I promised more Tote patterns so here’s one more before I try something else. I love Mandalas and the bottom of a tote is a great place to put one. I knew it needed to be a solid design (not many open spaces) since it would be at the bottom of a bag so I played with overlapping stitches and working in both the tops of stitches and in-between them. I think it has a nice kaleidoscopic effect. I chose my colors based on what I had available already in my stash, so they are all different brands and slightly different weights and textures. You can definitely use whatever you have on hand for this project as long as the weights and textures are close or keep the overall gauge of the stitches.

All photos by Yvette Wood/MyYarnTales.

This Pattern includes the following abbreviations:
Round (Rnd)
Yarn Over (YO)
Stitches (sts)
Space (sp)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Chain (ch)
Double Crochet (dc)
Treble Crochet (trc)
Shell Stitch (Shell) 7 double crochet in same space or 5 double crochet in same space.
Puff Stitch (puff) *insert hook into space and pull up loop, YO and pull through 2 loops* x3 in the same space. Then YO and pull through all loops on hook.
V-Stitch (v-st) work this combination in same space: double crochet, chain 1, double crochet
Increase (incr) (2 stitches worked in same space)
Decrease (decr) (insert hook into space and pull up loop, YO and pull through 2 loops, insert in next space and pull up loop YO and pull through 2 loops. YO again and pull through all 3 loops.)
 
The body of the tote is worked in the round
The handles in rows (back and forth)

Stitches are worked either in stitches or between stitches (in the space)
 
I used 4 colors: Off White, Aqua, light Grey and Royal Blue

Beginning Chains count as first stitch or part of first stitch unless otherwise stated.

Mandala Tote:
Rnd 1). Ch 3, join with sl st to first ch. (creates a tiny loop) Ch 2, 8 dc in the loop. (8sts)
Rnd 2). Ch 3, 2 dc in same st as ch3. Puff, ch 2 in each dc around. (8 puffs/8 sps) finish off.
Rnd 3). Join in ch 2 sp. Ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3 in same sp as join. *4dc, ch3* in each ch2 sp around. Join to top of beginning ch 3. Finish off

Rnd 4). Join in sp between first and second dc. Ch 3, dc in next 2 sps. 3dc in ch3 sp. *Dc in next 3 sps, 3 dc in ch 3 sp.* rep *to* 6 more times. Finish off (56 sts)
Rnd 5). Join in top of last st. (should be last of the 3 dc group in ch 2 sp) ch 2, (insert hook into space and pull up loop, YO and pull through 2 loops) 2 times in the same space. Then YO and pull through all 4 loops on hook, ch 2. (counts as first puff stitch) skip next st.
*Puff stitch and ch 2 skip next st* rep *to* around for 24 puff stitches.

Rnd 6). join in ch 2 sp. ch 3, trc in the skipped dc of Rnd 5 and in front of the ch2 sp. Dc again in same ch2 sp. Skip puff st. *Dc, Trc, Dc in the next ch2 sp. Skip puff st* rep *to* join to top of beginning ch3. Finish off.

Rnd 7). ch 6 and dc in sp between dc’s. skip (dc,trc,dc) and *dc, ch3, dc in the next sp between dc’s. skip (dc,trc,dc)* rep *to* join in 3^rd ch of beginning ch. (24 large v-sts) do NOT finish off
Rnd 8).sl st into ch3 sp. ch3,sc,ch1 in that sp. Skip 2 dc. Puff, ch3, puff, ch1 in next ch3 sp. *sc,ch1,sc,ch1 in next sp. Puff,ch3,puff,ch1 in next sp* rep*to* around. (24 puff sts)

Rnd 9).Join in ch1 sp between sc’s. ch5,dc in same sp. skip sc and puff sts, 7dc (shell) in ch3 sp between puff sts. *dc,ch2,dc in next ch1 sp. Skip sc and puff. Shell in next ch3 sp.* rep *to* around. (108 sts)

Rnd 10). join in v-st (ch2 sp) ch4, dc in same sp as join. Skip 2dc, v-st in next dc, (skip 1dc, v-st)twice. (3 v-sts in top of shell). * skip 2 dc. v-st in next ch2 sp. Skip 2dc, v-st in next dc, (skip 1dc, v-st)twice.* rep *to* 11 more times. Join to 3^rd chain of beginning chain. Do no finish off. (120sts)
Rnd 11).sl st in ch 1 sp. Ch4,dc in same sp. *v-st in next ch1 sp. *sc,ch1,sc in nx sp (should be the v-st in the center/top of Shell) v-st in next 3 ch1 sps.* rep *to* around. Join in 3^rd ch of beginning ch. Do not finish off (48 v-sts)
Rnd12-14). sl st in top of ch1 sp. Ch4, dc in same sp. v-st in every ch 1 sp around. (48 v-sts)

Rnd 15).sl st in v-st and sc in same sp. 5dc in next v stitch. *Sc in next v-st. 5dc in nx v-st* rep *to* finish off. (48 v-sts)
Rnd 16-19).sl st in 3^rd dc/center of small shell. *Sc in same sp. 5 dc in next sc* rep *to* around. Fasten off (144 sts)

Rnd 20). join in sc. Ch4, dc in same sp. Skip 2 dc. Sc,ch1,sc in next dc. Skip 2dc. *Dc,ch1,dc in next sc. Skip 2 dc. Sc,ch1,sc in the next dc.* rep *to*.
Rnd 21-27).Repeat Rnd 12.

Decrease Rounds:
Rnd 28).*v-st in next 11 sps. 1 dc in next sp.* rep*to* (44 v-sts)
Rnd 29). repeat Rnd 12
Rnd 30).*v-st in next 10 sps. 1dc in next sp.* rep *to* (40 v-sts)
Rnd 31).Repeat Rnd 12
Rnd 32).Ch3 2dc in same sp. 2dc in next sp. *3dc in next sp. 2 dc in next sp.* repeat *to* (100sts)
All stitches are done in tops of dcs now.
Rnd 33). Dc in first 3 dc. Work decr in next 2 dc. *dc in next 8dc, decr in next 2 dc* repeat *to* (90sts)
Rnd 34). Dc in every stitch around. (90sts)
Slip Stitch into space between dcs.
Rnd 35).Ch3 and dc in every sp around. Do not fasten off. (90sts)

Handles:
Worked back and forth in rows.
Row 1).Ch3 turn, dc in next 31 sps. (32 sts)
Row 2).Ch3 turn, decr in first 2 sps. 5dc, decr in next 2 sps, 12dc, decr in next 2 sps, 5dc, decr in next 2 sps, dc in last sp. (28sts)
Row 3). Ch3 turn. Dc across (28sts)
Row 4). Ch3 turn. decr in first 2 sps. 5dc, decr in next 2 sps, 8dc, decr in next 2 sps, 5dc, decr in next 2 sps, dc in last sp. (24sts)
Row 5). Ch3 turn. Dc across (24sts)
Row 6). Ch3 turn. decr in first 2 sps. 5dc, decr in next 2 sps, 4dc, decr in next 2 sps, 5dc, decr in next 2 sps, dc in last sp. (20sts)
Row 7). Ch3 turn. Dc across (20sts)
Row 8). Ch3 turn. decr in first 2 sps. 5dc, decr in next 2 sps, 2decr in next 4 sps, 5dc, decr in next 2 sps, dc in last sp. (16sts)
Row 9). Ch3 turn. Dc across (16sts)
Row 10). decr in first 2 sps. 4dc, decr in next 2 sps, 4dc, decr in next 2 sps, dc in last sp. (13sts)
Row 11). Ch3 turn. Dc across (13sts)
Row 12).Ch3 turn.decr in next 2 sps, dc across to last 3 sps, decr in next 2 sps, dc in last sp. (11sts)
Row 13). Ch3 turn. Dc across (11sts)
Rows 14-17).Repeat Rows 12-13 till only 7sts remain
Rows 18-24).Repeat Row 13 (7sts) Fasten off. Leave long tail for sewing.
 
Handle 2:
Join in 14^th space from bas of 1^st handle then repeat directions for Handle 1.
 
Using long yarn tails, sew/slip stitch/single crochet the handles together. Fasten off tightly.