Shopping Bag Pattern #2117

Materials Required - AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY "GEM" COTTON YARN.
3 Skeins Beige.
2 Skeins Black.
2  Snaps.
Bone Crochet Hook Number 4 or 5.

With Black ch 26, work 25 s c on ch, ch 1, turn. Work 3 rows even taking up the back loop of st only.
Next 2 Rows. Decrease 1 st both ends and work 1 row even. Repeat the last 2 rows.
Next 4 Rows. Decrease 1 st both ends, break yarn. Work a row of s c around 3 sides working 3 s c in each corner. Attach Beige in 1st s c and work in knot st, (knot st, * pull up a ¾ inch loop on hook, s c over the single loop, repeat from *) in each of the next 11 s c, * skip 1 s c, knot st in the next s c, repeat from * 8 times, and then work 1 knot st in each remaining s c. Work a 3 loop knot st to turn each row.
Next Row. * S c in center s c of knot st in previous row, knot st and repeat from * across row. Work 2 more rows in Beige, 2 in Black, 5 in Beige and 2 rows in Black. Work a 2nd piece to correspond. Join the two sections together in last row as follows, work a knot st, turn, s c in center s c of first section, * work 1 loop knot st, s c in center s c of 2nd section, work 1 loop knot st, s c in center s c of 1st section, repeat from * across row.

Pockets. With Beige, ch 14, and work 13 s c on ch, ch 1, turn and continue in s c.
Next 4 Rows. Taking up the back loop of st, increase
1 st each end of row.
6th Row. Work even.
7th and 8th Rows. Increase 1 st both ends and then work 1 row even. Repeat the last 2 rows.
11th Row. Ch 3, turn, d c in same space, skip 2 s c, sl st in next s c, * ch 3, d c in same space, skip 2 s c, sl st in next s c, repeat from * across row. Work a 2nd pocket to correspond. Sew pockets in position over Black sections on inside of bag.

Handle. Join Black in 3rd st of Black section at top of bag, ch 50, s c in 3rd st from other end, sl st in next st, turn, s c in each ch, sl st in each of the next 2 s c of Black section, turn, and work 1 s c in each ch working over s c of previous row. Work another handle on opposite side.
Sew top of bag together beginning at the 1st Black stripe. Sew snaps to pockets.