Grammy's Random Lace Pocket Tote
I'm Bi-Stitchual By: Melba Vincent aka Grammy's Textiles This little market bag can be tucked away in your purse or glove box for the next quick purchase you make. They make great gifts for birthday's or the holidays or serve as gift packaging. Skill level: Beginner + crochet skills needed and Intermediate knitting skills are needed. Knowledge of Casting on and binding off with a crochet hook helpful and working in the round necessary. Knowing how to knit lace is helpful. The bag size is determined by the yarn weight used. Tools: US size 6 circular needles and size 6 DPNs or size appropriate to your yarn. Size F crochet hook or size appropriate to your yarn. Yarn: About 200 yards of any machine washable DK or sock weight can be used. Kollage, Hope, DK weight, 100% organic cotton, was used for the white tote pictured. Misc: A large elastic pony tail band that is 5cm/2 inches in diameter. Make sure your elastic stretches without fraying or breaking. A tapestry-needle, and 5 movable stitch markers, with one colored differently from the others. Project notes: The idea behind this tote came from Myra Wood's book Crazy Lace. The basic concept is to create customized projects. US terminology used throughout. See page 4.
Step one - The pocket
Rd. 1: With the appropriate hook, make a slip knot with the yarn. Place the slip knot through the pony tail band and ch 1 to secure. Make 40 sc around the band. Sl st into the 1st st. 40 sts. You will be increasing by 20 sts each round. Mark this as the front side of your bag. Rd 2: Ch 3, dc in same space, (1 dc in the next sc, 2 dc in the next sc), repeat ( to ) around. Join with a sl st in top of the turning ch. 60 sts Rd 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with a sl st in turning ch. 60 sts. Rd 4: Ch 3, dc in same space, (dc in next 2 sc, 2 dc in next sc), repeat ( to ) around, joining with a sl st in top of tunning ch. 80 sts. Rd 5: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with a sl st in turning ch. 80 sts Rd 6: Ch 3, dc in same space, ( dc in the next 3 sc, 2 dc in the next sc), repeat ( to ) around, joining with sl st in top of turning ch. 100 sts Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Step two - The bag base
Notes: I like to decorate the bottom of my pocket totes with flowers or a motif or with surface crochet. The easiest way to do this is to make a spiral ruffled on the surface. To do this, you will work in the back loop on rounds 2 through 4. This step is optional.
Grammy's Random Lace Pocket Tote
I'm Bi-Stitchual By: Melba Vincent aka Grammy's Textiles Rd 1: Make a magic loop also known as an adjustable ring and make 20 sc in the center. Rd 2: Make 2 dc in each stitch around. 40 sts. Repeat rounds 2 through 6 of the pocket, only don't break off the yarn unless you are changing colors. Optional: As stated above, I like to decorate the bottom of my pocket totes with a motif or surface crochet. If you worked in the back loop, then you will be making a surface crochet ruffle by working in the available front loop. Attach the yarn at the beginning of row 2, and work 3 hdc in each front loop available. If you didn't remember to work in the back loop but still want to decorate your pocket, now is the time. Make an embellishment of your choice. You can wait till the bag is finished, but it's easier to attach the embellishment to the bag base now. Center the motif over the right side of the base, and using the long tail end from the center of the motif, attach around the 20 stitches. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Sample of the spiral surface crochet. It's made with a contrasting yarn to the tote yarn. Tote Yarn: Universal, Little Bird Colors, 100% acrylic
Tote Bag Sides
With the circular needles, and holding the right sides of pocket and bottom together, draw the last loop available through a stitch on the pocket. Place this loop on the needle. Pickup 99 stitches going through a stitch on both the pocket and bottom. 1o0 sts. Rounds 1-4, purl
First Lace Panel
Rounds 5 through14: I used the Random Lace Chart generator to create a mystery lace chart of 10 X 10. http://babyzcostumeshop.comyr.com/tools/knitt ing/random-knit-chart.htm But you can use one of your favorite lace stitch pattern that is evenly divided into 100 sts. Remember you're working in the round so you will work the chart all right to left. Rd 15. P Rd 16.-19. Seed st, or 2x2 ribbing. Or any stitch combo you want to do here. Rd 20. P
Second Lace Panel
I did 3 pattern repeats of basic mesh stitch per Vogue Knitting Stitchionary, Vol. 1, per Lion Brand Yarn. You can use any lace pattern that you like. Rd 1. (YO, K2tog), repeat around. Rd 2 & 4 are K Rd 3. (SKP, YO), repeat around Next rds: I did 2 rds of P, 1 rd of K, 2 rds of P, 1 rd if K. You can mix it up as crazy as you want for a total of 6 rounds.
Grammy's Random Lace Pocket Tote
I'm Bi-Stitchual By: Melba Vincent aka Grammy's Textiles
Third Lace Panel
This is crazy lace so again, your choice of any lace pattern can be used here. I used the following lace pattern. Repeat these 4 rounds twice more for a total of 12 rounds.
Top of Bag and Keyhole Handles
The top of the bag and handles are created using the linen stitch. Do 4 rounds of the following linen stitch pattern: (K1, wyif, S1), repeat around (wyif, S1, K1), repeat around Continue with the linen stitch for 15 sts. Slip the next 20 sts onto waste yarn or a stitch holder. Using a crochet hook, CO 40 sts (less if you want shorter handles, more if you want them longer). Continue with linen st for 30 sts. Slip the next 20 sts onto waste yarn or a stitch holder. With your hook, CO 40 sts, then finish the round with 15 linen sts. Next 2 rounds: Working around the top of bag and the handles, continue with the linen stitch for the next 2 rounds. Next Rd: Purl around. Bind Off with hook and/or needles. Note: If you want a wider handle, then do more rounds. Attach the yarn at the beginning of stitches on the stitch holder or place them on a DPN if they are on waste yarn. Using a crochet hook and a sc stitch, BO the 20 sts, then continue around the inside edge of the handles with sc sts. Slst in beg sc st. Cut yarn. Repeat on other handle. Weave in all loose ends, and if you haven't already, sew on your embellishment being careful not to catch the other parts of the tote. Be prepared to wow the clerk when you bring out your bag.
Grammy's Random Lace Pocket Tote
I'm Bi-Stitchual By: Melba Vincent aka Grammy's Textiles
Abbreviations used:
BO - Bind Off. Ch - chain. CO - Cast on. DPN - double pointed needles. K - knit. K2tog - knit 2 together. KF&B - knit front and back of same st. Opt - optional. P- purl. PM - place marker. PSSO - pass slip stitch over. Rds - rounds. SC - single crochet. SKP - Slip, knit, Passover. Slst - slip stitch. Sts - stitches. Wyif - With yarn in front. YO - yarn over.
Pattern Notes:
