Continued from Page 1 of this pattern ...
Carry Handle Row 1: ch 1, sc in ea of first 20 sc, ch 21 (for handle opening), skip
next 15 sc, sc in ea of next 20 sc.
Carry handle Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc in ea of first 20 sc, make 24 sc in ch-21 sp
(for handle opening), sc in ea of next 20 sc.
Carry Handle Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc in ea of first 19 sc, make an sc decrease over next 2 sc (to draw the curve inward that's at the beginning of the carry handle, so it won't buckle), sc in ea of next 22 sc, make an sc decrease over next 2 sc, sc in ea of next 19 sc.
Carry Handle on Other Side: Attach the yarn in the first stitch on the other short side of
the piece and repeat rows 1 - 3 of the Carry Handle Rows.
Do not end off if you are making the bag all in one color but continue with the
Side Piece directions. If you are using a different color for the Side Piece then end off and
attach the next color in the first stitch at the top of the long side of the piece.
Side Piece Row 1: ch 1, then work down the long edge, make an sc around the edge sc of
each of the first 4 sc rows then 2 sc around the post of of the edge dc on next 23 dc rows, then
make an sc around the edge sc of each of the next 8 sc rows (you will leave the other stitches
along the long side unworked for now).
Side Piece Row 2: ch 1, turn. sc in ea sc across the first row of the Side Piece. (58 sc)
Side Piece Rows 3 - 8: ch 1, turn. sc in ea sc across. (58 sc)
Do not end off at end of Side Piece Row 8 but continue with the Joining row.
Joining Row Preparation: Fold the piece in half now (with the wrong sides facing out; you
will turn it right side out when joining is completed). Line up the
top edges. Hold the piece so that the Side Piece Rows are nearest you then line up the Side Piece
Row 8 so that it's even with the edge of the Long Side. Now you will crochet through both the
Side Piece Row 8 and the Long Side stitches to join the two pieces.
Joining Row: ch 1, insert the hook below the sc on
the edge of the first row of the Side Piece and at the same time, continue to insert the hook below the sc on the edge of the first row of the Long Side, yarn over the hook and pull the yarn through both pieces, yarn over hook, pull yarn through both
loops on the hook (which completes as a single crochet stitch).
In this same joining manner, sc around each edge sc of next 3 sc rows, working around Side
Piece and Long Side stitches at the same time.
Next, insert the hook below the sc on edge of the next row of the Side Piece and at the same time continue to insert the hook below the post of the dc on edge of
the row that lines up, of the Long Side, yarn over hook, pull the yarn through both pieces and continue to complete
as a regular single crochet, same as the first joining sc made on this side. Continue in this same manner,
with 2 sc made around each dc post along the Long Side (always making the stitch around the sc stitch of the Side Piece
and the corresponding dc post of Long Side at the same time, to join the pieces).
When you reach the end of this side, you will have 8 unworked sc left on the
Long Side and the bottom edges of the rows of the Side Piece left unjoined. To join these 8 stitches,
* insert the hook above the sc on edge of the next Side Piece row and at the same time, continue
to insert the hook under the sc on edge of the next Long Side row, yarn over hook, pull yarn through
both sc stitches and complete as a single crochet **, repeat the directions from * to ** for the next
7 remaining stitches. At this point, there should be no gap left unjoined on this side of the
tote bag.
Completing Other Side of the Tote: Repeat Side Piece Rows 1 - 8 then repeat Joining Row.
End off, leaving a strand for weaving in. Weave in the ends, to secure.
Turn right side out.
If you wish to add a shoulder strap also, make a chain of 100 or more chains, according to the length you want the strap to be. Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook, sc in ea chain across, then ch 1 to turn, sc in ea sc across for the second row. Make the strap at least 4 rows wide (all in single crochet) and up to 8 rows wide if you want a thicker strap. Securely sew one end of the strap to the top edge of the Side Pieces on each side of the tote bag.
