Capture the essence of the southwest with this geometric beaded tote. Its roomy size makes sure you won’t have to leave behind any of the essentials — and keeps you in style at the same time!
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. 