This versatile tote boasts a symmetrical design, creating both the front and back panels identically, exuding a sense of balanced elegance. Featuring meticulous detailing and a polished finish, this charming (and functional) bag is just what you need this season.

Time: 20-hour project.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Measurements: 12 X 13” (30 X 33 cm)

Gauge: 24 dc and 8 rows = 4” [10 cm] after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn: Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop (50% bamboo, 50% cotton; 292 yards [267 meters] / 3.5 ounces [100 grams]): 118 Marmalade (MC 1 ball), 141 Bubblegum (CC1 1 ball), 123 Fuchsia (CC2 1 ball), 109 Clover (CC3 1 Ball)

Hook: US size G-6 4 mm

Notions: Tapestry needle, 10” (25 cm) zipper, 25 X 28” lining fabric, sewing needle and matching thread

Special Stitches

Beg 3-tr cluster: Ch 4, yo twice, insert hook into the desired sp, yo, pull through lp, [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, [yo twice, insert hook into the same sp, yo, pull through lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, yo, pull through all 3 lps on hook.

3-tr cluster: Yo twice, insert hook into the desired sp, yo, pull through lp, [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, (yo twice, insert hook into the same sp, yo, pull through lp, [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice) 2 times, yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook.

Beg 3-dc cluster: Ch 3, [yo, insert hook into the desired sp, yo, pull through lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, yo, pull through all 3 lps on hook.

3-dc cluster: [Yo, insert hook into the desired sp, yo, pull through lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] 3 times, yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook.

Pattern Notes

Work first motif. For the rest of the motifs follow instructions for second motif. For joining motifs, follow the diagram.

Ch 3 at the beginning of the rnd is counted as dc.

Ch 1 at the beginning of the rnd is counted as sc.

Pattern

Octagon-1

With MC, ch 6. Make a ring with a sl st into the first ch.

Rnd 1: Ch 3, 15 dc in ring. Fasten off.

Rnd 2: Attach CC1 to next dc, (ch 5, skip next dc, sl st into next dc) 8 times. (8 ch-5 sps)

Rnd 3: * (Sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in each of next ch-5 sp: rep from *. Fasten off. (8 petals)

Rnd 4: Hold the petals in front, attach CC2 to the next skipped dc on rnd 2, (ch 5, sl st into next skipped dc) 8 times.

Rnd 5: Sl st into next ch-5 sp, beg 3-tr cluster in ch-5 sp, ch 3, 3-tr cluster in same ch-5 sp, (ch 3, work 3-tr cluster twice in next ch-5 sp) 7 times, end with ch 3, sl st into the 3^rd ch. Fasten off. (16 3-tr clusters)

Rnd 6: Attach CC3 to next ch-3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch-3 sp, (ch 1, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp) 7 times, ch 1, sl st into the 3^rd ch. Fasten off. (64 dc)

2^nd and the rest of octagons

Work as Octagon-1 to end of rnd 5.

Joining side: Attach CC3 to next ch-3 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch-3 sp, [ch 1, sl st into the corresponding ch-3 sp of previous motif, ch 1, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp, sl st into the ch-1 sp of previous motif, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, sl st into the corresponding ch-3 sp of previous motif, ch 1, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp].

Rnd 6: Work Joining Side for as many sides as necessary, otherwise follow instruction of rnd 6 of Octagon-1, end with ch 1, sl st into the 3^rd ch. Fasten off.

Square

With MC, ch 5. Make a ring with a sl st into the first ch.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 7 sc in ring. Fasten off.

Rnd 2: Attach CC1 to next sc, beg 3-dc cluster in same sc, * ch 1, sl st into next ch-1 sp or ch-3 sp of the next octogen, 3-dc cluster in next sc; rep from * around, end with ch 1, sl st into next ch-1 sp or ch-3 sp of the next octogen, sl st into the 3^rd ch. Fasten off.

Follow the diagram for joining motifs.

Triangle

With MC, ch 5. Make a ring with a sl st into the first ch.

Row 1: Ch 1, 5 sc in ring. Fasten off. Turn.

Row 2: Attach CC1 to the first sc, ch 3, sl st into the next ch-3 sp of the next octagon, ch 1, 3-dc cluster in next sc, ch 1, sl st into the corresponding ch-1 sp of the octagon, ch 1, 3-dc cluster in next sc, ch 1 in next ch-3 sp of the next octagon, ch 1, 3 dc cluster in next sc, ch 1, sl st into the corresponding ch-1 sp of the next octagon, ch 1, dc in last sc, sl st into ch-3 sp, fasten off.

Side panel (make 2)

Row 1: Attach CC2 to at top of one side to work down the side, across bottom, and up opposite side, ch 1, [sc in every dc and ch-1 sp, 2 sc in the side dc and ch-5 sp on triangles] all the way to the other side of the bag, turn.

Row 2: Ch 3, BPdc in each sc to end, turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in every dc to end. Fasten off.

Top edge

Row 1: Attach CC2 to the point shown in the diagram, ch 1, [sc in every dc and ch-1 sp, 2 sc in the side dc and ch-5 sp on triangles] all the way to the other side of the bag.

Row 2: Ch 3, BPdc in each sc to end. Fasten off.

Bag Handle (make 2)

Ch 10.

Row 1: Dc in 4^th ch from hook, dc in every ch to end, turn. (8 dc)

Row 2-40: Ch 3, dc in every dc across, turn. Fasten off at the end of row 40.

Finishing

Sew side panels together.

Attach CC4 to the top edge of the side panel, work reverse sc in the front lps of the first row of the side panels and top edge. Fasten off.

Weave in all ends. Block bag to size. Sew zipper to the top edge. Sew bag handles to the top edge. Line the bag.