Though she is best known for her crochet books, Margaret has written 22 books in all on both knitting and crocheting and has just started the 23rd! Among her many books are Crochet Lace for Adventurous Crocheters, The Granny Square Book, Learn How to Free Form Crochet, The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, and The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting.  She’s also participated as a contributing designer in many other books and has sold many designs to magazines and yarn companies. Margaret shares: “In addition to the books, I have done two tutorial DVDs on FREE FORM KNITTING AND FREE FORM CROCHET. Free Form is my passion and I designed this little tote to give the crocheter a taste of Free Form. I teach knitting and crocheting workshops all over the country and  I have been teaching at my local yarn shop in Pawling, NY for the past 17 years and I still teach there.”

“I love all aspects of both knitting and crocheting, love working with yarn of all kinds. When I am playing with yarn and creating a new free form design I feel just like an artist, painting with my yarn instead of a brush.”

I Love Yarn Day Tote

Celebrate I Love Yarn Day with this easy tote!

By Margaret Hubert
margarethubertoriginals.com

Download the instructions

What You’ll Need

• RED HEART® With Love™: 1 skein each 1538 Lilac A, 1601 Lettuce B, and 1502 Iced Aqua C. Art. E400 available in solid color 7oz (198g), 370 yd (338m) and multicolor 5oz (141g), 230 yd (211m) skeins.
• Susan Bates® Crochet Hooks: 5mm [US H-8] and 5.5mm [US I-9]
• Three pieces felt, 9" x 12" for interfacing (optional)
• one half yard of silky lining fabric
• one ⅞" button.

Finished Measurements

Tote measures 11" x 12".

Gauge

GAUGE: 14 sts = 4", 13 Rows = 4" with larger hook.

CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain gauge.

Back

With A, ch 33.
Row 1: Sc in 3rd ch from hook, *skip next ch, 2 sc in next ch; repeat from * across to last 2 ch, skip next ch, sc in last ch; turn – 31 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1 (counts as first sc), sc in first sc, *skip next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, sk next sc, sc in top of beginning ch-1; turn.
Repeat Row 2 until Back measures 10" (25cm).

Next Row Ch 1, sc in each of the next 15 sts, ch 10 (button loop) skip next st, sc in each of the remaining 15 sts. Fasten off.

Front

Repeat as for Back until Front measures 10" (25cm).

Next Row Ch 1, sc in each st across. Fasten off.

Shoulder Strap
With A, ch 11.
Row 1: Sc in 3rd ch from hook, *skip next ch, 2 sc in next ch; repeat from * across to last 2 ch, skip next ch, sc in last ch; turn – 9 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1 (counts as first sc), sc in first sc, *skip next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, sk next sc, sc in top of beginning ch-1; turn.
Repeat Row 2 until Strap measures 58" (147cm).
Fasten off.

Leaves (Make 3)

Note: Leaves are worked on both sides of the foundation chain.
With B and smaller hook, ch 16.
Row 1: Work 3 tr in 5th ch from hook (counts as 4 tr), tr next 3 chs, dc in next 3 chs, hdc in next 3 chs, sc in next ch, (sc, ch 3, sc) in the last ch (point of leaf); turn to work across opposite side of foundation ch, sc in first ch, hdc in next 3 chs, dc in next 3 chs, tr in next 3 chs, 3 tr in the last ch, ch 3; join with slip st to beginning ch.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Chrysanthemums (Make 2)

Flowers are made in the round.
With C and smaller hook, ch 5; join with slip st to form ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 10 sc in ring; join with slip st to beginning ch-1—10 sc.

Round 2: Working in front loop only, slip st in first sc, [ch 8, slip st in next sc] 10 times; do not turn—10 ch-8 loops.

Round 3: Working in back loops from Round 1, slip st in first sc, [ch 10, slip st in next sc] 10 times—10 ch-10 loops.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Chrysanthemum Centers (Make 2)

With B and smaller hook, ch 5; join with slip st to form ring.
Round 1: [Ch 6, slip st in ring] 5 times—5 ch-6 loops.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

FINISHING

Assembly

Prepare lining as follows:
Cut 2 pieces to felt to measure 9" x 10" (23cm x 25cm) each. Cut the remaining piece of felt into five 12" (30.5cm) strips for strap. Pin larger pieces of felt to the inside of the Back and Front. Pin the smaller strips of felt along Shoulder Strap. Sew all felt pieces into place.

Using photo as a guide, sew Chrysanthemums and Leaves into place, anchoring onto felt interfacing. Sew button on Center of Front.

Cut 2 pieces of silky lining fabric to measure 10" X 11" (25cm x 28cm) each (for Back and Front). Cut 1 piece of silky lining fabric to measure 3" X 60" (8cm x 152cm) (for Shoulder Strap).  Pin silky lining fabric in place, turning ½" (12mm) under for a finished edge and sew into place.

Sew short ends of Shoulder Strap together; center seam at bottom center of Front of bag with Right Sides facing; pin in place and sew seams.
Repeat for Back.

Weave in all ends.