Market Bag

A large, easy to make reusable shopping bag for those trips to the market. I like the brown one and how it shows the stitch. The pink one was made because I needed to use up some of my stash and I can always use another bag.

J Hook

Cotton Yarn - I used a large ball that had 700 yards in it.  So I’m estimating somewhere between 350 - 500 yards

When you’re working the first rounds, the bottom of the bag, you’ll see that it doesn't lay flat.  It’s not supposed to, so if you've got waves, it’s going correctly.

Chain 6, form into a ring

R1)

Ch 1, 12 sc in ring (12 stitches)

R2)

Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc.  Join with a slip stitch to first sc (24 stitches)

R3)

Ch 1, *2 sc same stitch, sc next

         repeat from *around.  join with a slip stitch to first sc  (36 stitches)

R4)

Ch 1, *2sc same stitch, sc each of next two stitches

          repeat from * around.  join with a slip stitch to first sc   (48 stitches)

R5)

Ch 1, * 2sc same stitch, sc each of next 3 stitches

           repeat from * around.  Join with a slip stitch to first sc (60 stitches)

R6)

Ch 1, * 2 sc same stitch, sc each of next 4 stitches

          repeat from *around.  Join with a slip stitch to first sc   (72 stitches)

R7)

Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc same stitch

hdc each of next 5 stitches

* 2hdc next stitch

hdc each of next 5 stitches

repeat from * around.  Join with a slip stitch to first sc ( 84 stitches)

R8)

Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc same stitch

hdc each of next 6 stitches

* 2hdc next stitch

hdc each of next 6 stitches

repeat from * around.  Join with a slip stitch to first sc ( 96 stitches)

R9)

Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc same stitch

hdc each of next 7 stitches

* 2hdc next stitch

hdc each of next 7 stitches

repeat from * around.  Join with a slip stitch to first sc ( 108 stitches)

R10)

Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc same stitch

hdc each of next 8 stitches

* 2hdc next stitch

hdc each of next 8 stitches

repeat from * around.  Join with a slip stitch to first sc ( 120 stitches)

Now we start the star stitch.  Because it’s worked in rounds the first stitch of each star row is a little different than working it flat.

R11)

Ch 4

starting with 2nd chain from hook pull up loops through each of the next 3 chains.  This gives you 4 loops on the hook

pull up loops through the first two stitches on the row

Now you have 6 loops on the hook.

yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on hook.  This makes your first star with the stitches gathered around a little hole in the center.

*Pull a loop through this hole and 2 loops through the base of the 6th bar (loop)from the previous star.      

Next pull up loops in the next two stitches

Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on the hook

Repeat from * around.

You had 120 stitches at the end of the increases, and there should be 60 stars.  

R 12)

Ch 1

2 sc in the center hole of each star made in previous row

join with slip stitch to first sc made.  

R13) Repeat row 11

Row 14) Repeat row 12

Now the mesh.

Row 15)

ch 6 (counts as first DC and first ch3)

skip 3 stitches

DC

*Ch 3

skip 3 stitches

DC

repeat from * around ending with a chain3 and skipping the last 3 stitches

join final chain 3 to 3rd chain of beginning chain 6.

Row 16)

chain 6 (counts as first DC and first ch3)

skip ch 3 space

Dc in next DC

*Chain 3

skip chain 3 space

DC in next DC

repeat from * around ending with a chain 3 and skipping last chain 3 space

join final chain 3 to 3rd chain of beginning chain 6

Rows 17 - 18

Repeat row 16

Back to star stitch

Row 19)

Ch 4

starting with 2nd chain from hook pull up loops through each of the next 3 chains.  This gives you 4 loops on the hook

pull up loops through the first two stitches on the row

Now you have 6 loops on the hook.

yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on hook.  This makes your first star with the stitches gathered around a little hole in the center.

*Pull a loop through this hole and 2 loops through the base of the 6th bar (loop)from the previous star.  

  

Next pull up loops in the next two stitches

Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on the hook

Repeat from * around.

R 20)

Ch 1

2 sc in the center hole of each star made in previous row

join with slip stitch to first sc made.  

R21) Repeat row 18

Row 22) Repeat row 20

More Mesh

Row 23)

ch 6 (counts as first DC and first ch3)

skip 3 stitches

DC

*Ch 3

skip 3 stitches

DC

repeat from * around ending with a chain3 and skipping the last 3 stitches

join final chain 3 to 3rd chain of beginning chain 6.

Row 24)

chain 6 (counts as first DC and first ch3)

skip ch 3 space

Dc in next DC

*Chain 3

skip chain 3 space

DC in next DC

repeat from * around ending with a chain 3 and skipping last chain 3 space

join final chain 3 to 3rd chain of beginning chain 6

Row 25

Repeat row 23 (or 16 if you prefer - it’s the same row)

This time we do 3 rows of star stitch

Row 26)

Ch 4

starting with 2nd chain from hook pull up loops through each of the next 3 chains.  This gives you 4 loops on the hook

pull up loops through the first two stitches on the row

Now you have 6 loops on the hook.

yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on hook.  This makes your first star with the stitches gathered around a little hole in the center.

*Pull a loop through this hole and 2 loops through the base of the 6th bar (loop)from the previous star.  

  

Next pull up loops in the next two stitches

Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on the hook

Repeat from * around.

R 27)

Ch 1

2 sc in the center hole of each star made in previous row

join with slip stitch to first sc made.  

R28) Repeat row 26

Row 29) Repeat row 27

Row 30)  Repeat row 26

Row 31) Repeat row 27

Now we do the handles.  You should still have 120 stitches.  I’ve gotten off before, and unless it’s huge, it’s manageable.  Never been sure where I went wrong and am usually way too lazy to go back and check.  

Each handle is 15 stitches with 45 stitches in between them.  If you’ve counted and you have a different number, just divide it accordingly.  Keep 15 stitches for each handle and divide the rest between the two sides, so you have the handles evenly spaced.

Row 32

ch1

sc same stitch

ch 15

skip 15 stitch

sc next 40 stitches

ch 15

skip next 15 stitches

sc next 39 stitches (first one was made when you started this row)

One final row of star stitch

Row 33)

Ch 4

starting with 2nd chain from hook pull up loops through each of the next 3 chains.  This gives you 4 loops on the hook

pull up loops through the first two stitches on the row

Now you have 6 loops on the hook.

yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on hook.  This makes your first star with the stitches gathered around a little hole in the center.

*Pull a loop through this hole and 2 loops through the base of the 6th bar (loop)from the previous star.  

  

Next pull up loops in the next two stitches

Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on the hook

Repeat from * around.

R 34)

Ch 1

2 sc in the center hole of each star made in previous row

join with slip stitch to first sc made.

fasten off, weave in ends and you’re ready for your next shopping trip!