Such a versatile pattern! I just keeping making these with different color combos, some stripe, some solid, etc. I generally will not follow the pattern through to the handles and will do those separately and sew in. I like to make a nice top border.

In the Pomegranate/Sprout combo I use a variety of slip-stitches through different loops on the stitches below to make a solid border and then did a lattice with dc. This was followed by another 2 rounds of slip stitches in different loops.

The handles are a long chain and then sc on each side (in rounds) and then go around with a slip stitch to make more sturdy. The edges are rounded and added a little detail to show behind the button. Handles slip through the top space and back to be sewed through to be strong. Not a real button hole :) I think the separate handles being reinforced by many rows above the last gap make it strong and prevent stretching out (which happens.)