In just a couple of weeks, I'll be at the Knit and Crochet Show in Manchester, New Hampshire - helping to celebrate the Crochet Guild of America's 20th Anniversary. I'm super excited to go, and all that excitement has inspired two new crochet patterns! And since I missed last week due to flooding, I thought I'd best share both this week... Introducing the Manchester Handbag and Sunglasses Case!

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Whether it's the beach, the pool, the waterpark, or the local park, the Day at the Beach Bag is ready! With its generous size and wide straps, it's super practical, and the nautical striping and details make it a great way to show off your style - and crochet skills!

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Inspired by a "Vintage" stitch pattern

The Day at the Beach Bag was weeks in the designing - but it'll be a lot quicker to crochet! And I think it was totally worth it. I love all the little details, from the four"ropes" that run up to the handles, to the surface crochet on the handles themselves, to the stripe stitch pattern - borrowed from the Vintage Wobble Afghan! Every way you look at it, this bag is full of interest - for both the crocheter and the user!

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Day at the Beach Bag

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US - I, 5.5mm hook

800 yds Bernat Handicrafter (Worsted "4"'; 100% cotton)
Color A: Classic Navy (420 yds used), Color B: Sail White (380 yds used)

Stitch Markers

Gauge: 12 sts x 10 rows = 4" in hdc

Size: 23" wide x 17.5" tall (not including handles)

Helpful Links and Tutorials

Crochet Abbreviations

Stripes Stitch Pattern 

Bag Bottoms 

Seamless Join

Surface Crochet

NOTES:

• This is an intermediate difficulty pattern - please be sure to read all the notes and watch the linked tutorials as needed!
• I prefer to start a row of hdc with a ch 1 and an hdc in the first st. If you prefer to ch 2 then feel free to substitute.
• If you prefer not to break the yarn after each stripe, you can carry them along inside the bag - however this may result in some color showing through.
• The first 15 rows are worked in rows, then starting with Round 16 you'll be working in rounds - see the Bag Bottom Tutorial linked above.
• This pattern, beginning in Rnd 16, is worked in turned Rounds, or joined Rows. Use a stitch marker in the first and last stitch of each rnd to help you find your stitches.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Row 1: With Color A, Ch 62, hdc 61; turn. (61 sts)

Row 2 - 15: Ch 1, hdc across; turn. (61 sts)

Round 16: Ch 1, hdc 61 across, spin work clockwise to hdc 15 along side, spin work clockwise to hdc 61 across bottom of starting ch, spin work clockwise to hdc 15 along last side; join with a sl st in first hdc, turn. (152 sts)

Round 17: Ch 1, hdc in each st around; join with a sl st in first hdc, turn. (152 sts)

Round 18: (RS) Ch 1, hdc in the first 14 sts, ch 2, skip 1 st, hdc 31, ch 2, skip 1 st, hdc 43, ch 2, skip 1 st, hdc 31, ch 2, skip 1 st, hdc 29; join with a sl st in first hdc, break yarn. (148 hdc, 8 ch)

Round 19: With Color B, join with a  sl st to the st left of a ch-2 sp that is on the left, as you look at the RS of the bag (see diagram above). Ch 3 (as dc), *skip 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, skip 3 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, dc2tog over 3 sts (skipping center st), (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, skip 3 sts] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st, skip 2 sts, dc in the next st, ch 12, skip ch-2 sp, dc in the next st, skip 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, skip 3 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, dc2tog over 3 sts (skipping center st), (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, skip 3 sts] twice, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st, skip 2 sts, dc in the next st, ch 12, skip ch-2 sp, dc in the next st; repeat from *, omitting last dc; join with a sl st in top of ch 3, break yarn.

Round 20: Turn bag to work from WS, in opposite direction of last row. With Color A, join to top of ch-3 that began previous round with a sl st, ch 5 (as dc and ch 2), skip ch-12 sp, *dc in the next st, skip 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, skip 3 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, dc2tog in between the posts on either side of the dc2tog of the previous round, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, skip 3 sts] twice, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st, skip 2 sts, dc in the next st, ch 2, skip ch-12 sp, dc in the next st, skip 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, skip 3 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, dc2tog in between the posts on either side of the dc2tog of the previous round, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, skip 3 sts] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st, skip 2 sts,** dc in the next st, ch 2, skip ch-12 sp; repeat from * to **; join with a sl st in 3rd ch of ch 5, break yarn.

Round 21:  Turn bag to work from RS again. With Color B, join with a  sl st to the top of the ch-3 that began previous round, as you look at the RS of the bag (see diagram above). Ch 3 (as dc), *skip 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, skip 3 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, dc2tog in between the posts on either side of the dc2tog of the previous round, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, skip 3 sts] 3 times, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st, skip 2 sts, dc in the next st, ch 12, skip ch-2 sp, dc in the next st, skip 2 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st, skip 3 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, dc2tog in between the posts on either side of the dc2tog of the previous round, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st, skip 3 sts] twice, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the next st, skip 2 sts, dc in the next st, ch 12, skip ch-2 sp, dc in the next st; repeat from *, omitting last dc; join with a sl st in top of ch 3, break yarn.

Round 22 - 38: Repeat Rounds 20 - 21, ending with a Round 20 row.

ROPE ASSEMBLY TIME!

Lace up the ch-12 loops as shown above. In words: Pull each ch-12 loop underneath the ch-2 loop below it, pulling toward the RS (outside) of the bag. Pull each ch -12 loop through the ch-12 loop below it, moving on up the bag. At the top of each loopy section, use a stitch marker or scrap yarn to hold the last ch-12 loop up with the last ch-2 loop. When all 4 loop sections are complete, move to Round 39.

Round 39: With Color B, join to the ch-1 sp in the center of a (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) between 2 of the rope sections, on one side of the bag (see photo above). Ch 1, sc in the ch-1 sp, sc in next 2 sts, 3 hdc in the next ch-1 sp, hdc in the next st, 3 hdc in the next ch-1 sp, *sc in the next 2 sts, sc in the ch-1 sp, sc in the next 2 sts, hdc in the next st, dc in the ch-2 sp enclosing the ch-12 loop, dc in the next st, [sc in the next 2 sts, sc in the ch-1 sp, sc in the next 2 sts, 3 hdc in the next ch-1 sp, hdc in the next st, 3 hdc in the next ch-1 sp] 3 times; rep from * with bracket section worked twice; then rep from * with bracket section worked 3 times; then rep from * with bracket section worked once; sc in the last 2 sts; join with a sl st in 1st sc, break yarn.  (152 sts)

Round 40: With Color B, join to a st 2 sts before a dc that is on the right side of the bag (see photo above). Ch 1, hdc in same st as join, hdc in next 2 sts, ch 75 (or desired handle length), skip 31 sts, hdc in the next 45 sts, ch 75, skip 31 sts, hdc in the last 42 sts; join to first hdc with a sl st, do NOT turn. (90 hdc, 150 ch)

Round 41: Ch 1, hdc 3, dc in next 75 ch, hdc 45, dc in next 75 ch, hdc in last 42 sts; join to first hdc with a sl st, do NOT turn. (240 sts)

Round 42: Ch 1, hdc 3, dc 75, hdc 45, dc 75, hdc 42;  break yarn join to first hdc with a seamless join, do NOT turn. (240 sts)

Round 43: With Color B, (join anywhere) ch 1, sc around inside of handle opening, using seamless join to finish off.

Round 44: With Color A, (join anywhere) ch 1, sc around outside/top of handles and bag opening; join with a sl st in 1st sc, do NOT turn.

Round 45: Sl st in each st around; break yarn and use seamless join to finish off.

OPTIONAL: Add rows of surface crochet to the handles and top, as shown in the photo above. I used Color B, but Color A would make great stripes if you prefer!

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Time to Go!

Whew! That might look intimidating (and it was a bear to write it out!) but making it was so fun, I had to share it! Watching the tutorials will help you get an overview of how this bag comes together - and take the long lines of instruction one row at a time.

I'd bet that once you get started with each round, and see how they go, you'll be flying along in no time! I hope you enjoy making it as much as I did - and get a chance to take it somewhere fun soon!

Written pattern and photos copyright Tamara Kelly 2014. You are welcome to make finished items from this pattern to sell - see the About page for details.