Handbag Pattern #554

Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 1 ball for main color and 1 ball of a contrasting color.
Milward's steel crochet hook No. 8.
¼ yd-silk lining.
A 5-inch slide fastener.

Starting at center, with main color ch 5, join with sl st to form a ring. 1st rnd: Ch 2, * thread over hook, insert hook in ring, pull thread through, repeat from * until there are 7 loops on hook, thread over hook and draw through all loops on hook (1 cluster made). Ch 1 and continue until there are 6 clusters in ring. Join last ch-1 with sl st to tip of 1st cluster. 2nd and 3rd rnds: Ch 2, * cluster in tip of cluster, ch 1, cluster in ch-1, ch 1, repeat from * around, joining last ch-1 with sl st. 4th rnd: Ch 2, cluster in ch-1, ch 1, * cluster in next ch-1, repeat from * around. Join. 5th rnd: Same as 2nd rnd. 6th to 9th rnds incl: Same as 4th rnd. 10th rnd: Same as 2nd rnd. 11th to 15th rnds incl: Same as 4th rnd. Break off. Make another piece same as this. Place the 2 pieces together and join them through the ch-1's as follows: Attach contrasting color and * ch 1, s c through the next corresponding ch-1's of both pieces. Repeat from * around omitting the last 5 inches for opening. Continue as before around both sides of opening separately. 2nd rnd: S c in ch-1, * ch 1, s c in next ch-1. Repeat from * around. Break off.

Handle. With contrasting color, ch 7, turn. 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook, s c in each ch across (6 s c). Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: S c in each s c across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat 2nd row for 9 inches. Sew the two edges of handle together (thus forming a tube effect). Make another handle same as this. Sew handles to bag, one on each side of opening. Line bag and sew slide fastener across opening.