ROW 2 – 6: CH 1, work 1 SC into each ST until end, (100/200 STS), TURN
Fold strap in half and working through row 6 SC STS and the foundation STS, SL ST the strap together to form a ‘tube’
Fasten off and weave in ends

OPTIONAL: LINING YOUR BAG

At this stage you can line your bag if you  prefer 🙂
Here are some awesome tutorials online to help you if you do not know how to line a bag. My sister-in-law lined her own bag!

Craftsy – Lining a Crochet Bag to Make it Sturdier — and Prettier!

Pattern Paradise – Tutorial: How To Line A Crocheted Bag

Futuregirl – Tutorial: Sew A Lining Into A Crocheted Bag