Carry a touch of the desert with you wherever you go with the Southwestern Beaded Tote. Featuring striking geometric beadwork reminiscent of classic Southwestern motifs, this tote blends cultural artistry with modern functionality. Its roomy size ensures you’ll have ample space for all your essentials—whether you’re running errands, heading to the market, or embarking on a weekend getaway—all while turning heads with its bold and stylish design.

Skill level: Intermediate

Size: 14” wide x 15½” tall x 3” deep

Gauge: 16 sts and 18 rows = 2” [10 cm] in sc, measured on WS with no beads showing.

Materials

Yarn:

 Lily Sugar ’n Cream (100% Cotton; 120 yards [109 meters]/70.9 grams): #102001 Jute, 7 balls

Hook: US Size E/4 (3.5 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle; 8 packages of large wood pony beads (Clubhouse Crafts, 90 pieces per bag, purchased via Walmart.com); 1 set of bamboo purse handles.

Special Stitches

Beaded sc

To add a bead, place hook through stitch to be worked, continue to place hook through the hole in the bead, wrap yarn around hook, pull through the bead, finish the sc.

Pattern Notes

Beads are worked on every even numbered row. The odd numbered rows are plain sc rows.  Read chart from the bottom up, with Row 1 starting on left side of the chart.

Pattern (make 2)

Ch 56.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from the hook, sc in each ch across – 55 sts.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across following chart for colored bead placement.

Rows 3-66: Ch 1, turn, follow chart for placement of beads.

Rnd 67: Ch 1, sc in each st across, work 3 sc in corner, sc in end of each row down, work 3 sc in bottom corner, sc in each ch along opposite side of starting ch, work 3 sc in next corner, sc in end of each row, end with 2 sc in first corner, join to first sc.

Fasten off.

Side Gusset

Ch 11.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across – 10 sts.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across – 10 sts.

Rows 3-188: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.

Rnd 189: Sc around entire piece with sc in end of each row, work 3 sc in each corner, sc in each ch on opposite side of starting ch, end with 2 sc in last corner, join with sl st to first st. Fasten off.

Finishing

Whip stitch Gusset to front and back through back loops.

Top Edge

Rnd 1: Sc in each st around, joining purse handles to the front and back pieces, join with sl st to first st.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc over each st of Rnd 1 including the stitches that attach the handles. Join with sl st to first st.

Fasten off.

Weave in loose ends.