The Sherbet Stripes Tote whispered to me from this gorgeous skein of yarn... and the result is this delicious free one skein crochet tote bag pattern on Moogly!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; materials provided by Red Heart and Brittany.
Inspiration for the Sherbet Stripes Tote
It's easy to fall in love with Red Heart Roll With It Tweed - it features 18 distinctively beautiful colorways, in easy self-striping center pull cakes. So I wanted to make something to show off this yarn - simple, lovely, and practical too.
A New Stitch?
After playing with the yarn and a few stitches, I came up with the Sherbet Stripes Tote - and a stitch I haven't seen before.
Much like Tunisian Simple Stitch, you slip the hook under a vertical bar of the stitch rather than under the top two loops. However, rather than keeping the hook in front of your work, you go on through to the back of the fabric, to yo, pull up a loop, and finish the stitch as usual.
The Result
This creates a thick, dense fabric with a beautiful knit-like look that does not curl and, in my opinion, really lets this yarn shine! I hope you enjoy making the Sherbet Stripes Tote - and if you've seen this stitch before and know of a name for it, please let me know!
Sherbet Stripes Tote
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US - H, 5.0mm hook - Brittany Hooks
300 yds Red Heart Roll With It Tweed (100% acrylic; "4"/Medium/UK: 10-12 ply; 311yds; 5.29oz/150g)
Colorway Shown: Modern Pastel - 1 cake
Leather Handle Kit by CocoKnits
Gauge: 12 sts x 16 rows = 4"/10cm in side split hdc (see special stitches)
Finished Size: 11.5" wide x 11" tall excluding handles
Helpful Links and Tutorials
FHDC - Foundation Half Double Crochet
Special Stitches
Center hdc - yo, insert the hook between the vertical strands of the post of the stitch straight through to the back of the stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Side split hdc (right-handed) - yo, insert the hook under just the left vertical strand of the indicated stitch through to the back of the fabric, yo an pull up a loop, yo and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Side split hdc (left-handed) - yo, insert the hook under just the right vertical strand of the indicated stitch through to the back of the fabric, yo an pull up a loop, yo and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Notes
If you prefer not to start with a row of foundation stitches, instead ch 33, skip the ch closest to the hook, and hdc in each rem ch across for Row 1.
The pattern is begun in rows and then converts to rounds. See the bag bottoms tutorial linked above for help with this if needed.
Instructions
Row 1: FHDC 32; turn. (32 sts)
Row 2 - 4: Ch 1, center hdc in each st across; turn. (32 sts)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, center hdc in each st across, turn the corner and hdc 4 along the sides of the previous rows, turn the corner and center hdc in each fhdc across, turn the corner and hdc 4 along the sides of the previous rows, join with a sl st in the first st of the rnd. (72 sts)
Rnd 6 - 48 (or to approximately 11"): Ch 1, side split hdc in each st around; join. After Rnd 48, break yarn and weave in ends. (72 sts)
Add leather handles per package instructions. If alternative handles are used, there should be enough yarn left over to crochet simple tabs if needed. Space evenly as desired.
Thank you so much to everyone who helped me brainstorm the idea for this bag's name on Instagram! I love hearing what you think!
If you make the Sherbet Stripes Tote and post a photo on social media, be sure to tag me @mooglyblog or #mooglyblog so I can check it out too! I also love seeing what you make - and I can't wait to see this one in all the colors of Red Heart Roll With It Tweed!
THE FINE PRINT:
Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr! Thank you to Red Heart Yarns and Brittany Needles for providing the materials shown in this post. Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2019, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
To print or download, use the Print Friendly button below, or go to PrintFriendly.com, or right-click to copy and paste it into a word processing document if those options do not work for you (please note that Print Friendly is a free outside website that the button links to, and you can click here for a tutorial on how to use it, but I cannot provide additional technical support for this service). If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details.
Ren Capalby
Very pretty and I love this in the soft colors. I look forward to the video tutorial. Thanks Tamara.
Tamara Kelly
Thank you Ren! It's one of those that's simple enough to make, I'm surprised it isn't already a known stitch!
Jacqueline S Strand
I thought this looked like Tunisian Simple Stitch.....
Tamara Kelly
It does look like it - but one stitch at a time! 🙂
Sarah Skilton
This looks gorgeous, I am looking forward to seeing the tutorial for the stitches, they sound interesting.
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much, Sarah! ♥
Vicky Garland
This tote is beautiful! I just hope I can crochet the stitch! I also wanted to let you know the print-friendly works fabulous and it looks lovely I saved it to my laptop! I wish all bloggers would do this because with many patterns they 'll blog to save it to Ralvery queue and their not allowing anyone to create an account right now and then crocheters can't save the pattern it's closed for some reason. But, a friend referred me to your blog and I love it! I have it bookmarked and I'll be a regular reader! I love the block stitch too! I hope there's a pattern! I'm off to go see! Have a great Sunday! By the way, do you offer an affiliate? I do have a blog and would love to! Please email me and let me know!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much, Vicky! ♥ There will be a video tutorial going up on Wednesday the 17th if you need help with the pattern - it's a pretty unique stitch! I don't have any affiliate programs right now, but perhaps in the future - thank you again!
Laura
Hi there, I love this bag and the stitch, and am eager to try it. What I don't see, however, is how you finish it? At the end of the tutorial, you comment on the seam, but I don't understand how to make the leap from what seems like it will be a large rectangle to the shape of the tote. (I admit, I am a novice crocheter, but this seems like a big step!)
Thanks for your help. And thanks for all your terrific tutorials.
Tamara Kelly
Hi Laura, and thank you! In Rnd 5, you work around the small rectangle you've made, and then by working evenly in the round for the rest of the tote, the sides pull up into a tote shape.
Laura
Thank you so much for that . . . I wasn't sure because you pointed out the seam in the tutorial (at approx 16.20. If it is worked in the round, where/how is the seam? Again, thanks!
Tamara Kelly
It's the seam created where the rounds are joined while crocheting in the round. 🙂 It's not a sewn seam, just the joining seam.
Laura
You are so kind, thank you for the personal reply. Now I can resume this project with eagerness and a bit more confidence!
Your tutorials have been so appreciated in my teaching myself to crochet! Thanks!
Tamara Kelly
I'm so glad to hear it, thank you Laura!
Kelly Marie Quesenberry
How to make a sorbet bag
Jacque Dooley
I love the Sherbet Tote Crochet Bag. I have 3 sisters, it will make such fun birthday gifts for each of them, in different Red Heart color blends. Thank you for sharing this pattern. I’m now far enough along in learning to Crochet, thanks to tutorial classes from Moogly, I going to crochet this tote. Yippee. Thank you Moogly. You are amazing! Jacqueline (Jacque) Dooley
Muthammal Sadayappan
This is a cute pattern, thank you for sharing. Do you have any substitute for the yarn.
Tamara Kelly
Red Heart Roll With It Melange would be the most direct sub!