Every once in awhile I get the itch to do something new with the Moroccan Tile stitch... and it's an itch I love to scratch! With the holidays coming up, it's the perfect time to add the latest addition to the series: the Moroccan Handbag free crochet pattern!

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Moroccan Handbag

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• US - I, 5.5mm hook (Furls Fiberarts used)
• 150 yds Lion Brand Vanna's Choice (Aran/yarn symbol “4”/UK: 10 ply; 145 yds; 3oz)
  Color A - Charcoal Grey, (100 yds)
  Color B - Rose Mist (50 yds)
• Stitch Markers (Clover used)
• Gauge: 12 sts = 4"/10cm in hdc
• Finished Size: 10.5" at widest, 7" tall (laid flat)
• Stitch multiple: any mult of 3 in Rnd 4
• Helpful Tutorials: Bag Bottoms; STDC - Standing Double Crochet; CSDC - Chainless Starting Double Crochet; Moroccan Tile Stitch in the round; Bag Handles; Extending a row with FSC

SPECIAL STITCHES

• V st: (dc, ch 1, dc) in indicated st
• STDC (Standing Double Crochet): click here for tutorial; can substitute "join to indicated st and ch 3" if preferred
• CSDC (Chainless Starting Double Crochet): click here for tutorial; can substitute "ch 3" if preferred
• Extending FSC (Foundations Single Crochet): click here for tutorial; can substitute "ch 13" for entire FSC sections
• Anchor FSC (Foundation Single Crochet): Insert hook in bottom of previous FSC as to begin a new FSC st, insert hook in indicated st, yo and pull up a loop through st and previous fsc (2 loops on hook), yo and pull through 1st loop on hook (2 loops on hook), yo and pull through both loops on hook. (See photos below)

NOTE

• Use a stitch marker in the unused active loop to keep it from pulling  out as you work the next round.
• Also, use stitch markers to mark skipped stitches on each side of the bag to make sure the handles on Round 19 line up. You may need to adjust these due to tension issues.
• This pattern starts as rows, and switches to rounds. See the Bag Bottoms tutorial linked above for more info on this technique.
• There are lots of advanced techniques and stitches used here, but there are tutorials for all of these linked above, along with instructions on stitches to substitute if you prefer a simpler pattern.

INSTRUCTIONS

Row 1: With Color A, ch 31, skip the 1st ch, hdc in each remaining ch to end; turn. (30 sts)

Row 2 and 3: Ch 1, hdc in each st across; turn. (30 sts)

Round 4: Ch 1, *hdc across (30 sts), turn work 90 degrees to work along the side, hdc in the end of each row (3 sts),** turn work 90 degrees to work along the bottom of the 1st row; repeat from * to **, join with a sl st. (66 sts)

Round 5: Ch 2, dc in next st (counts as 1st dc2tog), ch 1, dc2tog in previous st and next st, *dc2tog in next 2 sts, ch 1, dc2tog in previous st and next st; repeat from * around, join to top of 1st dc, remove hook and place marker in active loop. (22 ch-1 sps) (see tutorial for this round's stitches here)

Round 6: With Color B, STDC in 1st ch-1 sp of Round 5, ch 1, dc in same ch-1 sp (1st V st made), V st in each ch-1 sp around; move working yarn and active loop of Color A to front of work, join to top of STDC, remove hook and place marker in active loop. (22 V sts)

Round 7: Replace hook in Color A active loop, (CSDC, ch 1, dc) between first and last sts of the round before the previous round (NOT in the ch sp, but between the dc2tog sts; 1st V st made), *V st in the next sp between dc2tog sts of round before the previous round, enclosing previous round; repeat from *, leave working yarn and active loop of Color B behind fabric, join to top of CSDC, remove hook and place marker in active loop. (22 V sts)

Round 8: Insert hook in the ch sp of the first V st of the previous round, replace hook in active loop of Color B and pull it through the V to the front, leaving working yarn behind, CSDC, ch 1, dc in the ch sp of that first V (1st V st made), V st in each ch-1 sp around; move working yarn and active loop of Color A to front of work, join to top of CSDC, remove hook and place marker in active loop. (22 V sts)

Round 9: Replace hook in active loop of Color A, CSDC, ch 1, dc between first and last V of the row before the previous round, *V st in the next sp between V sts of round before the previous round; repeat from *, leave working yarn and active loop of Color B behind fabric, join to top of CSDC, remove hook and place marker in active loop. (22 V sts)

Round 10: Repeat Round 8.

Round 11 - 16: Repeat Rounds 9 and 10, break Color B.

Round 17: Replace hook in active loop of Color A, (CSDC, 2 dc) between first and last V of the row before the previous round, *3 dc in the next sp between V sts of round before the previous round; repeat from *, leave working yarn and active loop of Color B behind fabric, join to top of CSDC. (66 sts)

Round 18: Ch 1, sc in each st around; join to 1st sc. (66 sts)

Round 19: Ch 1, sc in 1st 18 sts, *Extending FSC 1, FSC 11, skip 13 sts, (Anchor FSC, sc) in next st**, sc in next 19 sts; repeat from * to **, sc in last st; join. (66 sts)
ALTERNATE (SIMPLE) ROUND 19: Ch 1, sc in 1st 18 sts, *ch 13, skip 13 sts**, sc in next 20 sts; repeat from * to **, sc in last  2 sts; join. (40 sc and 26 ch)

Round 20 and 21: Ch 1, sc in each st around; join. (66 sts)

Round 22: Sl st in each st around; join and break Color A. Weave in ends.

And now there's a free crochet pattern for the Moroccan Handbag! I hope you enjoy this addition to the collection! These little bags are perfect for holiday parties, teacher gifts, or filling with treats for extra special handmade gifts!

Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2016, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. To print this pattern for personal use, please use the green Print Friendly button at the bottom of the pattern. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern, or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern!