Indigo bag

Here, I am finished with this one bag. And here is the pattern for all. A word of caution though, I have not tested this pattern, however it's fairly simple and I am here to answer any questions.

Indigo bag

Materials:· Cotton yarn (I bought thick cotton tying thread balls from hardware store and dyed them) equivalent to worsted weight or any that gets the correct gauge. Indigo and cream.
· Crochet hook 4.50 mm
· Tapestry needle and thread
· Fabric for lining
· A metal buckle
· Magnetic snap or Velcro for closure
· Zipper for inside pocket (optional)

Size: 9.5 x 5.5 inches excluding strap.

Gauge: 7 sts x 8 row = 2 inches in Tunisian st.

Method:This bag is done mostly in Tunisian st with a little bit of sc.
Body (front and back): make 2.
With indigo, ch 35 + 2 .
Row 1: work Tunisian st starting from 3rd ch on hook. (36 sts)
Row 2: Work basic Tunisian st over the 36 sts.
Row 3: same as row 2 with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(34 sts)
Row 4 and 5: As row 2.
Row 6: as row 3.(32 sts)
Row 7 and 8: same as row 2.
Row 9: same as row 3.(30 sts)
Row 10 and 11: same as row 2.
Row 12: same as row 3.(28 sts)
Row 13 and 14: same as row 2.
Row 15: same as row 3.(26 sts)
Row 16 -17: same as row 2.
Cast off by working a sl st into each row. Fasten off.

Gusset:With cream, ch 5 + 2.
Row 1: work Tunisian st starting from 3rd ch on hook.(6 sts)
Row 2-4: Work basic Tunisian st over the 6 sts.
Row 5: same as row 2 with one increase 1 st inside from both ends.(8 sts)
Row 6-8: same as row 2.
Row 9: same as row 5.(10 sts)
Row 10-12: same as row 2.
Row 13: same as row 5.(12 sts)
Row 14-16: same as row 2.
Row 17: same as row 5. (14 sts)
Row 18-50: same as row 2.
Row 51: Work basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(12 sts)
Row 52-54: same as row 2.
Row 55: basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(10 sts)
Row 56-58: same as row 2.
Row 59: basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(8 sts)
Row 60-62: same as row 2.
Row 63: basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(6 sts)
Row 64: same as row 2.
Cast off by working a sl st into each row. Fasten off.

Finishing:Stitch together front, back and gusset using weave stitch.

Flap: Along the upper free edge of one body piece, with cream, work 25 sc, turn.
Row 2-10: ch2, sk 1st sc, one sc in each of next 24 sc. Turn.
Fasten off. Work a row of sc around the free flap edges with 3 sc in each corner. Fasten off.
Join with indigo at the 10th sc of row 10. Work one sc in each of the next 5 sc, turn.
Row 2-13: ch 1, sk 1st sc, one sc in each of next 4 sc, turn.
Fasten off.

Handle/strap: Ribbon 1: Along the one upper free edge of gusset, join with cream and work Tunisian st in 1st 2 sts. Work 60 rows, fasten off.
Ribbon two: work similar to ribbon one, starting in the next 2 sts along the free gusset edge.
Ribbon three: work similar to ribbon one, starting in the last 2 sts along the free gusset edge.
Braid up the three ribbon and stitch them in place at the free gusset edge on the other side. With tapestry needle, stitch up the ribbons to each other along the length of the strap, in order to reinforce the strap.

Buckle: Join with indigo and pick up 2 sc along the horizontal bar on one side of the vertical bar, ch 1, and further 2 sc on the other side of vertical bar. Turn.
Row 2-7: ch 1, sk 1st sc, one sc in each of next 4 sc, turn.Fasten off.
Ch 8, fasten off. Sew in place along both ends of row 2.

Sewing: sew a piece of Velcro to the buckle piece and the bag front. ( or se a magnetic strap instead. Sew and attach lining. I used floral linen. I made a zippered pocket on the inside and used cardboard at the bottom between two layers of fabric.