With its strong and stretchy design, this tote is prepared for all your beach essentials. Perfect for finding shells on the beach, this tote will let all of the sand stay on the beach as you walk home. Not only is it useful, but it also sports a chic lacy design that suits the season perfectly.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Approximately 17½” wide across bottom x 14″ wide across top opening x 15″ high, excluding straps; each strap 23″ long.
Gauge: 6 sts and 8 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in Shell pattern after steam blocking.
Materials
Yarn:  Aunt Lydia’s Fashion 3 Crochet Thread (100% mercerized cotton; 150 yards [137 meters]/45 grams): 0264 Lime (4 balls)
Hook: US size E/4 (3.5 mm)
Notions: Tapestry needle
Abbreviations
Back Bar (BB): The horizontal lp on the back side of a ch st.
Special Stitches
Beginning Shell (beg Shell): (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, tr) in place indicated.
Shell: (2 dc, ch 2, tr) in place indicated.
Pattern Notes
The Weekend Escape Tote is worked in the round from the bottom Foundation Row up to the top edge and straps in an easy-to-memorize Shell pattern. Piece is turned after every rnd. It is then blocked to given measurements by steam iron on the wrong side to open up lace pattern, if desired.
Pattern
Foundation Row (RS): Ch 117, sl st in BB of 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn – 116 sl sts.
Note: Begin working in the rnd.
Rnd 1 (WS): Work beg Shell in first sl st, *sk next 4 sl st, Shell in next sl st; rep from * 22 more times across to end of Foundation Row, turn bag to work on opposite side of Foundation Row as follows: Shell in base of each Shell across, join with sl st in top of ch-3 of beg Shell, turn – 48 Shells.
Rnd 2: Work beg Shell in first tr, Shell in each tr around, join with sl st in top of ch-3 of beg Shell, turn – 48 Shells.
Rnds 3-24: Rep Rnd 2.
Rnd 25: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 3 dc in first tr, 4 dc in each tr around, join with sl st in top of beg ch-3, turn – 192 dc.
Rnd 26: Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 1, sk next dc, *sc in next dc, ch 1, sk next dc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg sc, turn – 96 sc, 96 ch-1 sps.
Rnd 27: Ch 1, sc in first ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc, *sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg sc, turn – 96 sc, 96 ch-1 sps.
Rnds 28-33: Rep Rnd 27.
Rnd 34: Ch 1, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 12 times, (sc in next sp, sc in next sc) 24 times, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 24 times, (sc in next sp, sc in next sc) 24 times, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1 sk next sc) 12 times, join with sl st in beg sc, turn – 144 sc, 48 ch-1 sps.
Rnd 35: Ch 1, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 11 times, sc in next sp, ch 151, sk next 49 sc, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 23 times, sc in next sp, ch 151, sk next 49 sc, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 12 times, join with sl st in beg sc, turn – 350 sc, 46 ch-1 sps, 302 chs.
Rnd 36: Ch 1, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 12 times, sc in BB of next 151 chs, ch 1, sk next sc, (sc in next sp, ch-1, sk next sc) 23 times, sc in BB of next 151 chs, ch 1, sk next sc, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 11 times, join with sl st in beg sc, turn – (348 sc, 48 ch-1 sps.
Rnd 37: Ch 1, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 12 times, (sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next sc) 75 times, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 24 times, (sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next sc) 75 times, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 12 times, join with sl st in beg sc, turn – 198 sc, 198 ch-1 sps.
Rnd 38: Ch 1, *sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg sc, turn – 198 sc, 198 ch-1 sps.
Rnds 39-43: Rep Rnd 38.
Rnd 44: Ch 1, sc in each ch-1 sp and each sc around, join with sl st in beg sc – 396 sc.
Fasten off.
Finishing
Weave in yarn ends. Steam block on wrong side to given measurements to open up lace pattern, if desired.
Correct me if I am wrong, on the first row of shells, do you start crocheting in a round? Or do you sew up the side of the bag later?
Hello Connye! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
On which row do the straps start?
Hello! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
What does it mean when you make the sheel, and the last is Tr?
Hello Maureen! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
The shell consists of 2 dc, ch 2 and a treble crochet all in the same place.
What is a “BB” referred to at the very beginning?
Hello! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
ABBREVIATIONS
Back Bar (BB): The horizontal lp on the back side of a ch st.
This sounds like it will be fun to make! Thank you for your letters and free patterns you offer! Always appreciated!