Tote bag finished with Free Pattern ©!

I really enjoyed the Tote Bag exchange at Crochet Depot (No longer ALIVE), I know that I have learned something new about making totes and linners. I would have loved to make a felted tote, but I really did not have the time to do that, nor the yarn at this time. All in all it was a great experience that I will carry with me for future enterprises of the same. This pattern id available for PDF Download at Ravelry.

So i decided to make my Tote in Lion Brand Chenille with Teal and the variegated kind was the Armsterdam. A Variegated color blend of teal, purple and some other tones. Here you see the Teal Back. Chenille may refer to either a type of cored yarn or fabric made from it.

Chenille, the French word for caterpillar, is typically used to describe a type of yarn manufactured by piles (short lengths) wrapped around a tightly wound core. The yarn is commonly manufactured from cotton fabrics, but chenille can also describe acrylic, rayon and olefin fibers. The arrangement of the piles, extending at right angles from the yarn’s core gives the iridescent texture which the fabric is most commonly known for.

Though production of chenille-type yarns extends back to the 18th century, standards of industrial production were not introduced until the 1990s, marked by the formation of groups such as the Chenille International Manufacturers Association (CIMA - an organization formed with the mission to improve industrial manufacturing processes through education). In the 1930s chenille became widely desired as type of tufted fabric in carpets and bedspreads, though wasn’t popularized until commercialized production in the 1970s.

Most chenille fabrics should be dry cleaned, but if left to air-dry do not hang. Chenille is not easy to crochet or knit with and if you have to frog your project you will definitely learn to hate this material with a passion unless you have the patience of a Saint or a Taurean, one of those guys from the colonies of Battlestar Galactica!

A Taurean like from the Twelve Colonies that were founded by settlers from Kobol, the birthplace of the human species. In the original series, the twelve tribes of humans settled on twelve different planets in the fictional Cyranus binary solar system. All Colonial planets were depopulated by the Cylons during The Destruction of the Twelve Colonies. The names of the colonies are taken from the constellations of the Zodiac:

Well going back to the tote bag once more, talk about being focused ha ha ha, here is the front with the variegated yarn in the middle. I thought it would be very elegant this way. it is made in a very simple stitch.

Free Pattern for this Tote ( © Crafty Andy 2007)

Materials Lion Brand Chenille 2 variegated skeins, 3 solid color skeins

G Hook

Darning needle

Ruler or measuring tape

Stitch Marker (optional tool)

1/2 yard of complementary fabric

Button for closing

Gauge is unimportant as long as it is consistent.
Tote Bag will measure approx. about 13 Tall by 12 Wide when finished.

(Make 2) Front and back of Tote

Start by making a chain of 57 (or odd number increases by 2 i.e. 59, 61)chains, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in every sc, (56 sc, 58 or 60)

Row 1 Ch 1 turn, skip 1st sc, * 2 sc in next sc, skip next sc repeat from * until the end.(You need to count your sc, they need to be 56) or multiples of 2, i.e. 58, 60.

Row 2-and so on repeat Row 1 until desired lenght of 12 by 11 or your desired size

Border: Double Crochet all around and make sure you have 56 stitches on top and on bottom, as this are necessary for the sewing of the bottom part, be consistent. Make sure the stitches on the sides are the same amount so that when you sew the two parts they match. Finish off. Leave enough for sewing the front and back together if you like at this time. Be creative with the pattern use different kinds of colors. The border is what is going to make this bag the size that you want and like, remember that as long as you keep the number of stitches consistent you will be fine.


Bottom of Sack or Base

**At the end slip stitch to beginning ch 1, ch 1

Rnd 1 Ch 6, slip st to 1st ch from hook to form a ring. Ch 1, 8 sc inside the ring, ch1
Rnd 2 2 sc in each sc around, **(16 sc).
Rnd 3 (sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (24 sc).
Rnd 4 (sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times **(32 sc).
Rnd 5 (sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (40 sc).
Rnd 6 (sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (48 sc).
Rnd 7 (sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (56 sc).
Rnd 8 (sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (64 sc).
Rnd 9 (sc in each of next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (72 sc).
Rnd 10 (sc in each of next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (80 sc).
Rnd 11 (sc in each of next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (88 sc).
Rnd 12 (sc in each of next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (96 sc).
Rnd 13 (sc in each of next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (104 sc).
Rnd 14 (sc in each of next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc) rep 8 times ** (112 sc).
Rnd 15 sc in each sc around, **
Rnd 16 and beyond repeat Rnd 15 until circle is done and measures 9.5 to 10 inches in diameter. Fasten off do not ch 1, slip stitch to beginning ch1.


Handle or Shoulder Strap (front Make one or two see below ***)

*** If handle is done with one strand of yarn it will be advisable to do a back side as well either as a repeat of the front or using the back instructions given below***)
FRONT
Row1 Ch 7, sc in 2nd chain from hook and each chain(6 sc), turn.
Row 2 ch 1, sc in each sc, turn
Row 3 ch 1, sc in next xt, FPDC around post of stitch below

Repeat Rows 2 and 3nd until desired length, between 24- to 48 inches

*** Back of Handle or Shoulder Strap
(Optional if front is done with double strands)
Back

Row1 Ch 7, sc in 2nd chain from hook and each chain(6 sc), turn.
Row 2 ch 1, sc in each sc, turn.
repeat row 2 until desired length, , when done finish off leaving a tail to be weaved in later.

Fastening strap (optional)

Row1 Ch4, sc in 2nd chain from hook and each chain(3 sc), turn.
Row 2 ch 1, sc in each sc, turn.
make to desired length for closing your bag with the object that you chose for the closure. I used twelve inches for mine.

Lining the bag cab be found here at the Lining Tutorial from helloknitty (optional and appreciated) Thanks Naomi for the link.

Finishing the Tote:

1. Sew front to back with darning needle and yarn, I used double strands.


2. Liner may be sown now or later it depends on you, I sew the liner at the end, before the handle. If I was going to do it again, I would do it before the bottom is sewn, then turn the bag inside out and sew the bottom. The stitching on the liner will look better.


3. Alingning bottom should be easy as you have the same amount of stitches, sew bottom to upper part.


4. At this time if you sewed the lining inside out you can turn the bag inside out and there will be no seams.


5. At this time you can sew the two sides of the handle together.


6. Sew handle to the bag.


7. Attach the strap for the button


8. Attach button or clasp.


9. Weave the ends that need weaving, take advatage of the lining to hide stuff.


10. Attach fringe to bottom or to shoulder strap (optional), handcrafted by ... label.


11. enjoy your new bag

© Crafty Andy 2007 , these are the only copyright instructions I have. You are not to claim ownership of the pattern, do not use for mass commercial use. If you are going to use it in a crochet along let me know, you can always ask my permision to post it in a website along with the copyrights. Make as many as you want and if you sell them good for you may you prosper beyond your fondest dreams. Be kind and point to this blog and may you Live Long and Prosper.

Adornements (optional)

In the Picture below the border has not been added yet, but will eventually find it's way.

Shoulder strap of two colors here for your view!

I also decided to make the bottom in the round in a combination of both yarns. The bottom was made in single crochet all around.

I hope that you have enjoyed my tale and thanks to people like Naomi and Deneen that always inspire me to write patterns. Calypso always inspires me to sew! I will tell you that I write the patterns after I make the items. Is like when I did computer programming I would write the program after I conceived the idea in my mind. I have made every effort to make sure the numerology is good, if you find an error feel free to email me. I always have certain numbers that I follow and thus I never forget certain things. I like numbers that add to 11 or 22 and keeping that in mind you shall see that my patterns usually follow that, numerology it is fun!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths
we take, but by the moments that take our
breath away. "

By George Carlin

Thanks for stopping by!