V-Stitch Reading Tote

B2 needed a reading tote for her cubby in school, and I still got plenty of yarn to play with. So I made this for her based on my Bag Organizer Insert.

Got the idea from this paper bag.

Monster Ball! 1st time I've seen such a huge ball of yarn! Picked it up on clearance $8 at AC Moore.

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Hook: 3.5mm

Yarn: Color A - Red Heart Super Value in Lt. Raspberry.

        Color B - Light Maroon, it came without a label, but similar to Red Heart Super Value.

Yarn Suggestions: Bernat Super Value, any medium worsted or bulky yarn.

Finished object measurements: 10" L x 3"W x 13.5" H

With Color A

Ch 46

Rnd 1:

Hdc in 2nd ch from hook. Hdc in all ch, (44 sts). Turn.

Rnd 2 - Rnd 8

Ch 2, hdc in 1st st and in all st. (44 sts). Turn.

Rnd 9

Ch 2, hdc in 1st st, hdc in all st (44 sts). Do not turn. 

Ch 1, sc on each hdc row (9 sc), ch 1, hdc in next 44, ch 1,  sc on each hdc row (9 sc), ch 1, join to top of ch-2. (106 sts)

Rnd 10 work in back loop

ch 2, from 1st st, hdc in the next 44 sts, sk ch-1 st, hdc in next 9 st, sk ch-1, hdc in next 44 sts, sk ch-1, hdc in next 9 st, sk ch-1, join to top of ch-2 (106 sts)

Rnd 11 - rnd 13

Ch 2 (count as 1 hdc), from 2nd st, hdc all around (106 sts), join to top of ch-2. Fasten off.

Rnd 14

With Color B
Ch 3 (count as 1 dc), (sk 1, 2 dc in next st) repeat to 2nd last st, sk 1, 1 dc in the st where ch-3 is. Join to top of ch-3 (108 sts). You''ll have 54 V-st cluster.

Rnd 15 (Sc row)

Ch 1, from 1st dc, sc in all dc on previous row. Do not sc in the ch-3 (the one count as 1 dc). (108 sts) Join to ch-1.

Rnd 16 (V-st row)

Ch 3 (count as 1 dc), (sk 1, 2dc in next st) 53x, sk 1, 1 dc where ch-3 st is. Join to top of ch-3 (54 V-st clusters = 108 sts)

Repeat Sc Row & V-St Row till piece measures 10", ending with V-sts row (rnd 16). Do not fasten off. Drop color B, join in color A.

With color A, work Sc Row. 

Do not fasten off, use the "carrying" method below to carry color A up your work.

1) Bring Color A yarn forward, over the top and behind hook.

2) With Color B, proceed to work a ch, repeat step 1), ch, repeat 1), ch. (ch 3 made). Drop Color A, and continue working V-St Row

With color B, work V-St Row.

Repeat Sc Row and V-St Row till piece measure 13.5" ending with Sc Row.
Sl St around top of bag with Color A. Fasten off.

With Color B, sl st on all 4 side edges of bag.

Note: I did not fasten of Color B after the last V-St Row. Instead I leave a really long tail by taking the yarn around the side edges 2x, then cut off the yarn. Sl st down, "carry" the yarn across to the other edge by using a needle, and thread through the inside of bag to hide the yarn. Refer to Diagram 1.

Diagram 1

I really dislike fastening off and joining new yarn especially for short distance. I would avoid it if I can :)

Straps: make 2 with Color A
Note: Leave a long tail at beginning & end of straps for sewing.

Leave a long tail when starting (about twice the height of your bag)
Ch 160, dc in all ch, ch 2, dc on opposite of ch, ch 2, join to 1st dc. Fasten off. Leaving a long tail (about twice the height of your bag) for sewing.

Sewing Straps:

Measure about 2" from edge of bag on each side, and place marker. Line strap up bag starting from where marker is and using pin to hold the straps in place to make sewing easier. Sew up to 2nd last Sc Row, then sew across, and then down towards bottom of bag. Fasten off. Repeat for the other side of straps.

Repeat sewing on the other side of bag.