ABOUT

This modern, utilitarian tote bag is the perfect companion for your next coffee shop date or library study session, featuring a round base, durable handles that can be worn over your shoulder or carried in your hand. The thick, sturdy fabric will keep your belongings safe. With plenty of room for a laptop, a coffee tumbler, your favorite book, plus room to spare, À Bien-Tôte is spacious enough for all your everyday essentials.

Named À Bien-Tôte as a play on the French term À bientôt which means “see you soon.” (Special thanks to @oscarandthesparrow on IG for suggesting this great name!)

The full Lion Brand crochet kit can be found here!

For more information and additional photos, visit knitsnknots.ca/a-bien-tote.

MATERIALS

Yarn: Worsted held double–Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in colorway “Café Au Lait”

• 100% Cotton
• 186 yds (170 m) per 3.5 oz (100 g) skein
• Find this yarn on lionbrand.com or visit yarnsub.com to find comparable substitutes available in your region.
• Grab the one-stop-shop crochet kit here!

Yardage: 7 skeins or 1150 yds (1052 m)

Yarn Substitution: Substitute Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton with any similar medium, worsted weight (category #4) yarn that matches gauge. Cottons will work best for this project, particularly those that feel “stiff” to lend some structure to your finished bag. Worsted weight yarn held double is equivalent to 1 strand of most bulky weight yarns. Note that worsted weight is often referred to as “aran” in the U.K., or “10-ply” in Australia.

Hook: Size U.S. 7 (4.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, and at least 6 locking stitch markers

PATTERN NOTES

Skill Level: Easy

Stitch Counts: Stitch counts are listed after each row/round.
Right Side / Wrong Side: The right side will face you as you crochet odd numbered rounds while working the textured panel (the body) of the bag.

Yarn Held Double: To increase strength and durability, this entire bag is worked with yarn held double, meaning two strands of yarn are held together and used as if they were one. Note that two worsted weight strands held double is approximately equivalent to 1 strand of bulky weight yarn.

Stitch Pattern: The textured stitch pattern used for the main body of this bag is called the Alpine Stitch, comprised of a 4-row repeat using sc, dc, and fpdc.

Turning Chain: The turning chain does not count as a stitch anywhere in this pattern.

Construction: This bag is crocheted from the bottom-up in joined rounds. You will begin with the base, increasing each round by 6 stitches. Once the proper bag circumference is reached, you will crochet straight for several rounds without any shaping. Next, you will crochet the textured panel that makes up the body of the bag. Two sections of this textured panel will be extended on either side of the bag, providing shaping to the handle area. Lastly, you will crochet the handles.

Supplementary Materials: Additional materials can be found on pages 7 and 8 of the PDF pattern, including a full stitch chart for the base of the bag and helpful photo tutorials to demonstrate a few techniques used in this pattern.

TERMS + ABBREVIATIONS

Written in U.S. Crochet terms
ch: chain
cluster: a group of 3 sc worked into the same stitch (In U.K. terms, this refers to a group of 3 dc worked into the same st)
dc: double crochet (tr in U.K. terms)
fpdc: front post double crochet (RtrF in U.K. terms)
inc: increase – work 2 sc in designated stitch
PM: place marker
rep: repeat
rnd(s): round(s)
RS: right side
sc: single crochet (dc in U.K. terms)
sc2tog: single crochet 2 stitches together (dc2tog in U.K. terms)
sk: skip
sl st: slip stitch
st(s): stitch(es)
WS: wrong side

MEASUREMENTS

Please see the Ravelry photos section to find schematic with measurements included.

All length measurements taken with bag lying flat. Circumference measured around textured body panel.