Materials

• Worsted weight mercerized cotton yarn in four colors:
  Variegated (cream, yellow, and peach) (MC); Yellow (A); Peach (B); White (C).
• Size G Crochet hook

Stitch

Shell stitch- (2dc, ch, 2dc) in ch sp.

Instructions

Body

Using A, fold enough yarn in half to ch 41 with yarn doubled. (For a larger bag, increase in multiples of 5.) Separate the two strands of A and work with the strand attached to the skein. Do not join rnds unless noted.

Rnd 1: Sc (work in one strand of doubled chain) in 2nd chain from hook and next 38 ch. 3 sc in next ch. Working on opposite side of ch, sc in next 39 sc. 3 sc in next ch. (84 sc)

Rnd 2: * Sc in next 39 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 3 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc*. Rep from * to * once.

Rnd 3: *Sc in next 39 sc, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sc*. Rep from * to * 1x. (96)

Rnd 4: Sc in each sc around. (96)

Rnds 5-8: Sc in each sc around (96) Fasten off after Rnd 8.

Rnd 9: Join C, sc in each sc around.

Rnd 10: In front lps only, rsc (reverse single crochet) in each sc around. Join with sl st in first rsc.

Rnd 11: In back lps of rnd 9, sc in each sc around. Join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 12: Join B, Sl st in same st as sl st. Ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2dc) in same st, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc, sk 2 sc, *shell in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc, sk 2 sc*. Rep from* to * to end of round. Join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off.

Rnd 13: Join MC in 1st ch 1 sp, Ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2dc) in same sp, fpdc (front post dc) around sc in Rnd 11 (1 row below), *shell in ch 1 sp of shell, fpdc around sc in Rnd 11*. Repeat from * to end. Join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off.

Rnd 14: Join A in 1st ch 1 sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2dc) in same sp, sc in next fpdc, *shell in ch 1 sp of shell, sc in next fpdc*. Rep from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off.

Rnd 15: Join MC in 1st ch 1 sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2dc) in same sp, fptr (front post tr) in next fpdc two rows below (rnd 13), *shell in ch 1 sp of shell, fptr in next fpdc *. Rep from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off.

Rnd 16: Join B in 1st ch 1 sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2dc) in same sp, sc in next fptr *shell in ch 1 sp of shell, sc in next fptr *. Rep from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off.

Rnds 17: Join MC in 1st ch 1 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 1, 2dc) in same sp, fpdc around sc, *shell in ch 1 sp of shell, fpdc around sc *. Rep from * to end. Join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off.

Rnds 18-20: Rep Rnds 14-16.

Rnds 21-36: Rep Rnds 17- 20. (4x)

Rnd 37: Join C in 1st ch 1 sp, 3 sc in same sp, fpdc around fptr (1 row below), ch 1, *3 sc in ch sp of shell, ch 1, fpdc around fptr, ch 1*. Rep from * to * to end of row. Join with sl st in 1st sc.

Rnd 38: Sc in same st, sc in each st around. (Do not join)(96)

Rnd 39: Working in front lps only, rsc in each sc around. (96) Join with sl st in first rsc. Fasten off.

Rnd 40: Join A with sl st in 1st st of Rnd 37. Sc in same st. Working in remaining back lps, sc in each sc around. (Do not join) (96)

Rnds 41-45: Sc in each sc around. (Do not join until after row 45 and fasten off).

Straps (make 2):

Row 1: Using A, ch 7. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across. (6 sc) Ch 1. Turn.

Row 2: Sc in 1st sc and each sc across. Ch 1. Turn.

Repeat row 2 until each strap is about 22 inches long.

Stitch straps to bag, one on each side. Attach each end of strap to inside of top border, sewing securely all around strap end on inside of the bag. Leave about 5 inches between the two ends of each strap (enough space to fit your arm if you are going to wear this bag on your shoulder). Be careful not to twist the handle as you sew it.

Now go to the beach!!