Verona Basket Tote
Ever since I learned that the iconic Birkin Bag was designed by Hermes's Jean-Louis Dumas for Jane Birkin after the actual basket she used to carry around as a purse tipped in an overhead bin and poured the contents to the floor, she's basically been one of my favorite humans. Both because of the fact that she carried a basket around and also because she seems just as dysfunctional as me, haha. After falling in love with Lion Brand Yarn's new Rewind tape yarn while I used it for my Capri Circle Bag, I decided I had to create another bag reminiscent of a basket shape since this yarn is the perfect combination of rigid and flexible.
Subtle shaping and simple colorwork achieved with tapestry crochet give the Verona Basket Tote its sturdy structure and make it the perfect companion for the farmers’ market, a picnic in the park, or a casual stroll through the streets. Scroll down to find the free pattern, purchase an ad-free printable version here, or head to Lion Brand to snag the yarn kit here.
It's hard to prevent stretch and produce a sturdy bag with most yarns, but Rewind is a special kind of yarn. Its qualities allow you to create a sturdy bag that is softer to the touch than wicker, hemp, or jute, but structured enough to keep its shape. I am already daydreaming about other bags using this unique yarn.
The Verona Basket Tote could easily serve as a purse, tote for the farmers' market, beach bag, or work satchel. I can't wait to see the color combos you guys choose to work with!
This is an easy level crochet pattern and the techniques involved are single crochet, single crochet through the back loop, slip stitch, working in the round, and tapestry crochet.
MATERIALS:
2 skeins Lion Brand Rewind in Moto Jacket (150) for color A
2 skeins Lion Brand Rewind in Greige (123) for color B
Size US K/10.5 (6.5mm) crochet hook
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE:
Width: 14”/36cm
Length: 13”/33cm
Strap length: 24”/61cm
GAUGE:
12 sts + 9.5 rows = 4”/10cm in tapestry single crochet through the back loop
ABBREVIATIONS:
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms
Ch – chain
Pm – place marker
Rep – repeat
Sc – single crochet
Sc tbl – single crochet through the back loop only
Sk – skip
Sl st – slip stitch
St(s) – stitch(es)
Notes:
1. Tote is worked using tapestry crochet with two strands of yarn held together throughout. To do so, lay a double strand of the unused color on top of the previous round and work over it with two strands of the current color. In rounds where only one color is used, work over a double strand of the SAME color to keep thickness consistent. To work with two strands held together, reach into the center of the ball and pull out the middle end to hold it together with the outer end.
2. To change color, work the last yarn over of the previous stitch in the new color.
3. The base of the bag is worked is worked in un-joined single crochet rounds, while the body of the bag is worked in joined rounds of single crochet worked in the back loop only using the yarn over/yarn under technique, whereby you will yarn UNDER rather than yarn over before drawing through the two loops on your hook to close each stitch, which produces less of a slant and allows the stitches to stack up vertically.
4. Each round of base increases 3 sts at either end (total of 6 sts per round), and body increases 3 sts at either end (total of 6 sts) every 6 rounds. Increases are staggered to keep shape round.
Base:
With two strands of color A held together, ch 21.
Round 1: Working over 2 strands of color A and starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc to end of row, sc twice more into end ch (3 sts total in this ch), continue around other side of ch and starting in back of next ch, sc to end of round, sc twice into starting ch (3 sts total in this ch). Do not join here or throughout base rounds. Place marker for beginning of round. (42 sts)
Round 2: 2 sc in 1st st, sc 18, 2 sc in each of next 3 sts, sc 18, 2 sc in last 2 sts. (48 sts)
Round 3: 2 sc in 1st st, sc 19, (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) three times, sc 18, (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) twice. (54 sts)
Round 4: Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc 20, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) twice, 2 sc in next st, sc 20, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in last st. (60 sts)
Round 5: Sc in 1st st, 2 sc in next st, sc 21, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts) twice, 2 sc in next st, sc 21, 2 sc in next st, sc 3, 2 sc in next st, sc in last 2 sts. (66 sts)
Round 6: Sc 4, 2 sc in next st, sc 22, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts) twice, 2 sc in next st, sc 22, 2 sc in next st, sc 4, 2 sc in last st. (72 sts)
Round 7: Sc in 1st st, 2 sc in next st, sc 23, (2 sc in next st, sc 5) twice, 2 sc in next st, sc 23, 2 sc in next st, sc 5, 2 sc in next st, sc 4. (78 sts)
Body (continued on from base):
Cut all strands of color A. Change to color B (still double stranded) and work over 2 strands of color B as well. From this point on, when working the sc tbl, use the yarn over/yarn under technique described above to keep sts stacked on top of one another. Increases only happen at each end while center 18 sts on front and back of bag remain straight and colorwork with tapestry crochet begins. Refer to color chart for color changes. After round 13, move markers up each round to keep track of center 18 sts on front and back.
Round 8: Sc tbl around, sl st to 1st sc of round to join.
Rounds 9-12: Ch 1, and starting in same st as join here and throughout body rounds, sc tbl around, sl st to 1st sc of round to join.
Round 13: Ch 1, sc tbl 4, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 2, pm, sc tbl 18, pm, sc tbl 4, (2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 6) twice, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 2, pm, sc tbl 18, pm, sc tbl 4, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 6, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 2, sl st to 1st sc of round to join. (84 sts)
Begin color chart, worked over the 18 center sts on front and back of bag. Cut two strands of color B that you are working over and begin working over 2 strands of color A.
Rounds 14-18: Ch 1, sc tbl to marker, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl to next marker, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl to end of round, sl st to 1st sc of round to join.
Round 19: Ch 1, sc tbl 7, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, (sc tbl 7, 2 sc tbl in next st) 3 times, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, (sc tbl 7, 2 sc tbl in next st) twice, sl st to 1st sc of round to join. (90 sts)
Rounds 20-24: Ch 1, sc tbl to marker, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl to next marker, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl to end of round, sl st to 1st sc of round to join.
Round 25: Ch 1, sc tbl 3, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 5, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl 3, 2 sc tbl in next st, (sc tbl 8, 2 sc tbl in next st) twice, sc tbl 5, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl 3, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 8, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 5, sl st to 1st sc of round to join. (96 sts)
Rounds 26-30: Ch 1, sc tbl to marker, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl to next marker, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl to end of round, sl st to 1st sc of round to join.
Round 31: Ch 1, sc tbl in 1st st, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 8, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl in next st, 2 sc tbl in next st, (sc tbl 9, 2 sc tbl in next st) twice, sc tbl 8, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl in next st, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 9, 2 sc tbl in next st, sc tbl 8, sl st to 1st sc of round to join. (102 sts)
Cut all strands of color B. Change to color A and work over 2 strands of color A as well.
Rounds 32-34: Ch 1, sc tbl to marker, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl to next marker, sc tbl across next 18 sts changing colors as indicated by chart to next marker, sc tbl to end of round, sl st to 1st sc of round to join.
Round 35: Ch 1, sc tbl to marker, ch 60, sk 18 to next marker, sc tbl to next marker, ch 60, sk 18 to next marker, sc tbl to end of round, sl st to 1st sc of round to join.
Round 36: Ch 1, sc tbl to marker, sc in each ch of strap to next marker, sc tbl to next marker, sc in each ch of second strap to next marker, sc tbl to end of round, sl st to 1st sc of round to join.
Round 37: Ch 1, sc tbl to marker, then sc tightly around the entire handle (rather than into the sts) approx. 100 times to next marker, sc tbl to next marker, sc tightly around the entire second handle approx. 100 times to next marker, sc tbl to end of round, sl st to 1st sc of round to join.
Secure and weave in all ends.
Tassels (make 1 of each color):
Cut four 18”/46cm lengths, two 12”/30cm lengths, and thirty 14”/36cm lengths of yarn. Tie the four 18”/46cm lengths together at one end, separate them into 2 groups of 2 strands, twist each group counter-clockwise, then twist the two groups together clockwise. Tie together at bottom end, then tie the ends together, trimming off the knotted ends. Fold the thirty 14”/36cm lengths of yarn over the knot join of the cord, then tie the cord in an overhand knot to secure it to the folded bundle. Tie crosswise around the folded bundle approx. 1”/2.5cm below top of fold with remaining 12”/30cm lengths. Wrap the tails of the ties around and around the bundle and then thread them inside and down the middle of the bundle with a tapestry needle. Trim tassel to desired length. Loop tassel through its cord to attach it to one of the bag handles.
Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.
Purchase the kit from Lion Brand Yarn here.
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