Forest Floor Tote Bag

MATERIALS:

• Patons Shetland Chunky (100 g / 3.5 oz) Main Color (MC) (03520 Russet) 5 balls, Patons Shetland Chunky Tweeds  (100 g / 3.5 oz) Contrast A (67031 Earthy Brown Tweeds) 1 ball
• Size 5 mm (U.S. H or 8) crochet hook
• Small amount of stuffing for Acorns.

SIZE:
12 ins [30.5 cm] wide x 15 ins [38 cm] long x 2 ins [5 cm] deep.

GAUGE:
14 hdc and 10 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] or size needed to obtain tension.

STITCH GLOSSARY
Dcfp = Yoh and draw up a loop around post of next st at front of work inserting hook from right to left. (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice - 1 dcfp made.
Dcbp = Yoh and draw up a loop around post ,mof next st at back of work inserting hook from right to left. (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice - 1 dcbp made.

BODY
Note: Ch 2 does not count as hdc. Ch 46.

1st row: (RS). 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. 1 hdc in each ch to end of ch. Turn. 44 hdc.
2nd to 4th rows: Ch 2. 1 hdc in first hdc. *1 dcfp in each of next 3 sts. 1 dcbp in each of next 3 sts. Rep from * to last hdc. 1 hdc in
last hdc. Turn.
5th to 7th rows: Ch 2. 1 hdc in first hdc. ,*1 dcbp in each of next 3 sts. 1 dcfp in each ,of next 3 sts. Rep from * to last hdc. 1 hdc in last hdc. Turn. Rep 2nd to 7th rows of Basketweave Pat until work from beg measures approx 32 ins [81.5 cm], ending with 7th row of pattern. Next row: ,Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc to end of row. Fasten off. Place markers along side edges 15 ins [38 cm] and 17 ins [43 cm] up from foundation ch to mark Gussets position.

Gussets and Straps ,(make 2 Gussets and 2 Straps).
Ch 7.
1st row: (RS). 1 hdc in 3rd ch from hook. 1 hdc in each ch to end of ch. Turn. 5 hdc.
2nd row: Ch 2 (counts as hdc). 1 hdc in each hdc to end of row. Rep last row until work from beg measures 15 ins [38 cm].

FINISHING:
Pin pieces to measurements. Cover with a damp cloth, leaving cloth to dry. With WS of Body and Gusset facing each other, place foundation edge of Gusset between markers at side of Bag. Align upper edges of Body and Gusset. Join MC with sl st to upper left corner of Bag. Ch 1. Working through both thicknesses: 36 sc along side of Bag and Gusset to bottom, 4 sc across bottom, 36 sc up other side of Bag. Fasten off. Rep for second Gusset.

Upper edging:
With RS of work facing, join MC with sl st at upper left corner of Bag. Ch 1. Work one row of sc around upper edge of Bag. Join with sl st to first sc. Do not turn.

Next row:
Ch 1. Working from left to right instead of right to left as usual, work 1 reverse sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

LEAF (make 4)
With A, ch 2.
1st row: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Turn.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in sc. Turn.
3rd row: Ch 1. 2 sc in sc. Turn.
4th row: Ch 1. 2 sc in each of next 2 sc. Turn. 4 sc.
5th to 8th rows: Ch 1. 2 sc in first sc. 1 sc in each sc to last sc. 2 sc in last sc. Turn. (12 sc at end of 8th row).
9th row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc to end of row. Turn.
10th row: Ch 3 (counts as dc). 1 dc in next 2 sc. 1 hdc in next sc. Sl st in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 4 sc. Sl st in next sc. 1 sc in each of last 3 sc. Turn.
11th row: Ch 1. Draw up a loop in next 2 sc. Yoh and draw a loop through all 3 loops on hook - Sc2tog made. 1 sc in next sc. Sl st in next st. 1 sc in each of next 4 sc. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
12th row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each of first 4 sts. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
13th to 16th rows: Ch 1. 2 sc in first sc. 1 sc in each sc to last sc. 2 sc in last sc. Turn. (12 sc at end of 16th row).
17th to 19th rows: Rep 10th to 12th rows.
20th row: Ch 1. (Sc2tog over next 2 sts) twice. Turn.
21st row: Ch 1. Sc2tog over next 2 sts. Fasten off.

Edging:
With RS of work facing, join A at foundation ch. Ch 1. Work 1 rnd of sc evenly around, having 3 sc in each outside curve and miss 1 sc at each inside corner. Do not break yarn.

Stem:
Ch 6. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook. Sl st in each of next 4 ch. Fasten off.

ACORN (make 4)
Acorn Body: With MC, ch 2. ,1st rnd: ,8 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with ,sl st to first sc.
2nd rnd: ,Ch 1. 2 sc in each sc around. ,Join with sl st to first sc. 16 sc.
3rd rnd: ,Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc around. ,Join with sl st to first sc.
4th rnd: ,Ch 1. (Sc2tog) 8 times. Join with ,sl st to first sc. 8 sc. Fasten off. Stuff lightly.

Acorn Cap:
With A, ch 2.
1st rnd: (RS). 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st to first sc.
2nd rnd: Ch 1. 2 sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. 16 sc.
3rd rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off, leaving a long end for sewing Cap to Body.
Stem: With A, ch 4. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook. Sl st in each of next 2 ch. Fasten off.

FINISHING
Sew Straps to top edge of Bag, 2 ins [5 cm] in from sides, as shown in picture. Sew Acorn Cap to top of Acorn Body. Attach Stem. Sew Acorns and Leaves to Bag as shown in picture.