Cute crocheted tote bag

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My flatmate is forever saying I need a bag for all the yarn and equipment strewn around our flat, so I came up with this gorgeous solution. Of course, it's not only great to keep your crochet stuff in order, it's big and sturdy enough to tote around as a day bag.

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Materials
• Rowan Big Wool, 2 x 100g balls. I used Sugar Spun.
• Oddment of chunky yarn in contrast shade
• 1 pair straight bamboo or wooden handles
• 12mm crochet hook

Tension
6 sts and 6-1/2 rows to 10cm/4" square over double crochet.

Abbreviation
MB: Work 4 complete tr into same stitch (i.e., leaving last loop of each tr on hook), yarn round hook and pull through all 5 loops to make 1 st.
Click here for more info on crochet abbreviations and techniques.

Instructions
Back
Make 18 ch.
Foundation row (WS): 1 dc into 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc into each ch. 17 dc.
Rows 1 and 2: 1 ch, 1 dc into each dc.
Row 3: 1 ch, 2 dc, MB, 5 dc, MB, 5 dc, MB, 2 dc.
Rows 4 and 5: 1 ch, dc2tog, dc to end. 15 dc.
Row 6: 1 ch, 1 dc into each dc.
Row 7: 1 ch, 4 dc, MB, 5 dc, MB, 4 dc.
Rows 8 and 9: 1 ch, dc2tog, dc to end. 11 dc.
Row 10: 1 ch, 1 dc into each dc.
Row 11: 1 ch, 1 dc, MB, 4 dc, MB, 4 dc, MB, 1 dc.
Rows 12 and 13: 1 ch, dc2tog, dc to end. 11 dc.
Rows 14 and 15: 1 ch, 1 dc into each dc.
Fasten off. Work front to match.

Sides
Make 6 ch.
Foundation row (WS): 1 dc into 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc into each ch. 5 dc.
Rows 1 and 2: 1 ch, 1 dc into each dc.
Row 3: 1 ch, 2 dc, MB, 2 dc.
Row 4: 1 ch, 1 dc into each dc.
Repeat rows 1-4 9 times.
Work rows 1 and 2 again.
Fasten off.

Making up
With the wrong sides together, pin, then tack the sides in place. Using a smaller crochet hook, join with a row of double crochet through both thicknesses.

Using a smaller crochet hook and oddment of chunky yarn (something that matches your bag), attach the handles by working double crochet into each st across the top of bag and under and over the handle.

Once complete, line the bag with a strong piece of fabric.

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Excerpted from I Love Crochet: 25 projects that will show you how to crochet quickly and easily, copyright 2007 by Rachel Henderson and Sarah Hazell. Excerpted with permission from Kyle Cathie Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.