Crochet Spiral Purse Pattern

Caron Simply Soft Brites, 3 oz. skeins
1 Watermelon
1 Lime
Hook size H.

Finished size of round part is 9-10 inches across
Gauge is 3-4 stitches per inch

Instructions

Notes: When working in rounds do not join rounds, use a scrap of contrasting yarn to keep track of the beginning of rounds as you work.

Special Stitches: Tunisian Crochet is used for the strap.

Side A. (Lime with Watermelon Spirals).

Rnd 1: With Lime color ch 2, in 2nd ch from hook work a sc, hdc, and 10 dc. (12 st)

Rnd 2: 2 dc in BL each st around (24) Continue in back loops for remaining rounds

Rnd 3: *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around (36 st)

Rnd 4: *dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around (48)

Rnd 5: *dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around (60)

Rnd 6: *dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around (72)

Rnd 7: *dc in next 5 st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around (84)

Rnd 8: *dc in next 6 st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around (96)

Rnd 9: *dc in next 7 st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * 10 more times, dc in next 8 stitches, hdc in next, sc in last st. (108) (Place a marker in back loop for placing the strap later) Sl st in back loop of next st and fasten off.

Skip the next 29 st and loop a piece of thread through the back loop of this st as a marker for placing the strap later. The thirty stitches between the last dc made on rnd 9 and the marker you just place are where the purse opening will be.

Working spiral

The side that is facing you is the right side of work. You now turn the work over to the wrong side of the piece.

Join Watermelon with a sc in back loop of last sc of rnd 9. Continue in back loops (the loop on the right side of work) all the way around to the last sl st made, sc in free loop in front of sl st.

If you look at the front of work as you are holding it you will see that the free loops of each round spiral down to rnd 1. You are going to continue your sc in each free loop down to the first.

Work one sc in each free loop to last one (at the bottom of the first st in rnd 2). Fasten off.

Side B (Watermelon with Lime Spirals)

Repeat side A but use Watermelon for the rounds and lime for the spirals

Strap:

Note: The strap is done in Tunisian crochet or the afghan stitch. You do not need a Tunisian crochet hook, however. You can use your H hook as there will only be 10 stitches on it. Alternatively, you could work the strap using rows of sc instead. (see below)

Strap in Tunisian crochet:

With Lime color ch 10.

Row 1: insert hook in 2st ch from hook and pull up a loop, *insert hook in next ch and pull up a loop, repeat from * across. There should now be 10 loops on your hook. YO and pull through 1 st, *YO and pull through two stitches, repeat from * across. You should now have 10 Tunisian stitches and one loop on your hook.

Row 2: If you look at row 1 you will see 10 vertical bars in the front of each st. Skip the bar directly below the ch on your hook and insert your hook under the next bar, YO and pull up a loop, * insert hook under the next bar, YO and pull up a loop. Repeat from * across. (note: the last bar will be at the very edge of the last row). You should now have 10 loops on your hook. *YO and pull through one loop on hook, YO and pull through two loops on hook. Repeat from * across.

Row 3-39: repeat row 2. Place a marker in the side of the first st row 39.

Row 40-65: repeat row 2. at the end of row 65 switch to watermelon color by dropping Lime right before last st and pulling up the new color. Then fasten off lime and work in ends.

Row 65-91: continue to repeat row 2 in watermelon color. Place a marker in the side of row 91.

Row 92-130: repeat row 2. At the end of row 130 fold the strap in half with right sides together and slip st the top of row 130 to the free loop at the bottom of row 1. fasten off.

Alternate strap: Ch 11, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across.

Row 2-39: sc in each st across, ch 1 and turn. Place a marker in the end of row 39.

Row 40-65: repeat row 2, switch to watermelon color, and fasten off Lime.

Row 65-91: repeat row 2, place marker in the end of row 91.

Row 92-130: repeat row 2. Fold strap in half and sl st bottom of row 1 to top of row 130:

Assembly:

The joined first and last row of the strap will be on the bottom of the purse. Rows 65-66 are at the top. The strap should have two markers in it. One on row 39 and one on Row 91. Holding right sides of side and the right side of the strap together and matching the marked stitches on side a with the marked rows of strap, sew or sl st around between the markers, fasten off. Repeat with side B. Turn purse right side out.

Ties:

With side a (lime with watermelon spirals) facing you, join lime with a sc in first free loop of opening (it is a back loop right next to where you started the watermelon spirals). Sc in next 15 back loops. Ch 35, sc in 5th ch from hook and across remaining chs, sc in remaining free loops on side a and then fasten off. At the end of the ch’s there is a 5 ch opening. IN this opening join watermelon with a sc, then work hdc, dc, sc, hdc, dc, sc, hdc, sc, and fasten off.

Repeat for side B, switching colors.

Pattern Copyright (C)2006 deBBie Nicholas from Debbittybears.