Modern Reticule Bag Pattern #2165

Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 2 balls of color 70 Blue Jewel, 1 ball of White for lettering. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 3. Two 4-inch Talon slide fasteners.

Beginning at bottom, with Blue ch 59 (to measure about 8 inches), turn. 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook, s c in each ch across (58 s c). Ch 1, turn, 2nd row: S c in each s c. Ch 1, turn. 3rd row: S c in 1st s c, then insert hook at base of next s c, draw loop through and work off as for a s c (hereafter this will be referred to as a long s c), * s c in next s c, a long s c in next s c, repeat from * across, ending with a long s c in last st (58 sts). Ch 1, turn. 4th row: S c in 1st long s c, * long s c in next s c (by inserting hook at base of s c of previous row as before), s c in next long s c, repeat from * across, ending with a long s c in last s c. Ch 1, turn. Repeat the 4th row throughout, thus alternating s c's and long s c's, always being careful to place s c's in long s c's and long s c's in s c's of previous row. 5th row: Skip 1st st (this is a decrease), work in pattern across to within 2 sts from end, skip next st (another decrease), and work in last st. Ch 1, turn. 6th, 7th and 8th rows: Work in pattern straight. Ch 1, turn. Repeat the last 4 rows until 28 sts remain. Break off. Make another piece same as this. These are to form pockets later. Then work another piece same as previous pieces, but do not break off when 28 sts remain. Continue working in pattern straight over these 28 sts until entire piece measures 15 inches. Next row: S c in back loop of first long s c (this is an increase), s c in same long s c, and continue across with pattern, making a long s c in last s c, and a s c in turning ch (this also is an increase). Ch 1, turn. Work 3 rows in pattern straight. Ch 1, turn. Repeat the last 4 rows always keeping in pattern when increasing until there are 58 sts in a row. Work 1 row of s c. Break off.

Place pocket pieces over ends of this piece to correspond, and sew up sides and at bottom. Sew in slide fasteners across top of pockets. Work a row of sl sts along each edge of center strip.

Work lettering desired, in cross stitch as in illustration.