Purses, Bags & Totes Project of the Month: March

Scraps Bag

Design by Agnes Russell

Skill Level
Easy

Finished Size
Tote: 14 x 14 inches, excluding Tabs and handles
Drawstring purse: 8 inches in circumference x 6 1/4 inches long, excluding drawstrings

Materials

• J. & P. Coats Royale Classic Crochet size 10 crochet cotton (350 yds per ball): 2 balls #12 black (MC)
• J. & P. Coats Royale Fashion Crochet size 3 crochet cotton (150 yds per ball): 1 ball each #377 tan, #65 warm teal, #423 maize, #6 scarlett, #926 bridal white, #325 tangerine, #264 lime, #871 plum, #775 warm rose, #175 warm blue, #226 natural, #625 sage and #12 black
• Size E/4/3.5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry needle
• 19mm black buttons: 11
• 9 x 9-inch black rattan handles
• Stitch markers

Gauge
[1 sc, ch 1, sk ch-1 sp] 5 times = 1 1/2 inches; 7 rnds = 1 1/2 inches

Pattern Note
Weave in loose ends as work progresses.
Join rounds with slip stitch unless otherwise stated.
Work with strand of each main color black size 10 and size 3 contrasting color crochet cottons throughout. This is a great way to use up all those scraps because each two-round repeat of Tote requires only 13 yards each contrasting color. Select your favorite colors and work in the number of rounds with each color that you desire.
Because this Tote buttons to handles, to launder, unbutton and launder. When dry, reattach to handles.

Tote
Rnd 1 (RS): With tan and MC (see Pattern Notes), ch 50, (sc, ch 1) 3 times in 2nd ch from hook, sk next ch, [sc in next ch, ch 1, sk next ch] 23 times, (sc, ch 1) 3 times in last ch, working on opposite side of foundation ch, sk next ch, [sc in next ch, ch 1, sk next ch] 23 times, join (see Pattern Notes) in first sc, change color to teal, turn. (52 sc)
Rnd 2 (WS): Ch 1, *[sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] 23 times, (sc, ch 1) twice in each of next 3 sc, rep from * once, join in beg sc, turn. (58 sc)
Note: Place a stitch marker at beg and end of inc sections of the 6 sc on each end of Tote and move markers as work progresses.
Rnd 3 (RS): Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, join in first sc, change color to maize, turn.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, except at the 6 sc marked at each end, (sc, ch 1) twice in each of next 6 sc on each end, join in beg sc, turn. (70 sc)
Note: Place a stitch marker at beg and end of inc sections of the 12 sc on each end of Tote and move markers as work progresses.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, join in first sc, change color to scarlett, turn.
Rnd 6: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, join in beg sc, turn.
Rnd 7: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, except at the 12 sc marked at each end, [sc in next sc, ch 1, (sc, ch 1) twice in next sc] 6 times, join in beg sc, change color to bridal white, turn. (82 sc)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, except at inc ends, (sc, ch 1) twice in center sc at each end, join in beg sc, turn. (84 sc)
Rnd 9: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, join in beg sc, change color to tangerine, turn.
Rnd 10: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, join in beg sc, turn.
Rnd 11: Rep rnd 9, change color to lime.
Rnd 12: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 13: Rep rnd 9, change color to plum.
Rnd 14: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 15: Rep rnd 9, change color to warm rose.
Rnd 16: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 17: Rep rnd 9, change color to warm blue.
Rnd 18: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 19: Rep rnd 9, change color to natural.
Rnds 20-24: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 25: Rep rnd 9, change color to tan.
Rnd 26: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 27: Rep rnd 9, change color to warm teal.
Rnd 28: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 29: Rep rnd 9, change color to maize.
Rnd 30: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 31: Rep rnd 9, change color to scarlett.
Rnd 32: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 33: Rep rnd 9, change color to bridal white.
Rnd 34: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 35: Rep rnd 9, change color to tangerine.
Rnd 36: Rep rnd 10.
Rnd 37: Rep rnd 9, change color to sage.
Rnds 38-63: Rep rnds 12-37.
Rnds 64-70: Rep rnds 12-18.
Rnd 71: Rep rnd 9. Fasten off.

Tabs
Place Tote on a flat surface with 42 sc on each front and back. To create the 5 Tabs on the front, place markers on 6th and 9th sts, 13th and 16th sts, 20th and 23rd sts, 27th and 30th sts, 34th and 37th sts.
Maintain the 1 strand of MC, work in the following color sequence, 6 rows natural, and 2 rows each tan, warm teal, maize, scarlett, bridal white, tangerine and sage.
Row 1 (WS): Join MC and color with sc in first marked sc of Tab, [ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in next sc] 3 times, turn. (4 sc, 3 ch-1 sps)
Rows 2-5: Ch 1, sc in first sc, [ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in next sc] 3 times, turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first sc, [ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in next sc] 3 times, change color, turn.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in first sc, [ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in next sc] 3 times, turn.
Rows 8-15: [Rep rows 6 and 7 alternately] 4 times.
Row 16: Ch 1, sc in first sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3 (buttonhole), sk next sc, ch 1 and sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next sc, change color, turn.
Row 17: Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch, ch 1, sk next ch, sc in next ch, ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next sc, turn. (4 sc, 3 ch-1 sps)
Row 18: Rep row 6.
Row 19: Rep row 7.
Row 20: Ch 1, sk first sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, [ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp] twice, sl st in last sc. Fasten off.
Rep rows 1-20 until all 5 Tabs on front are completed. Rep 5 Tabs on back of Tote.

Trim
Rnd 1 (WS): With 1 strand of MC and black, join with sl st in first sc of front (sc at outer edge), ch 1, sc in same sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in each sc, sc in each ch-1 sp and sc in side edge of each row around entire outer edge of top edge.
Sew black button between rnds 68 and 69 of Tote centered below buttonhole.
Button 5 front Tabs over first rattan handle and button last 5 Tabs of back over 2nd rattan handle.

Inner Pocket
Note: Beg with plum, work Inner Pocket in the same color sequence as Tote.
Row 1: With MC and plum, ch 50, sc in 2nd ch from hook, [ch 1, sk 1 ch, sc in next ch] across, turn. (25 sc, 24 ch-1 sps)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc, [ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in next sc] across, change color, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc, [ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in next sc] across, turn.
Rows 4-39: [Rep rows 2 and 3 alternately] 18 times. At the end of row 39, change color to black.
Row 40 (WS): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, sc in next sc] across. Fasten off.
With length of MC, matching color rows, sew pocket to inside front of Tote.

Drawstring Purse
Rnd 1: With 1 strand each MC and black, ch 5, join in first ch, ch 1, 10 sc in ring, join in first ch. (10 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around, join in first sc. (20 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, join in first sc.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 10 times, join in beg sc. (30 sc)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, [sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around, join in beg sc. (40 sc)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, [sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] around, join in beg sc, change color to tan, turn. (50 sc)
Rnd 7 (WS): Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 1, sk next sc, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next sc] around, join in first sc, turn. (25 sc, 25 ch-1 sps)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, join in beg sc, change color to warm teal, turn.
Rnd 9: Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp] around, join in beg sc, turn.
Rnd 10: Rep rnd 8, change color to maize.
Rnd 11: Rep rnd 9.
Rnd 12: Rep rnd 8, change color to scarlett.
Rnd 13: Rep rnd 9.
Rnd 14: Rep rnd 8, change color to bridal white.
Rnd 15: Rep rnd 9.
Rnd 16: Rep rnd 8, change color to tangerine.
Rnd 17: Rep rnd 9.
Rnd 18: Rep rnd 8, change color to lime.
Rnd 19: Rep rnd 9.
Rnd 20: Rep rnd 8, change color to plum.
Rnd 21: Rep rnd 9.
Rnd 22: Rep rnd 8, change color to warm rose.
Rnd 23: Rep rnd 9.
Rnd 24: Rep rnd 8, change color to warm blue.
Rnd 25: Rep rnd 9.
Rnd 26: Rep rnd 8, change color to natural.
Rnds 27-29: Rep rnd 9.
Rnd 30: Rep rnd 8, change color to black.
Rnd 31: Sl st in first sc, ch 3, [sl st in next sc, ch 3] around, join in first sl st. Fasten off.

Drawstring
Make 2.
With MC and black, ch 60. Fasten off.
Weave first Drawstring through every 3rd ch sp of rnd 24, knot ends tog; beg at opposite side edge, weave 2nd Drawstring through every 3rd ch sp of rnd 25, knot ends tog. Hold each knotted ends and pull ends to close Purse.
For easy find, sew button to inside back center, place drawstring over button. For outside use, unbutton any button, pass Tab through drawstring and rebutton Tab securing Purse.

DOWNLOAD
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Other project series:

• Afghan Project of the Month
• Scrap Project of the Month
• Doily Project of the Month