This beach bag works up nicely in the cotton cakes type yarns. It is light and airy, yet strong enough to hold some seashells and day-at-the-beach items. The added Blue Sea Star flowers give it a bit more flair.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 14” top to bottom x 13.25” across when laid flat. Base measures 4.5” x 10.5”.

Handles are approx. 22.5”

Gauge: 5 rows (v-st, sc, linked dc, sc, v-st) = 2” [5 cm], 3 rows (sc, linked dc, sc) = 1” [2.5 cm], pattern stitch 4 rows (sc, linked dc, sc, v-st) 2 times = 3” [7.5 cm], 15 linked dc = 3” [7.5 cm], 5 v-sts = 4” [10 cm].

Materials

Yarn: Caron Cotton Cakes (60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic, 211 yards [193 meters]/100 grams): #49010 Nested Blues (3 balls)

Hooks: US size H (5.0mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle, three small buttons about ³/₈– ½” (optional), stitch markers.

Abbreviations

V-st – (dc, ch 1, dc) in st indicated

Special stitches

Linked Double Crochet

First st: Ch 3, insert hook in 2nd ch from hook, yo, pull up a lp, insert hook in 4th ch from hook, yo, pull up a lp, yo, pull through first 2 lps on hook, yo, pull through last 2 lps on hook.

Next st: Insert hook down through the horizontal bar in center of previous st, yo, pull up a lp, insert hook in next ch, yo, pull up a lp, yo, pull through the first 2 lps on hook, yo, pull through last 2 lps on hook. Rep to end of ch.

Joining rnds in linked dc: Insert hook down through horizontal bar of last st made, then insert hook through horizontal bar of first st from bottom up, yo, pull lp through both horizontal bars, cont through last lp on hook, sl st in top of first linked dc. This method is not a perfect join, but does fill in any gaps between the first and last linked dc in a rnd.

Pattern Notes

The side of bag with the joining stitches is the front.

Alternate yarn suggestion (second model)

Yarn Bee Sugarwheel Cotton (100% Cotton; 335 yards [306 meters]/142 grams): #100 Better Be Blueberry (2 balls)

Even though this yarn is listed as a #3 light, it works up to the same gauge using the same size hook as the Caron Cotton Cakes which is listed as a #4 medium.

Pattern

Ch 26.

Rnd 1: Work 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across, 3 sc in last ch, working on opposite side of starting ch, sc in each ch across, sl st to join in first st. (52 sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first 3 sts, sc in next 23 sts, 2 sc in next 3 sts, sc in next 23 sts, sl st to join in first st. (58 sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next st, [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] twice, sc in next 23 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 3 times, sc in next 23 sts, sl st to join in first st. (64 sts)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] twice, sc in next 23 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] 3 times, sc in next 23 sts, sl st to join in first st. (70 sts)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] twice, sc in next 23 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] 3 times, sc in next 23 sts, sl st to join in first st. (76 sts)

Rnd 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 4 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts] twice, sc in next 23 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts] 3 times, sc in next 23 sts, sl st to join in first st. (82 sts)

Rnd 7: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 5 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] twice, sc in next 23 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] 3 times, sc in next 23 sts, sl st to join in first st. (88 sts)

Rnd 8: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 6 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts] twice, sc in next 23 sts, [2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts] 3 times, sc in next 23 sts, sl st to join in bl of first st. (94 sts)

Rnd 9: Work in bl, ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join in first st. (94 sts)

Rnd 10: Work in both lps, ch 3, work linked dc in each st around, sl st to join in first st. (94 sts)

Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join in first st. (94 sts)

Rnd 12: Ch 4, dc in first st (beg v-st made), [sk 2 sts, v-st in next st] around to last 3 sts, sk next st, v-st in next st, sk last st, sl st to join in 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (32 v-sts)

Rnd 13: Ch 1, sc in each dc and ch-1 sp around, sl st to join in first st. (96 sts)

Rnd 14: Ch 3, linked dc in each st around, sl st to join in first st. (96 sts)

Rnds 15-42: Rep Rnds 11-14.

Rnds 43-46: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join in first st.

Fasten off.

Note: Fold piece in half by laying it flat. Place marker in 14th st from outer edge on both sides. Not counting the markers there needs to be 20 sts between these markers. Flip the piece over and repeat the markers on this side. This time counting the stitch markers there should be 28 sts between front and back markers.

Rnd 47: With joining st facing you, join with sc in the marked st on the right hand side, ch 90, sk 20 sts across front, sc in next marked st, sc in next 27 sts (last st should be next marked st), ch 90, sk 20 sts across back, sc in next marked st, sc in next 26 sts, sl st to join in first st. (56 sc, 180 chs)

Rnd 48: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch around, sl st to join in first st. (236 sts)

Rnds 49-50: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join in first st.

Rnd 51: Ch 1, sc2tog twice, sc in next 83 sts, sc2tog 4 times, sc in next 20 sts, sc2tog 4 times, sc in next 82 sts, sc2tog 4 times, sc in next 19 sts, sc2tog twice, sl st to join in first st. (220 sts)

Rnd 52: Sl st loosely in each st around, sl st to join in first st.

Fasten off.

Edging

Sl st in each st and ch-sp around other edge of straps and along top edge of bag.

Starfish Flowers

Small

Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), 11 hdc in ring, tighten ring, sl st to join in first hdc. (11 hdc)

Rnd 2: [Ch 5, sl st in next 2 sts] 5 times, ch 5, sl st in next st, sl st to join in base of beg ch-5. (6 ch-lps)

Rnd 3: Sl st into first ch-5 lp, ch 1, [sc, 2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc, sc] in each ch-lp around, sl st to join in first sc. (6 petals)

Rnd 4: Sl st to 2nd st of first petal, ch 1, sc in same st, [sc in next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, sc in next 2 sts, sk last sc of this petal*, sk first sc of next petal, sc in 2nd st of petal] around, ending last petal at *, sl st to join in first st of beg petal.

Fasten off.

Medium

Rnd 1: Rep as for small flower.

Rnd 2: [Ch 7, sl st in next 2 sts] 5 times, ch 7, sl st in next st, sl st to join in base of beg ch-7. (6 ch-lps)

Rnd 3: Sl st into first ch-7 lp, ch 1, [sc, 3 hdc, ch 2, 3 hdc, sc] in each ch-lp around, sl st to join in first sc. (6 petals)

Rnd 4: Sl st to 2nd st of first petal, ch 1, sc in same st, [sc in next 2 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, sc in next 3 sts, sk last sc of this petal*, sk first sc of next petal, sc in 2nd st of petal] around, end last petal at *, sl st to join in first st of beg petal.

Fasten off.

Large

Rnd 1: Rep as for small flower.

Rnd 2: [Ch 10, sl st in next 2 sts] 5 times, ch 10, sl st in next st, sl st to join in base of beg ch-10. (6 ch lps)

Rnd 3: Sl st into the first ch-10 lp, ch 1, [sc, 6 hdc, ch 2, 6 hdc, sc] in each ch-lp around, sl st to join in first sc. (6 petals)

Rnd 4: Sl st to 2nd st of first petal, ch 1, sc in same st, [sc in next 5 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, sc in next 6 sts, sk last sc of this petal*, sk first sc of next petal, sc in 2nd st of petal] around, end last petal at *, sl st to join in first st of beg petal.

Fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in all loose ends.

Sew the starfish flowers to the front of the bag. I placed them on a bit of an angle so they cover the joining stitches. The large one is near the top, then the medium followed by the small one a little bit above the base of the bag.

You can add a button to the centers of the starfish for some added texture and interest.