With its short strap and wide opening, this Tunisian entrelac bag also converts into a basket. This makes it perfect for keeping your latest project in, ready to pick up and take along with you to your next crafternoon or car trip.
5mm (US H8) regular crochet hook (without a handle)
5mm Tunisian hook
DK (8-ply) cotton yarn in the following colours – used double throughout:
A Denim Blue – 50g
B Turquoise – 100g
C Pink – 50g
D Lime – 50g
E Purple – 50g
F Light Blue – 100g
G Coral – 50g
H Yellow – 50g
I Hot Pink – 50g
J Jade – 50g
Tunisian Simple Stitch (Tss): see Basic Stitches
Short Rows: see Shaping
Single crochet (sc): see Techniques
Half double crochet (hdc): see Techniques
Crab stitch: see Techniques
Regular single crochet in back of loop (Sc blo): insert hook under the back loop only of the next stitch, yo and complete sc as normal
Make one (M1): insert hook into space before next vertical bar (as in Tunisian full stitch), yo and pull up a loop.
20 x 27cm (77⁄8 x 105⁄8in)
YARN IS USED DOUBLE THROUGHOUT THIS PATTERN.
UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, THE RETURN PASS THROUGHOUT THE PATTERN WILL ALWAYS BE A STANDARD RETURN PASS (YO AND PULL THROUGH FIRST LP ON HOOK, *YO AND PULL THROUGH 2 LOOPS. REPEAT FROM * UNTIL 1 LOOP REMAINS ON HOOK).
Step 1: Using Colour A and regular crochet hook, make a magic ring.
Step 2: Make 6 sc into ring. Join with a ss to first st. Don’t fasten off.
Step 3: Switch to Tunisian hook and ch 14. Starting in second ch from hook and keeping all loops on hook, pick up a lp in each of the next 13 ch and 1 lp from same sc as start of ch (15 lps on hook). Return: yo, pull through 2 lps to end. The return for these joining rows is different to the return on the following short rows.
Step 4: Tss 2 (3 lps on hook). Return.
Step 5: Tss 4 (5 lps on hook). Return.
Step 6: Tss 6 (7 lps on hook). Return.
Step 7: Tss 8 (9 lps on hook). Return.
Step 8: Tss 10 (11 lps on hook). Return.
Step 9: Tss 12 (13 lps on hook). Return, changing to Colour B on last st.
Step 10: (first row of next wedge) Continuing in Colour B, Tss 12, insert hook into same sc as start of wedge and pull up a lp (14 lps on hook). Return: yo, pull through 2 lps to end.
Steps 4-9: Work as for Wedge 1, changing to Colour A on last st of step 9.
Step 10: work as for Wedge 1, inserting hook into next sc at end of row, pull up a lp (14 lps on hook). Return: yo, pull through 2 lps to end.
Steps 4-9: Work as for Wedge 1.
Step 10: work as for Wedge 1, inserting hook into same sc, pull up a lp (14 lps on hook). Return: yo, pull through 2 lps to end.
Work as for Wedge 2.
Work as for Wedge 3.
Steps 4-8: Work as for Wedge 1.
Step 9: Tss 12, insert hook into next sc at end of row, pull up a lp (14 lps on hook). Return: yo, pull through 2 lps to end. Fasten off, leaving long tail for joining.
Join Wedge 12 to Wedge 1 using ladder stitch (see Techniques), working under horizontal bars. (84 sts)
WEDGES CHART
THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS ARE WORKED IN REGULAR CROCHET. A REGULAR CROCHET HOOK CAN BE USED FOR THE TUNISIAN ENTRELAC ROUNDS AS YOU WILL ONLY HAVE A FEW STITCHES ON YOUR HOOK AT A TIME.
Round 1: Join Colour B with a ss into any colour join between two wedges, *sc 3, 2 sc into next st. Repeat from * to end. Join with a ss into first sc, working into the back loop only (sc blo). (105 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1 (not counted as st), sc blo in same st, sc blo into each st to end. Join with ss into first sc.
Row 1: Continuing with Colour B, pull up a lp in next st (2 lps on hook). Return.
Row 2: M1, Tss in next vertical bar, pull up lp in next sc (4 lps on hook). Return.
Row 3: Tss in next 2 vertical bars, M1 between last st worked and end st, pull up lp in next sc (5 lps on hook). Return.
Row 4: Tss in next 3 vertical bars, M1 between last st worked and end st, pull up lp in next sc (6 lps on hook). Return.
Row 5: Tss in next 4 vertical bars, M1 between last st worked and end st, pull up lp in next sc (7 lps on hook). Return.
Row 6: Tss in next 5 vertical bars, M1 between last st worked and end st, pull up lp in next sc (8 lps on hook). Return.
Row 7: Bind off 6 sts, ss into same sp as last st in last row (first triangle complete).
Repeat Rows 1-7 fourteen more times (15 triangles). Fasten off.
BASE TRIANGLES CHART
Square One
Row 1: Join Colour C with a ss into the top right hand corner of any triangle (this will be the first st of the last row of the triangle), pick up a lp in each of the next 5 sts (along bind off edge of triangle), pick up a lp from first st on the side of the next triangle (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to end.
Rows 2-5: Tss in next 5 sts, pick up a lp from side of the next triangle (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to end.
Bind off. Ss back into same sp as last st.
Repeat Square One to end of round
ENTRELAC SQUARES CHART
Round 5:
Square One
Row 1: Join Colour D with a ss into the top right hand corner of any square, pick up a lp in each of the next 5 sts and 1 lp from the side of the next square (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to end.
Rows 2-5: Tss in next 5 sts, pick up a lp from side of the next square (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to end.
Bind off, ss back into same sp as last st.
Repeat Square One to end of round.
Round 6: Join Colour E, work as for Round 5.
Round 7: Join Colour F, work as for Round 5.
Round 8: Join Colour G, work as for Round 5.
Round 9: Join Colour H, work as for Round 5.
Round 10: Join Colour I, work as for Round 5.
Round 11: Join Colour J, work as for Round 5.
Round 12 (eyelet round): You will now work a row of eyelet squares as follows, making eyelets in every second square. Every other square to be worked as per previous pattern.
YOU WILL FINISH THE ROUND WITH 2 EYELET SQUARES NEXT TO EACH OTHER AT THE FRONT OF THE BAG (8 EYELET SQUARES AND 7 PLAIN SQUARES).
EYELET SQUARE CHART
Row 1: Join Colour B with a ss into the top right hand corner of third square, pick up a lp in each of the next 5 sts and 1 lp from the side of the next square (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to end.
Row 2: Tss in next 5 sts, pick up a lp from side of the next square (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to end.
Row 3: Tss in next 2 sts, yo, sk next st, Tss in next 2 sts, pick up a lp from side of next square (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to end.
Row 4: Tss in next 2 sts, pick up lp from eyelet sp, Tss in next 2 sts, pick up a lp from side of next square (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to end.
Row 5: Tss in next 5 sts, pick up a lp from side of next square (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to end.
Bind off, ss back into same sp as last st.
Repeat this Eyelet Square on every second square, working every other square as per previous pattern to end of round.
Row 1: Join Colour C with a ss into the top right hand corner of any square, pick up a lp in each of the next 5 sts and 1 lp from the side of the next square (7 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to last 3 lps on hook, yo and pull through 3 lps.
Row 2: Sk next vertical bar, Tss 4, pick up a lp from side of the next square (6 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 loops to last 3 lps on hook, yo and pull through 3 lps.
Row 3: Sk next vertical bar, Tss 3, pick up a lp from side of the next square (5 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to last 3 lps on hook, yo and pull through 3 lps.
Row 4: Sk next vertical bar, Tss 2, pick up a lp from side of the next square (4 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 2 lps to last 3 lps on hook, yo and pull through 3 lps.
Row 5: Sk next vertical bar, Tss 1, pick up a lp from side of the next square (3 lps on hook). Return: yo and pull through 3 lps. Ss back into same sp on side of square.
Repeat Rows 1-5 to end of round. Don’t fasten off at end of round.
THE FOLLOWING ROUNDS ARE WORKED IN REGULAR CROCHET.
Round 14: Continuing with Colour C, hdc into each st to end. Join with a ss into first hdc. Fasten off.
Round 15: Join Colour D into first st, work in Crab st to end. Fasten off.
Using Colour F and leaving a long tail for sewing onto bag later, ch 55.
Row 1: sc into second ch from hook, sc into each st to end (54sc).
Rows 2-5: Ch 1 (not counted as st) sc into same st and into each st to end. Turn.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing onto bag.
Step 1: Using Colour F, ch 3.
Step 2: Pick up loop from second ch and keep on hook, repeat for next ch (3 lps on hook).
Step 3: Carefully remove first 2 lps on hook and hold onto with your free hand, ch 1 through remaining loop on hook.
Step 4: Place second lp back on your hook, ch 1.
Step 5: Place third lp back on your hook, ch 1.
Repeat Steps 3-5 until cord measures 85cm (331⁄2in). Yo and pull through all 3 lps to bind off.
Thread tail ends onto a yarn needle and carefully go back up through the centre of the cord as far as you can. Pull up slightly and snip off, letting the end disappear back inside the cord.
Fold bag in half to find sides, place end of strap approximately 5cm (2in) down from the top on the inside of the bag and stitch strap into place. Repeat on other side.
Thread icord through eyelet and tie a knot in each end.
