Flower Market Purse

This intermediate crochet pattern creates a great-shaped purse with embroidered stars and a crochet flower embellishment. Let your creativity guide your embroidery and embellishment with this bag crochet pattern.

Materials:

• Caron International One Pound (100% acrylic; 16 oz/454 g, 812 yds/742 m skein): 1 skein A.
• Caron International's Simply Soft (100% acrylic; 6 oz/170 g, 315 yds/288 m skein): 1 skein B.
• Caron International's Simply Soft Brites (100% acrylic; 6 oz/170 g, 315 yds/288 m): 1 skein C. Shown in: #581 Espresso (A), #9703 Bone (B), #9609 Berry Blue (C)
• One size US I-9 (5.5mm) crochet hook, or size to obtain gauge.
• 30 g bronze rocaille 'e' beads
• 2 wooden beads—1/2"/1 cm diameter
• Pair of pale blue plastic purse handles
• Beading needle (or other slender needle that will fit through holes in 'e' beads)
• Yarn needle (that will fit through holes in wooden beads)

Optional

• 4 pieces of plastic needlepoint mesh—13 1/2 x 10 1/2"/34.5 x 26.5 cm (for lining)
• 1 piece of plain, lightweight paper—19 x 10 1/2"/48.5 x 26.5 cm (for lining template)
• 1/2 yd/0.5 m fabric (for lining)

Finished Size: Tote measures approximately 11"/28 cm wide (at base) x 3 1/2"/9 cm deep (at base) x 10 1/2"/26.5 cm high

Gauge:

In single crochet, holding 2 strands of C together, using US I-9 (5.5mm) hook, 13 sts and 14 rows = 4"/10 cm.

In single crochet, holding 1 strand of A, using US I-9 (5.5mm) hook, 13 sts and 14 rows = 4"/10 cm.

Special Stitch:

sc2tog: Single crochet 2 together – Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, (two loops on hook), insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through all three loops on hook.

Instructions:

BASE

With 1 strand of A, chain 26.

Note: Work stitches in back loops only, throughout base.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn—25 sc.

Rows 2–6: Ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in each sc to last sc, 2 sc in last sc, turn—35 sc.

Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.

Rows 8–12: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each sc to last 2 sc, sc2tog, turn—25 sc.

Fasten off.

SIDES (make 2)

With 1 strand of A, chain 40.

Note: Work stitches in back loops only, throughout sides.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn—39 sc.

Rows 2 and 3: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in each sc to last sc, 2 sc in last sc, turn—41 sc.

Rows 5 and 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.

Rows 7–21: Repeat Rows 4–6 five more times—51 sc.

Fasten off A.

Row 22: Hold 2 strands of B together and join with sc in first sc, sc in same sc, sc in each sc to last sc, 2 sc in last sc, turn—53 sc.

Rows 23 and 24: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.

Rows 25–36: Repeat Rows 4–6 four more times—61 sc.

Fasten off.

YARN FLOWERS (make 2)

Center

Thread 2 strands of B onto the yarn needle and draw through the center of one wooden bead. Take the needle back around and through the bead, from the same direction, a second and third time, wrapping both sides of the bead. Pull the ends of the strands gently to tighten (do not over tighten).

Insert crochet hook under one of the side wraps, yarn over with B and draw up a loop, hold bead to work into same side wrap. Round 1 is worked around the center bead by working stitches into the two side wraps.

Round 1: Ch 1, work 5 sc in same side wrap, work 5 sc in the opposite side wrap; join with slip st in first sc—10 sc. Fasten off.

Petals

Join C with slip st in back loop of next sc of center.

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in same sc, sc in next sc; leave remaining sts unworked, turn—2 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, turn—4 sc.

Row 3: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first sc, hdc in each remaining sc, turn—5 hdc.

Row 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in first hdc, dc in each remaining hdc, turn—6 dc.

Row 5: Ch 1, [sc2tog] 3 times; ch 1, slip st in end of each previous row, slip st into next sc of center.

Repeat Rows 1–5 four more times to make a total of 5 petals.

Ring of Beads

Cut an 18"/45.5 cm length of B and divide it lengthwise into 4 single strands. Fold one strand in half and thread the two ends into a beading needle. Pick up and thread 20 rocaille beads onto the yarn. Take needle through the loop formed by the fold and gently tighten to form a ring of beads. Using the yarn tail, sew the ring of beads around the center bead of the flower. The remaining 3 single strands can be used when making the beaded flowers.

LARGE BEADED FLOWERS (make 2)

1. Using yarn to match location of bag onto which flower will be sewn, and 20 rocaille beads, make a ring of beads as for yarn flower.

2. Pull one of the strands of yarn out of the needle. *Thread 9 more beads onto the remaining strand and push them down snug against the bead ring. Skip 3 beads in bead ring and stitch through next bead in ring; repeat from * around to create 5 petals.

3. Using the yarn tails, sew the flower to the bag.

SMALL BEADED FLOWER (make 10)

1. Using yarn to match location of bag onto which flower will be sewn, and 10 rocaille beads, make a ring of beads as for yarn flower.

2. Pull one of the strands of yarn out of the needle. *Thread 7 more beads onto the remaining strand and push them down snug against the bead ring. Skip 1 bead in bead ring and stitch through next bead in ring; repeat from * around to create 5 petals.

3. Using the yarn tails, sew the flower to the bag.

FINISHING

Using yarn needle, weave in all ends.

Surface slip st on bag sides

With right side of bag side facing, holding 2 strands of C together on wrong side, insert hook through top of first st of Row 21 (top row of A color section), yarn over with C and draw loop to right side, *insert hook through top of next st of Row 21, yarn over with C and draw loop back through bag side and through loop on hook (surface slip st made); repeat from * across stitches of Row 21. Fasten off and pull end through last loop on hook. Repeat on other bag side.

Plastic Mesh Lining (optional)

Lay bag base on plastic mesh and cut around to create a bottom liner. Sew bag base to liner. Lay one bag side on a large piece of paper and trace around it. To assure symmetry, fold the paper outline in half and cut out. Overlap one piece of plastic mesh over another by at least 1"/2.5 cm and sew together. Lay paper pattern on extended mesh piece and cut out. Cut a second piece of mesh in the same manner for other side of bag. Sew lining sections to bag sides at side and lower edges. The upper edges will be stitched later.

Arrange and Attach Flowers

Sew one yarn flower to each bag side. Do not sew tips of petals to the bag. Sew one large beaded flower and five small beaded flowers to each side of bag.

Fabric Lining (optional)

Trace the bag sides and base onto fabric and cut out, leaving a 1/2"/1 cm seam allowance around all edges. Sew the sides of the fabric lining together, then sew the base of the fabric lining to the sides of the lining.

Assembly

Sew the edges of the plastic canvas lining together (if used). Sew the sides of the bag together, matching the yarn color to the sections of the bag. Sew the base to the lower edge of the bag.

Upper Edge Trim

With C, sew upper edge of bag to plastic canvas lining (if used), using blanket stitch and sewing one blanket stitch into each single crochet of upper edge. If no plastic canvas lining is used, sew blanket stitch around upper edge of bag, sewing one stitch into each single crochet around the edge. Place fabric lining (if used) inside bag and sew liner to inside of bag along upper edge.

Round 1: Hold 2 strands of C together and join with sc in any stitch of the blanket stitch border at upper edge of bag, sc in each remaining blanket stitch around; join with slip st in first sc.

Handles

Thread 2 strands of C onto needle and sew handles centered on upper edge of bag.