Inspired by the sun and the sea, this bag is perfect for summer. The Denim Dreams Tote boasts a textured design made of a distinct cable detail and lacy fans. It’s fully lined and incredibly roomy to hold everything you need for each summer day.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 16” wide by 10” high

Gauge: 16 sts and 12 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Ldc after blocking

Materials

Yarn: Patons Cotton DK (100% cotton; 230 yards [210 meters]/100 grams): #2729 Delta (2 balls)
Hook: US size F/5 (3.75 mm) hook
Notions: Yarn needle, four ½” heart shaped buttons, 35 x 25” cotton fabric for lining, 5 x 17” thin flexible plastic or other suitable material for bag base, permanent marker, sewing needle and matching thread

Special Stitches

Linked double crochet (Ldc): Insert hook in lower horizontal bar of previous dc st, yo, draw yarn through, insert hook into next st, yo, draw yarn through, (YO, draw through 2 loops) twice.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is started at the base. There are two bases worked separately and joined with thin plastic between them for stability. The bag is then worked in the round from the bottom to the top only turning where stated. 

Pattern

Base (Make Two)

Ch 47.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 3 dc in same st, dc in each st to last st, 7 dc in last st, turn and work into bottom of foundation ch, dc in each st to end, 3dc in last st (same st as first) sl st in top of beg ch 3 to join. (100 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, dc in next 43 sts, * 3 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts; rep from * once more, 3 dc in next st, dc in next 43 sts, 3 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, sl st in top of beg ch 3 to join. (112 sts)
Rnd 3: Sl st into next st, ch 3, 2 dc in same st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 43 sts, 2dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 43 sts, 2 dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, sl st in top of beg ch 3 to join. (128 sts)
Fasten off first base and weave in ends.
Make second base without fastening off.
Using permanent marker trace around first base onto plastic, cut out just inside the lines.
Place the two bases wrong sides together and continue with pattern working through the sts on both bases to join them together.

Body of Bag

Rnd 1 (work through both bases): Ch 3, Ldc in each st until ¾ of the way around bases, slide plastic oval between the two bases and continue, Ldc in each st to end, sl st in top of beg ch3 to join.
Rnds 2-7: Ch 3, Ldc in each st to end, sl st in top of beg ch 3 to join.
Rnd 8: Sl st loosely in flo of each st to end, sl st in back loop of first st.
Rnd 9 (work into back loops from Rnd 7): Ch 1, sc in blo of first st, sc in blo of each st to end, sl st in top of first sc to join.
Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in same st, * ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in next st, [turn and work sc in each st of the ch-3, sl st in next sc, turn. Work behind the cable, sc in each of the 2 skipped sts], sk next sc; rep from * to last 2 sts, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sl st in flo of first sc to join, then work from [ to ], sl st in blo of first sc to join.
Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in each st to end, sl st in top of first sc to join. (128 sts)
Rnd 12: Rep Rnd 8.
Rnd 13 (work into back loops from Rnd 11): Rep Rnd 9.
Rnd 14: Ch 1, sc in same st , sk 3 sts, * 7 tr in next st, sk 3 sts, sc in next st, sk 3 sts; rep from * to last 4 sts, 7 tr in next st, sk 3 sts, sl st in top of beg sc to join.
Rnd 15: Ch 5, tr in same st, * ch 2, sk 3 tr, sc in next tr, ch 2, sk 3 tr **, (tr, ch 1, tr) in next sc, ch 2; rep from * to end, finishing last rep at **, sl st in top of beg sc to join.
Rnd 16: Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, * sk (tr, ch-2), 7 tr in top of sc, sk (ch-2, tr)** sc in ch-1 sp; rep from * to end finishing last rep at **, sl st in top of beg sc to join.
Rnds 17, 19, 21, 23: Rep Rnd 15.
Rnds 18, 20, 22, 24: Rep Rnd 16.
Rnd 25: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each st (including chs) to end.
Rnd 26: Rep Rnd 8.
Rnd 27 (work into back loops from Rnd 25): Rep Rnd 9.
Rnds 28-30: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in each st to end, sl st in first sc to join.
Rnd 31: Rep Rnd 8.
Rnd 32 (work into back loops of Rnd 30): Rep Rnd 9.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Handles

Ch 102.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, 3 dc in same st, dc in each st to last st, 7 dc in last st, turn and work into bottom of foundation ch, dc in each st to end, 3dc in last st (same st as first) sl st in top of beg ch 3 to join.
Rnd 2: Sl st in each st to end.
Fasten off and weave in ends. Block bag before lining. 

Lining

Cut cotton fabric to 32.25” x 20.5”.
Fold in half and stitch short ends together to form a loop. Stitch a small hem around both 32” edges.
Fold top edge of loop to meet bottom seam of loop, press (iron). Insert lining into bag with hems towards the bottom. Using sewing needle and matching thread stitch the bottom of the lining to the edge of the base. Then stitch the top fold just underneath the top ridge of bag.

Finishing

Weave in any leftover ends. Using buttons attach handles to top band of bag in appropriate position.