Pack your beach time essentials in this colorful, roomy tote. Use the cross stitch technique to create a complex and sturdy carryall.

Skill Level: Easy

Size: 14 ½” wide by 17 ½” long (without strap)

Gauge: Rows 4-7 = 3”; sc, 5 dc, sc, 5 dc, sc = 3 ½”

Materials

Yarn: Red Heart With Love (100% acrylic; 370 yards [338 meters]/198 grams): #1701 Hot Pink (A, 1 skein), #1303 Aran (B, 1 skein)
Hooks: US size H/8 (5.0 mm) hook or size needed for gauge
Notions: Tapestry needle

Special Stitches

Cross-stitch (cross-st): Dc in space after next sc on row before last, ch 1, dc in space before same sc.

Pattern

Sides (Make 2, measures 14 ½” wide x 17 ½” long)

Row 1 (RS): With A ch 50, sc in 2nd ch from hook, [skip 2 chs, 5 dcs in next ch, skip next 2 chs, sc in next ch] across, turn and fasten off.
Row 2: Join B with a sl st in first stitch, ch 2, dc in same st, ch 1, sc in center st of 5 dc group, ch 1, [working on next sc on last row, cross-st, ch 1, sc in center st of next 5 dc group, ch 1] across, 2 dcs in last stitch, turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, 2 dcs in same stitch, sc in next sc, [5 dcs in ch 1 space of cross-st, sc in next sc] across, 3 dcs in 3rd ch of beginning ch 2, turn and fasten off.
Row 4: Join A with a sc in first stitch, ch 1, cross-st, ch 1, [sc in center st of 5 dc group, ch 1, cross-st, ch 1] across, sc in 3rd ch of beginning ch 3, turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first stitch, 5 dcs in ch space of cross-st, [sc in next sc, 5 dcs in ch 1 space of cross-st] across, sc in last stitch, turn and fasten off.
Row 6: Join B with a sl st in first stitch, ch 2, dc in same st, ch 1, sc in center st of 5 dc group, ch 1, [cross-st, ch 1, sc in center st of 5 dc group, ch 1] across, 2 dcs in last stitch, turn.
Row 7: Ch 3, 2 dcs in same stitch, sc in next sc, [5 dcs in ch 1 space of cross-st, sc in next sc] across, 3 dcs in 3rd ch of beginning ch 2, turn and fasten off.
Continue pattern repeating Rows 4-7 for a total of 33 rows.

Strap (Make 2, measures 2” wide x 17” long)

Row 1 (RS): With A ch 62, sc in 2nd ch from hook, [skip 2 chs, 5 dcs in next ch, skip next 2 chs, sc in next ch] across, fasten off and turn.
Row 2: Join B with a sl st in first stitch, ch 3, dc in same st, ch 1, sc in center st of 5 dc group, ch 1, [working on next sc on last row, cross-st, ch 1, sc in center st of next 5 dc group, ch 1] across, 2 dcs in last stitch, fasten off and turn.
Row 3: Join A with a sl st in first stitch, ch 2, 2 dcs in same stitch, sc in next sc, [5 dcs in ch 1 space of cross-st, sc in next sc] across, 3 dcs in 3rd ch of beginning ch 3, fasten off.
Sew one strap to each side.

Joining

With wrong sides facing and aran whipstitch sides together matching colors as you sew. With hot pink whip stitch bottom edges together.