Crochet Lucy Shells Bag

Skill level: Easy +

Size: Approx. 20” circumference x 12” deep (unstretched)

Materials:

Two 300-yd. balls size 10 bedspread wt. cotton, or similar wt. thread or yarn

(Note: two strands of size 10 cotton are held together throughout project. Bag can be made larger by using thicker yarn (e.g., sport wt.) and larger hook.)

Size G/6 (4.25 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to achieve gauge

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 18 dc = 4”, 1 pattern repeat = 2.5” in double-strand size 10 thread on size G/6 (4.25 mm) hook

Pattern notes: Bag is worked in seamless circular crochet method, beginning at center of base and ending at top handles. Slip stitch join occurs at end of each round and a chain-up begins each new round. DO NOT TURN at each of each round, but continue in same direction on every round.

The stitch multiple is 12. If you would like a bag with a larger circumference, make additional increase rounds on the base, increasing 12 sts evenly on each additional round. Note that extra thread/yarn will be necessary if you make a larger bag.

Terms/Abbreviations: beginning (beg), chain (ch), double crochet (dc), each (ea), group (grp), hook (hk), loop (lp), repeat (rep), single crochet (sc), skip (sk), slip stitch (sl st), space (sp), stitch (st)

Bag

Rnd 1: Ch 4, join into ring, ch 3, 11 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3 (12 dc). Alternatively, you may use the disappearing loop method: wind yarn around forefinger once, insert hook into loop, yo, pull loop through ring, then ch 3, work 11 dc over strands of ring, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3 (12 dc). After first few rounds of bag are complete, pull yarn tail to close ring.

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same dc (at base of beg ch), 2 dc in ea dc around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3 (24 dc)

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (36 dc)

Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in ea of next 2 dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in ea of next 2 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (48 dc)

Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 3 dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in ea of next 3 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (60 dc)

Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 4 dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in ea of next 4 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (72 dc)

Rnd 7: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 5 dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in ea of next 5 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (84 dc)

Rnd 8: Ch 3, dc in same dc, dc in next 6 dc, *2 dc in next dc, dc in ea of next 6 dc, rep from * around, join with sl st (96 dc)

Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in ea dc around, join with sl st (96 sc)

Begin lace pattern:

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in same sc, *ch 5, sk 3 sc, sc in next sc, rep from * around, ending last rep ch 5, sk 3 sc, join with sl st in beg sc (24 ch-5 lps)

Rnd 2: Sl st into first ch-5 sp, ch 3, 6 dc in same sp, sc in next sp, ch 5, sc in next sp, *7 dc in next sp, sc in next sp, ch 5, sc in next sp, rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3 (eight 7-dc groups)

Rnd 3: Sl st into 2^nd dc of first 7-dc group, ch 1, sc in same dc, ch 5, sc in 6^th dc of same 7-dc grp, ch 5, sc in next sp, ch 5, *sc in 2^nd dc of next 7-dc grp, ch 5, sc in 6^th dc of same 7-dc grp, ch 5, sc in next sp, ch 5, rep from * around, join with sl st in beg sc (24 ch-5 loops)

Rep Rnds 2 & 3 until a total of 30 rounds have been worked from beginning of bag base, ending with Rnd 3.

Top edging:

Rnd 1: Ch 3, *3 dc in next sp, dc in next sc, rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3 (96 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in ea dc around, join with sl st (96 dc)

Handles:

Rnd 1: Ch 3, dc in next 13 dc, ch 40, sk 20 dc, dc in next 28 dc, ch 40, sk 20 dc, dc in last 14 dc, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3 (136 sts & chs)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in ea dc around top of bag (excluding the skipped sts) & ea ch of handles, join with sl st (136 sc)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in ea sc around top of bag & handles, join with sl st (136 sc). Fasten off and weave in ends.

For optional longer handles: On Rnd 1 of handle instructions, substitute the ch 40 with ch 80 or ch 100. Proceed as instructed.