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Materials: Clark's O.N.T. (5 balls) or J. & P. Coats (4 balls) Mercerized Crochet, size 10, color 55-A Dark Navy. Milward's steel crochet hook No. 7. A 6-inch Talon slide fastener. 1 yd. heavy black cord.

The two sides of bag are worked separately and then sewed together on sides. Starting at center, ch 5, s c in 5th ch from hook, ch 62, turn. 1st row: D c in 4th ch from hook, and d c in each of next 58 ch sts, 8 d c in ring, then work along other side of foundation ch making d c in each d c to end of ch (128 d c counting turning ch-3 as a d c). Ch 3, turn. 2nd and all even rows: Make s c in each d c of previous row, picking up only the back loop of each d c (the next row will be worked in the front loops). Ch 3, turn. 3rd row: D c in each of 60 d c of 1st row, picking up the loops that lie behind the 2nd row (thus having the s c rows form a ridge), 2 d c in each of next 8 d c (thus increasing to keep work flat), d c in each of next 60 d c (136 d c). Ch 1, turn. Each odd row is worked by picking up the loops of the previous d c row which lie behind the s c row. 5th row: Work 61 d c, * 2 d c in next d c, 1 d c in next d c, repeat from * 6 more times, 2 d c in next d c, then d c in each d c to end of row. Ch 1, turn. 7th row: Work 61 d c, * 2 d c in next d c, 1 d c in each of next 2 d c, repeat from * 6 more times, 2 d c in next d c, then d c in each d c to end of row. Ch 1, turn. 9th row: Work 62 d c, * 2 d c in next d c, 1 d c in each of next 3 d c, repeat from * 6 more times, 2 d c in next d c, then d c in each d c to end of row. Ch 1, turn. 11th row: Work 62 d c, * 2 d c in next d c, 1 d c in each of next 4 d c, repeat from * 6 more times, 2 d c in next d c, then d c in each d c to end of row. Ch 1, turn. 13th row: Work 63 d c, * 2 d c in next d c, 1 d c in each of next 5 d c, repeat from * 6 more times, 2 d c in next d c, then d c in each d c to end of row. Ch 1, turn. Work in this manner, increasing 8 d c in each d c row (there will be 12 d c between the increases on the 27th row). 29th row: Sl st in each of next 30 sts (for side opening), d c in each d c to within 30 d c from end of row. Ch 3, turn. 30th row: * D c in each of next 4 d c, skip 1 d c, repeat from * to end of row. Break off. Make another piece same as this. Sew pieces together, leaving open the 30 sts at each side at the top.

Handle. Cut cord in half (one cord for each handle). Ch 9, join with sl st to form ring. Pass one end of cord through this ring. Holding cord along, work 1 d c in each st, and continue working in spiral making d c in each d c of previous rnd, picking up only the back loop of d cs, until cord is covered. Break off. Sew the two ends of handle together. To finish top of bag and sew handle in place, fold the top 15 sts over to the wrong side, place handle inside this fold concealing the joining, and sew. Sew handle to bag at the sides so that it does not move. Make a similar handle and finish other side of bag same as this. Sew in slide fastener. Bag may be lined if desired.