Japanese Knot Project Bag

By Julie Blagojevich

Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa Fancy Tempo (115 yds)/color 34 (Aquarium)/2 balls

Crochet hook: size "D"
Notions: darning needle
Abbreviations: St=stitch; Sp=space; Ch=chain; Sc=single crochet; Dc=double crochet;
Tr =triple (treble) crochet; Sl st=slip stitch

Starting at the bottom of the bag--

Foundation: Ch 24.
Row 1: (Wrong side) Sc in the 2nd ch from your hook. *Tr in the next ch. Sc in the next ch.
Repeat from * across the row. (23 st)
Row 2: (Right side) Ch 1, and turn your work. Sc in each st across the row. (23 sc)

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Row 3: Ch 1, and turn your work. Sc in the first st. *Tr in next st. Sc in the next st. Repeat
from * across the row. (23 st)
Row 4-20: Repeat rows 2 and 3 until the piece measures 5 inches in length. [Your last
row will be a repeat of row 2, and you will finish on the right side.]

***At this point, take a look at the texture of your piece. The triple crochet stitches worked on
the wrong side pop to the right side and add a cobbled texture to the bag's bottom.***

Moving up the side of the bag--

Do not turn your work. Instead, rotate it so that you will be working along one side of the row
ends. Notice you will now be working in rounds instead of rows.
Round 1: Ch 1, and work 20 sc evenly along the row ends. Rotate again, and work 23 sc
along the foundation row. Rotate again, and work 20 sc across the opposite row ends.
Rotate again, and work 23 sc along the final side. Join the round with a sl st to the first sc
made in the round. (86 st)
Rounds 2-3: Ch 1, and work a sc in the same st. *Dc in the next st. Sc in the next st. Repeat
from * around. Join the final dc to the first sc of the round. (86 st)
Round 4: Ch 1. Draw up a loop in each of the first two stitches. Yarn over, and pull through
both loops on your hook (decrease made). Sc in the next st. *Work another decrease as
before, and then sc in the next st. Repeat from * all around the four sides. Join the round with
a sl st in the first st. (57 st)
Rounds 5-30: Ch 1, and work a sc in each st around. Join each round with a sl st into the
first st of the round. (57 st) Do not fasten off your work at this point. Continue with the
instructions for the short strap below.

Begin the short strap--

Row 1: Ch 1, and sc in the same st. Sc in each of the next 6 sc. (7sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, and turn your work. Working only in these 7 st, sc in the first sc. *Tr in the next
sc. Sc in the next sc. Repeat from * across the row. (4 sc, 3 tr)
Row 3: Ch 1, and turn your work. Sc in each st across the row. (7 sc)
Rows 4-19: Repeat rows 2 and 3.
***At this point, turn your bag inside out. You are going to attach the loose end of the strap to
the other side of the bag.***

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Loosely sl st each of your 7 stitches to the opposite side of the bag at the top. There will be
about 7 sc at the top bag border between the side of one end of the strap and the side of the
other. Fasten off your work. Turn your bag again so that the right side is now facing out.

Begin the long strap--

Attach your yarn on the top row of the bag 15 stitches to the right of the strap you just
finished.
Row 1: Ch 1, and sc in the same st. Sc in each of the next 6 sc. (7sc) [There should now be a
space of 8 stitches separating one strap from the other. ]
Row 2: Ch 1, and turn your work. Working only in these 7 st, sc in the first sc. *Tr in the next
sc. Sc in the next sc. Repeat from * across the row. (4 sc, 3 tr)
Row 3: Ch 1, and turn your work. Sc in each st across the row. (7 sc)
Rows 4-31: Repeat rows 2 and 3.
***At this point, again turn your bag inside out. You are going to attach the loose end of this
strap to the other side of the bag.***
Loosely sl st each of your 7 stitches to the opposite side of the bag at the top. There will be
about 8 sc at the top bag border between the side of one end of the strap and the side of the
other. Fasten off your work. Weave in all of your ends with a darning needle. If you like, you
can stretch the body of the bag to pull the rows of single crochets apart just a little. Now,
stuff your new project bag with your next project, and pull the long strap through the short
strap to close it. Enjoy!

Texture of the bottom of the bag created with

triple crochets

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