FOLIE BAG BEACH BAG

DETAILED PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

OVAL BASE

Using the black yarn and size 4.5 crochet-hook, chain 23 1 ch turning ch (never count it like a st); the base ch measures approx. 15 cm in length

Round 1: 2 hdc in the 2nd ch from the hook. (place 1 SM in the 1st hdc to mark the beginning of the round and move it in the 1st sc of every next round), 1 hdc in each of the 21 next ch., 3 hdc in the last ch, turn and continue on the opposite side of the base ch, then work 1 hdc in each of the 21 next ch, 1 hdc in the same base st of the first 2 hdc of the round; 1 sl st in the beg hdc. [48 hdc]

Round 2: 1 ch and 2 hdc in the 1st hdc, 2 hdc in the next st, 21 hdc, 2 hdc in each of 3 next sts, 21 sc, 2 sc in the last hdc; 1 sl st in the beg hdc. [54 hdc]

Round 3: 1 ch and 2 hdc in the 1st hdc, 1 hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, 1 hdc in the next st, 21 hdc, (2 hdc in the next st, 1 hdc) 3 times, 21 hdc, 2 hdc in the next st, 1 hdc; 1 sl st in the beg sc. [60 hdc]

Cut the black yarn and now use the dark-blue yarn.

Round 4: 1 ch and 1 hdc in the 1st hdc, 1 hdc, 2 hdc in the next st, 2 hdc, 2 hdc in the next st, 21 hdc, (2 hdc, 2 hdc in the next st) 3 times, 21 hdc, 2 hdc, 2 hdc in the next st; 1 sl st in the beg sc. [66 hdc]

BODY OF THE BAG

Continue in filet crochet.

Round 1: 4 ch (replace the 1st dc and 1 ch of every rounds), place 1 SM in the 3rd of the 4 ch to mark the beginning of the round (move the SM at beginning of every next round), (1 dc in the next st, 1 ch) 65 times; 1 sl st in the 3rd of the 4 beg ch. [66 empty squares]

Now use black yarn and size 5 mm crochet-hook.

Round 2 to 22: 4 ch, (1 dc in the next dc, 1 ch) 65 times: 1 sl st in the 3rd of the 4 beg ch. Alternate the colors every 3 rounds. [66 empty squares]

Cut the yarn and fasten off.

FINISHING

Flatten the bag by overlapping the front and back. Place 1 SM into the empty square of both sides of the bag (red highlighted in diagram 2), leaving 32 empty squares on the front and 32 empty squares on the back. Then, mark the 4 sts at the center front and center back (red highlighted in diagram 2), placing 1 SM into the 1st and 4th stitch of each group. Now work separately in filet crochet on the section to the right and the section to the left of the 4 central sts at the front and back. Work each section on 29 empty squares (half of the stitches are placed on the front and half on the back of the bag). Begin working the first section, alternating the colors as previously indicated.

LEFT HANDLE SECTION

Join the black yarn at point A of diagram 2 and work 3 rows in mesh stitch in back-and-forth, decreasing one empty square on each side of every row like indicated. Work two pieces separately, from 4th to 13th row, following diagram 2 and shaping the edges of the side opening only. After working the 13th row of both pieces of left section, cut the yarn.

RIGHT HANDLE SECTION

Also in this section, alternate the colors.

Join the yarn at point C of the diagram 2 and work as given for left part. At the end of 13th row (of both pieces of right section) work 45 ch and join with 1 sl st at corresponding 13th row of left section, joining the starting chains at the end of 13th row C with the 13th row B and starting chains at the end of 13th row D with the 13th row A. This closes the handles at the top.

FINISHING

Inner edges of the handles and central openings (x 2): work 1 round in sl st in the 45 ch of the handle and in sc along the shaped edges at front center. Work in the same way on the inner edge of the other handle and the shaped edges at the center back.

Outer edge of the handles and sides: work 1 round in sl st on side opposite the 45 ch of each handle and in sc along the shaped edges of each side opening.

Tie off the thread.