{"id":111,"date":"2020-04-20T20:26:16","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T20:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/myyarntales.com\/?p=111"},"modified":"2020-05-12T15:05:32","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T15:05:32","slug":"the-mandala-tote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myyarntales.com\/?p=111","title":{"rendered":"The Mandala Tote"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All photos by Yvette Wood\/MyYarnTales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mandala Tote by MyYarnTales Photos by Yvette Wood<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rounds 1-4. Photos by Yvette Wood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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