This fun, striped tote is the perfect summer companion. Large enough to tote around all your warm weather necessities, the Mint Cream Tote is so easy to make and customize. Carry it with you anywhere your busy schedule takes you.

Skill Level: Easy

Size: Bag = 10” high x 14.5” wide; Handles = 17” long

Gauge: 12 sts and 14 rows in sc = 4” square

Materials

Yarn: Lily Sugar’n Cream (100% cotton; 120 yards [109 meters]/71 grams): Black (A, 2 skeins), Robin’s Egg (B, 1 skein), White (C, 1 skein)
Hook: US size H/8 (5.0 mm) hook or size to obtain gauge

Pattern Notes

The base will be made first in back and forth rows. To finish the sides, you will use the ends of rows as stitches and work in joined rounds.

Pattern

Base

Using A, ch 13.
Row 1: Sc in second chain from hook and in each chain across. (12 sts)
Rows 2-42: Turn, ch 1, sc in each stitch. (12 sts)
Rnd 43: Ch 1, turn, working along the long edge of the base and using the ends of rows as stitches, sc 42, sc 12 along the short edge, sc 4 along the second long edge, sc 12 along second short edge, sl st to the ch 1 to join. (108 sts)
Rnd 44: Ch 1, working in the blo throughout the row, sc in each stitch, sl st to the ch 1 to join.
Rnds 45-51: Ch 1, sc in each stitch (using both loops), sl st to ch1 to join.
Join Color B, fasten off Color A.
Rnd 52: Ch 2, dc in each stitch, sl st to the first dc stitch (not ch 2) to join.
Rnd 53: Ch 1, sc in same stitch, ch 2, skip 2 stitches, * sc in the next stitch, ch 2, skip 2 stitches, repeat from * to end of row, sl st to the first sc to join.
Rnd 54: Ch 3, * (dc, ch 1, dc) in the ch 2 space, repeat from * to complete round, sl st to the third chain of the first ch 3 to join.
Join Color C, fasten off Color B.
Rnds 55-57: Repeat Rounds 52-54.
Join Color B, fasten off Color C.
Rnds 58-60: Repeat Rounds 52-54.
Join Color C, fasten off Color B.
Rnds 61-63: Repeat Rounds 52-54.
Join Color B, fasten off Color C.
Rnds 64-66: Repeat Rounds 52-54.
Rnd 67: Join Color A, fasten off Color B. Ch 1, sc in each stitch, do not join. (108 sts)
Rnd 68: Mark the first stitch with a stitch marker (optional), Working in the round, * sc 4, sc dec, repeat from * to complete the round, do not join.
Rnds 68-70: Sc in each stitch. To finish, sl st to the first stitch of the last round.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Handles (Make Two)

Using Color A, ch 6.
Row 1: Sc in the second chain from the hook and in each across. (5 sts)
Rows 2-5: Turn, ch 1, sc in each stitch, sl st to the FIRST stitch to join into a ring. (5 sts)
Rnds 6-70: Working in the round, sc 5. (TIP: Mark the first stitch of the round optional).
Rows 71-75: Turn, ch 1, sc 5. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Finishing

Using yarn needle, sew handles evenly on to each side of the bag.