TOTE BAG

SIZE: 12" wide by 15" deep.
MATERIALS: Cable cord*, about 1/16" diameter, 600 yards or 9 balls (66 2/3 yards per ball).  Crochet hook size H
GAUGE: 4 sts = 1"; 5 hdc rows = 2".

Front-Raised Dc: Yo hook, insert hook from front to back in sp to right of st, bring hook out to front in sp to left of st, yo hook, draw lp through, finish dc.
Back-Raised Dc: Yo hook, insert hook from back to front in sp to right of st, bring hook back in sp to left of st, yo hook, draw lp through, finish dc.

TOTE: STRIP 1 (make 3): Ch 17.
ROW 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each remaining ch - 15 dc.  Ch 2, turn each row.  (Ch 2 turning ch does not count as a st.)
ROW 2 (right side): Front-raised dc around each of first 5 dc, back-raised dc around each of next dc, front-raised dc around each of last 5 dc.
ROW 3: Back-raised dc around each of first 5 dc, front-raised dc around each of next 5 dc, back-raised dc around each of last 5 dc.
ROW 4: Repeat row 2.
ROW 5: Repeat row 2.
ROW 6: Repeat row 3.
ROW 7: Repeat row 2.
ROW 8: Repeat row 2.
ROW 9: Repeat row 3.
ROW 10: Repeat row 2.
ROW 11: Hdc in first dc, * ch 1, sk 1 dc, hdc in next dc, repeat from * across.
ROW 12: Hdc in first hdc, * ch 1, sk ch 1, hdc in next hdc, repeat from * across.
ROWS 13-20: Repeat row 12.
ROW 21: Dc in each hdc and in each ch-1 sp across - 15 dc.
ROWS 22-40: Repeat rows 2-20.  End off.

STRIP 2 (make 3): Ch 17.
ROW 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook, * ch 1, sk 1 ch, hdc in next ch, repeat from * across.  Ch 2, turn each row.
ROWS 2-10: Repeat rows 12-20 of strip 1.
ROWS 11-30: Repeat rows 21-40 of strip 1.
ROWS 31-40: Repeat rows 21-30 of strip 1.

FINISHING: Block strips to same size.  Alternate strips 1 and 2 for front and back, 3 strips for each side.  For one side, hold two different strips wrong sides tog.  Sc strips tog, working 1 sc to each row.  Join another strip 1 to other side of strip 2 going in the opposite direction so that sc rows slant away from each other.  Work in same way for 2nd side of bag.
    Sc around edge of each 3-strip section, working ch 1 to turn each corner.  Holding pieces wrong sides tog, sc front and back tog on sides and lower edge, working sc, ch 1, sc in each corner ch-1 sp.

STRAPS (make 2): Ch 89.
ROW 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook, * ch 1, sk 1 ch, hdc in next ch, repeat from * across.  Ch 1; work sc in end sp, ch 1, sc in first ch on opposite side of starting ch.  working across starting ch, * sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next ch, repeat from * across.  Ch 1, sc in end sp, ch 1; working across row 1, sc in first hdc, * sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next hdc, repeat from * across, sl st in ch 1 at end of row 1.  End off.  Sew ends of strap over joining of strips beg at last pat change.

Weave in all ends.

*I used Aunt Lydia's Denim Quick Crochet. You can find it at most Wal-Mart's, Jo-Ann's, or your local craft store, probably with or near the crochet thread.

* From McCall's Crochet It! (mid-70's, no date given.)