Raised-Shells Crochet Bag

Design by Maggie Petsch

Skill Level:
Intermediate

Size:
12 inches x 14 1/2 inches

Materials

Gauge
[Shell, sl st] 6 times in pattern st = 5 inches with smaller hook.
Check gauge to save time.

Pattern Notes
Join rnds with a sl st unless otherwise stated.
To change color in sl st, drop working color to WS, sl st in indicated st with next color. To change color in dc, work dc in working color until last 2 lps before final yo rem on hook, drop working color to WS, yo with next color, complete dc.

Pattern Stitches
Shell: 5 dc in indicated st.
Half shell: 3 dc in indicated st.
Beg half shell: [Ch 3, 2 dc] in indicated st.
Sc cord: Ch 2, sc in 2nd ch from hook, twist work 1/2 turn away from you, sc under vertical strand at top of work, [twist work 1/2 turn away from you, sc under double vertical strand at top of work] rep until sc cord measures desired length.

Front
Row 1 (RS): With smaller hook and A, ch 116, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, [sk 2 chs, shell in next ch, sk 2 chs, sl st in next ch] rep across, turn. (19 shells)
Row 2: Beg half shell in back lp only of first sl st, sl st in center dc of next shell, [shell in back lp only of next sl st, sl st in center dc of next shell] rep across, ending with half shell in back lp only of last sl st, ch 1, turn. (18 shells; 2 half shells)
Row 3: Sl st in first dc, shell in back lp only of next sl st, [sl st in center dc of next shell, shell in back lp only of next sl st] rep across, ending with sl st in 3rd ch of turning ch-3, changing to B, turn.
Row 4: Rep Row 2, changing to C in last st.
Row 5: Rep Row 3.
Row 6: Rep Row 2, changing to A in last st.
Row 7: Rep Row 3, changing to C in last st.
Row 8: Rep Row 2, changing to A in last st.
Row 9: Rep Row 3.
Rows 10–12: Rep Rows 4–6.
Row 13: Rep Row 3, ending with sl st in 3rd ch of turning ch-3, do not change color; turn.
Rows 14 & 15: Rep Rows 2 and 3.
Rows 16–33: Rep Rows 4–15, ending with a Row 9, at end of Row 33, do not change to B; fasten off, turn.
Row 34: With WS facing, attach B with a sl st in center dc of first shell, [shell in back lp only of next sl st, sl st in center dc of next shell] rep across, fasten off, turn. (18 shells)
Row 35: With RS facing, rep Row 34 with C. (17 shells)
Row 36: Rep Row 34. (16 shells)
Row 37: With A, rep Row 35, do not fasten off; turn. (15 shells)
Row 38: Working in front lps only this row, sl st in first sl st and in each of next 2 dc, [sl st, ch 1, sc] in next dc, sc in next dc, *hdc in next dc, sk next sl st, hdc in next dc**, sc in each of next 3 dc, rep from * across, ending last rep at **, sc in each of next 2 dc, turn.

Front Top Flap
First half
Row 1: Working in front lps only, ch 2 (counts as first hdc throughout), hdc in each rem st across to last sc, ch 1, turn. (71 hdc)
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in each rem st across, ch 1, turn. (71 hdc)
Row 3: Sc in each st across, ch 1, do not turn. (71 sc)
Row 4: Reverse sc across, fasten off.
Second half
Row 1: With WS facing, using smaller hook, attach A with a sl st in first rem lp of Row 38, working in rem lps across, rep Row 1 of first half of front top flap.
Rows 2–4: Rep Rows 2–4 of first half of front top flap.

Back
Row 1: With RS facing, attach A with a sl st in first rem lp of foundation ch of front, ch 1, working in rem lps across, [sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk 2 sts, sl st in next st] rep across, turn.
Rows 2–38: Rep Rows 2–38 of front.

Back Top Flap
First half
Rows 1–4: Rep Rows 1–4 of first half of front top flap.
Second half
Rows 1–4: Rep Rows 1–4 of 2nd half of front top flap.
With tapestry needle, sew front and back tog at side seams, from Row 1 up to bottom of Row 33.

Top Flap Insert
Make 2
Drill a 1/4-inch-diameter hole 3/8 inch from top edge and 1/4 inch from each end of ruler.
Beg 1/2 inch from 1 end and 1/4 inch from bottom edge of ruler, drill 23 (1/8-inch-diameter) holes across bottom of ruler, approximately 1/2 inch apart, ending 1/2 inch from opposite end of ruler.
Insert bottom of ruler between first and 2nd halves of either top flap with numbered side facing out. With tapestry needle and A, backstitch first and 2nd halves of top flap tog through holes at bottom of ruler directly under reverse sc row.

Lining
Cut 2 lining pieces each 1/2 inch larger all around than front. With RS tog, allowing 1/2 inch for seam, sew sides and bottom tog with sewing needle and matching thread. Turn under 1/2 inch to WS around top opening. Sew lining into bag.

Button Flap
Row 1 (RS): With smaller hook and C, ch 14, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, [sk 2 chs, shell in next ch, sk 2 chs, sl st in next ch] twice, turn. (2 shells)
Row 2: Beg half shell in back lp only of first sl st, sl st in center dc of next shell, shell in back lp only of next sl st, sl st in center dc of next shell, half shell in back lp only of next sl st, ch 1, turn. (1 shell, 2 half shells)
Row 3: Sl st in first dc, shell in back lp only of next sl st, sl st in center dc of next shell, shell in back lp only of next sl st, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-3, turn. (2 shells)
Rows 4 & 5: Rep Rows 2 and 3.
Row 6: Rep Row 2.
Rnd 7: Sl st in first dc, shell in back lp only of next sl st, [sl st, ch 16, sl st] in center dc of next shell, shell in back lp only of next sl st, sl st in 3rd ch of turning ch-3, sl st evenly sp across end sts of each row to Row 1, working in rem lps of foundation ch, sl st in each rem lp across to next corner, sl st evenly sp across end sts of each row to Row 7, join in beg sl st, fasten off.
With tapestry needle and C, sew bottom of button flap to center of back top flap just below reverse sc row.
With sewing needle and thread, sew button to center top of front top flap just below ch-16 lp of button flap.

Handle
Make 2
With 2 strands A held tog, using larger hook, leaving a 6-inch length at beg for finishing, ch 5 (handle base made), work in sc cord for 15 1/2 inches or desired length for handle, ch 5 (handle base), fasten off, leaving 6-inch length for finishing.
Insert handle base from outside edge to inside edge in either hole at top of either end of either ruler; tack to back of bottom of sc cord with tapestry needle and 6-inch length left for finishing. Rep with opposite handle base in hole at opposite end of same ruler.