Extra Large Bellagio Tote

Before you head to the beach or farmer's market, be sure to work up this Extra Large Bellagio Tote. The colorful stripes make this project stand out from other free crochet patterns. Throw your essentials in this handmade tote and head out in style.


 

Materials:

• DROPS PARIS Cotton 1.8 oz (50 g) = approx 82 yds (75 m) (www.garnstudio.com) : COL.1 : 50gr 08 dark purple COL.2 : 50gr 11 opal green COL.3 :50gr 05 light purple COL.4: 50gr 09 strong blue COL.5: 50gr 38 raspberry COL.6: 50gr 32 light blue purple COL.7: 50gr 10 dark turquoise COL.8: 50gr 31 medium purple COL.9: 50gr 48 petrol COL.10 :50gr 02 light turquoise
• Two 44 x 4cm corrugated plastic strips
• Hook : 4.5mm / US 7

The bag is made of:

• A 44 X 44cm (17¼” X 17¼”) SACK worked in the round, with an upper 4cm (1½”) folded border
• 2 HANDLES made of a 60 X 5cm (23½” X 2”) stripe each, folded lengthwise.

Instructions:

SACK :
Start the sack from the Bottom, using COL.1, then work the Body following color pattern of the Diagram.

Bottom: Chain one row of 62 ch. 1 ROUND: Work 3 sc in the first ch, 1 sc in each of the next 60 ch, 3 sc in the last ch, turn the piece, work 1 sc in each of the next 60 ch. Finish by working 1 sl st in sc at beg of round (Total 126 st).



Body: Continue working on the round as follows (see also the Diagram):
1 ROUND: work 1 dc on each sc. 2 ROUND: 3 ch, *1 ch, 4 dc in the 4th dc, 1 ch, skip 2 dc, 1 dc in the next dc*. Repeat form * to * and finish the round with 1 sl st.

2 ROUND: Work 2 sc in each of the first 3 sc of the previous row, work 1 sc in each of the the next 60 sc, 2 sc in the next 3 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 60 sc. Finish by working 1 sl st in sc at beg of round (Total 132 st).

3 ROUND: Work *1 sc in the next sc, 2 sc in the next sc*, repeat from * to * twice. Work 1 sc in each of the next 60 sc, *1 sc in the next sc, 2 sc in the next sc* , repeat from * to * twice. Finish by working 1 sl st in sc at beg of round (Total 138 st)



4 ROUND: Work *2 sc in the first sc, 1 sc in the next sc, 1 sc in the next sc*. Repeat from* to * twice. Work 1 sc in each of the following 60 sc. Repeat from * to * three times. Work 1 sc in each of the following 60 sc. Finish by working 1 sl st in sc at beg of round (Total 144 st).

5 ROUND: *Work 2 sc in the first sc, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sc*, repeat from * to * twice. Work 1 sc in each of the first 60 sc, repeat from * to * 3 times. Work 1 sc in each of the next 60 sc. Finish by working 1 sl st in sc at beg of round (Total 150 sc).

From the 6 to the 8 ROUND: continue working on the round (in total 150 sc).

3 ROUND: 3 ch, *2 ch, 1 dc group in the next 4 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc in the next dc*. Repeat form * to* and finish
by working 1 sl st in sc at beg of round.

dc group = in each of the 4 dc work 1 dc but wait with last pull-through (=5 sts on hook). Make 1 YO and pull thread through all sts (= 1 st on hook).

4 ROUND: 3 ch, *2 dc in the 2 ch-loop, 1 dc in the next dc, 2 dc in the next 2 ch-loop and 1 dc in the next dc*. Repeat from * to * and finish with a sl st at beg of round.

Diagram
Repeat Round 2, 3, 4

Repeat from st 2 to 7

BORDER:
Continue working sc for approx. 4 cm (1½’’) using COL.9. Work the next round (for the fold of the upper border) repeating *1 sc , 1 ch* and making 4 buttonholes (3 ch, skip 3 st, 1 sc) corresponding to the handles innest (to insert the STRIPES)

Repeat ROUND 2 to 4 switching colors as depicted in the Diagram.
Continue working 1 sc in each st for further 4 cm (1½’’) using COL.10.

HANDLE (x 2):
Crochet 80 ch.
Work 1 sc in each sc using COL.5 for 5 cm (2’’).
Fold the stripe lengthwise and sew the border together with a sl st row.



ASSEMBLY:
Insert and sew the handles in the upper border of the bag.
Fold the border lengthwise, insert the plastic stripes and sew the border.
Iron gently the body of the bag.