Holiday Tote Bag

Do your holiday shopping and carry Christmas gifts in a homemade holiday tote bag from Lily Sugar n' Cream. This tote bag crochet pattern is easy to make and a great size for shopping.

Materials:

• Yarn: Lily Sugar’n Cream  420 g / 14.75 oz.
• Crochet Hook: Size 4 mm (U.S. G/6) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
  
• Optional: cardboard

Size:   Finished size: Approx 17 x 14 ins [43 x 35.5 cm].

Gauge: 15 sts and 17 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] in pat.

Instructions:

Front and Back (make alike)
Note: Turning ch 2 does not count as st.

Ch 53.
1st row: (RS). 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. 1 hdc in each ch to end of ch. Turn. 51 hdc.
**2nd row: Ch 3 (counts as dc). 1 dc in each hdc to end of row. Turn.
3rd row: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each dc to end of row. Turn.
Last 2 rows form Pat.**
Keeping cont of pat, work a further 35 rows. Fasten off.

Side / Bottom Panel
Ch 18.
1st row: (RS). 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. 1 hdc in each ch to end of ch. Turn. 16 hdc.
Rep from ** to ** as given above until work from beg measures 45 ins [114.5 cm]. Fasten off.

Straps: (make 2).
Ch 113.
1st row: (RS). 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch to end of ch. Turn.
2nd to 4th rows: Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc to end of row. Turn. Fasten off at end of 4th row.

Finishing
With WS of Front and Side tog, join yarn with sl st to top left corner. Ch 1. Working through both thicknesses, work 1 row of sc down left side, across bottom and up right side of Bag. Fasten off. Rep for Back.

Edging: With RS facing, join yarn with sl st, to top of Bag.
1st and 2nd rnds: Ch 1. 1 sc in same sp as sl st. Work 1 rnd of sc around top of Bag. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off at end of 2nd rnd.
Sew Straps to Bag as shown in picture.

Optional: Cut a piece of cardboard 5 x 17 ins [12.5 x 43 cm] and place in bottom of Bag.

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