A variety of stripes and loop stitches give this handy tote lots of texture. Roomy enough to hold all your daily essentials, this intriguing project is also incredibly fun to make!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Tote is 17” high x 15” wide x 3” deep, handle is about 9” tall x 2” wide 

Gauge: 16 sts and 10 rows in pattern= 4” [10 cm]

Materials

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (100% Acrylic; (364 yards [333 meters]/198 grams): 313 Aran (A, 1 ball), 334 Buff (B, 1 ball), 312 Black (C, 1 ball)

Red Heart Super Saver Fleck (96% Acrylic, 4% Other; 260 yards [238 meters]/141 grams): 4313 Aran fleck (D, 1 ball). Note: Pattern uses less than a skein of each color

Hook: US size H/8 (5.0 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle, 4 locking stitch markers, safety pins

Abbreviations

BLO: Back loop only

Special Stitches

Foundation Double Crochet (FDC)

Ch 4 (counts as first dc and chain), yo, insert hook in 4th ch from hook (the 3 skipped chains count as first dc), draw up a loop, yo, draw through one loop on hook (this makes the chain), now yo, draw through 2 loops on hook twice (this makes the next double crochet), yo, insert hook into the base chain of the previous stitch, draw up a loop, yo, draw through one loop on hook (this makes the next chain), now yo, draw through 2 loops on hook twice (this makes the next double crochet). Repeat until you have the required number of stitches.

Double Loop Stitch (DLS)

Wrap yarn twice around finger, then complete single crochet, working through the loops on your finger.

Loop stitches are worked into a row of single crochets from the wrong side with the loops going to the right side of the work. Wrap the yarn twice clockwise around your index finger to make two loops. Insert the hook into the single crochet. Slip the hook under the loops around your index finger. Pull strands through the stitch through the stitch, yo, pull through all the loops on the hook holding the long loops firmly with your finger so they don’t become too short.

Back Bar Single crochet

You usually work into the top two loops of the stitch. For this stitch you are going to work into small horizontal bump strand on the back, just under the top loop. Work a regular single crochet but work into this back bar only.

Back Bar Double Crochet

You usually work into the top two loops of the stitch. For this stitch you are going to work into small horizontal bump strand on the back, just under the top loop. Work a regular double crochet but work into this back bar only.

Pattern

Sides (make 2)

Note: Sides are worked, then turned so the stripes are vertical to join.

With A, work 50 FDC.

Row 2: Ch 3, turn, BBDC across. Fasten off.

Row 3: With B, ch 1, turn, sc in BLO across. Fasten off.

Row 4: With C, ch 3, turn, BBDC across. Fasten off.

Row 5: With B, ch 1, turn, sc in BLO across. Fasten off.

Row 6: With A, ch 3, turn, BBDC across.

Row 7: Ch 3, turn, dc in BLO across. Fasten off.

Row 8: With D, work DLS across.

Row 9: Ch 1, turn, sc across.

Row 10: Ch 1, turn, DLS across. Fasten off.

Row 11: With A, dc in BLO across.

Rows 12-37: Repeat Rows 2-11 twice, then Rows 2-7 once more.

Fasten off.

Gusset

With C, work 140 FDC. Fasten off.

Row 2: With A, ch 1, turn, BBSC across. Fasten off.

Row 3: With C, dc in BLO across.

Row 4: Ch 3, turn, BBDC across. Fasten off.

Do not turn. Start from opposite end of strip.

Row 5: With A, BBSC across. Fasten off.

Row 6: With C, ch 3, turn, dc in BLO across.

With safety pins, pin Gusset to side of Tote and stitch in place. Repeat for second side.

Top Edge

Join A in st after end of Gusset.

Rnd 1: Ch 3, dc in same sp, work 2 dc in side of each dc row, 1 dc in each sc row around, join with sl st to top of ch-3. Fasten off.

Rnd 2: With B, sc in BLO around, join with sl st. Fasten off.

Rnd 3: With C, dc in BLO around, join with sl st. Fasten off.

Rnd 4: With B, sc in BLO around, join with sl st. Fasten off.

Rnd 5: Mark the st at center of outer 2 loop stitch sections on each side of bag for handle placement.

With C, dc in BLO of each st to first marker, dc in same st as marker, *work 60 FDC for handle, skip sts to next marker, then start to do another FDC, dc into st with marker, dc in BLO of each st to next marker. Repeat from * for 2nd handle, dc in BLO of remaining sts, join with sl st. Fasten off.

Working on inside of Handle: With C, dc in each unworked A st on base of Tote, dc in each of the FDC of the handle. Fasten off. Repeat on other handle.

Trim

With B, sc in BLO around inside of each handle. Sc around upper edge of bag and handles.

Fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in all ends..