The Montenegro Bag

British

Advanced beginner. Familiarity with Tunisian Crochet in-the round recommended

Worked in Tunisian alternating stitch with 8mm hook=11 vertical bars across X five vertical bars down

Length:34cm

Height:22cm

Width: 9cm

6&8mm double-ended crochet hook

580g of 3mm cotton chord (250g/85m)

Tapestry needle

This bag uses an easy in-the-round Tunisian stitch on top of a dc base.

Foundation dc

Allowing 3cm per stitch plus 9cm create a long tail. Make a slip knot. With tail in front wrap it over the hook, yo, pull thru both loops. Repeat for number of stitches required.

Tunisian alternating stitch

Insert hook under first vertical bar, then under the horizontal bar that sits on top of next vertical bar. Draw up a loop.

Special slipst bind

After completing last stitch, cut, leaving a tail and pull it up. Using the tapestry needle, Insert tail under v of next stitch from front to back. Then bring tail back to the front and insert it thru v of last stitch of row from front to back. Tie off in the back and weave in end. See video

Pattern

Dc double crochet

Bl back loop

Plt pull thru

Talt Tunisian Alternating stitch

Slst slipstitch

Sm stitch marker

Using a 6mm hook, foundation dc26 (see above in special stitches)

Dc26 along foundation chain, putting SM in first Dc. 2dc in 26th stitch. Dc26 along other side. 2dc in 26th stitch. (56)

2dc in first stitch (move SM to new first stitch). Dc25. 2dc in next 3 stitches. Dc25. 2dc in last two stitches. (62)

2dc in first stitch, dc27, 2dc in next, dc, 2dc in next, dc, 2dc in next, dc27, 2dc in next two stitches. (68)

2dc, 2dc,dc, dc28, 2dc in next, dc2, 2dc in next. Dc31, 2dc, dc. Slst to first stitch. (73)

Using the 8mm hook, pick up stitches in BL around. You will need to use the Tunisian-in-the round technique to do this- using a second ball of wool for the return pass. Add an additional stitch at the end. (74)

Begin the Talt stitch, putting stitch marker in first stitch. Continue in the round until work measures 21 cm ( 11 rows, when counting bars in a vertical line).

Finish back at the beginning ( in line with stitch marker).

Change back to 6mm hook. Move the beginning SM to stitch just finished. Release the return strand ( this will be cut and woven in later). Dc through each vertical bar from previous row. (74)

Continue around twice. Special slpst (see above in special stitches).

Handles are made by creating an I-chord. Using the 6mm hook, and leaving a starting tail of 40 cm, ch4.

See video.

Continue until handle measures 51cm stretched. Bind off, leaving a 40 cm tail.

Place SM at sides of bags with 37 stitches between them. Place another SM five stitches from the end SM on the front. Repeat for the back. Place another SM 6 stitches from the last SM in the front. Repeat on the back. Repeat this entire process at the other end.

Insert handle end into space between outermost SM and next SM. It should sit just below the two rows of DC.

Weave tail through the handle and up and down the inside of the bag stitches. Once secure you will begin to enclose the handle at the SM points.

On same wrong side weave across to SM and weave from bottom up beneath SM on wrong side.

Then Weave down the other side under the SM and pull tight. Weave back up the first side then go under the Dc closest to handle two times.

Tie off and weave in end. Remove SM.

Repeat for other handle ends. Make sure the handle isn’t twisted and attach both ends to one side of the bag. Do not cross handles to other side

Outside

Inside

Enjoy your new Montenegro bag!