start with a chain of 4 and join with a slip stitch.

This is the circle you will work in, in the next row.

Row 1

Join a new colour around the 2 chain stitches of the previous row in between 2 treble crochet clusters. Chain 3, make 2 standard decrease stitches, <chain 2, make 3 standard decrease stitches> repeat between <> untill you have 8 clusters of 3 standard decrease stitches. with 2 chain stitches between them. Then join with a slip stitch.

Row 2 You will now work around in the chainstitches of the former row. Secure with a slip stitch chain 3 and make 3 Puff-stitches. The Puff-stitch goes like this, needle to thread, around the loop of the previous row, pull your thread all the way up and let the 2 loops on your needle, repeat this 2 more times and pull the thread through all your loops . This works almost the same as in row 1 with the difference that you do not pull it through before you go to the next loop. Mind you, pull your thread high enough, otherwise you get a very small Puff-stitch. On Youtube there are plenty of videos to explain the Puffstitch. This Puff-stitch is made with 3 chainstitches on both sides of the stitch. The next row is made with Puff-stitches without the chainstitch besides it.

If you did this you chain 3 again and then finish this with a slip stitch. Make a chainstitch. Now you have crochted this aroun the base circle, you will repeat this until you get 8 of these petals.

Row 3 (fuchsia color) We start this row with a round of chainstitches behind the Puff-stitches of row 2. We work in the stitch between the petals and only in the back loop. Make a slip stitch and chain 3, then go back into the back loop of the stitch between the next 2 petals. See photo caption A. Go all the way around and finish this with a slip stitch. Cut the thread. Now take the same color yarn and start with a slip stitch, you'll work around the chainstitches of this row that are now behind the flower. Make 3 chainstitches and start a Puff-stitch, make 4 loops as described in row 2 and finish like you would with a half double crochet. Then begin the next stitch, do this 4 times in total for each Puff-stitch. Around every 3 chainstitches of the oreviouw row you make 2 Puff-stitches. Between each Puff -stitch you make 1 chain and between the ones on the corners you make 2 chains. See photo caption B.

Row 4

Now go to work between the puff-stitches of the previous row. You''ll make Puff-stitches in every space between 2 stitches. After every puff-stitch you will add 1 ch but in the corners you'll make 2 chainstitches. Finish with a slip stitch.

The squares You make a total of 16 squares, which you can crochet together with the join-as-you-go method (see youtube) or sew / crochet when you've finished them all. You'll make 8 squares and join them as a circle, which you will also do with the next 8 squares.

If you do not want to line the bag, I advise to sew it together in stead of using the join as you go method. If you line it, the bag is strong enough to hold the contents without stretching the bag too much.

The bottom The bottom of the bag is made using only puff-stitches.

Of these, you make 3 squares, this is your base, before you start, choose if you want to do this with the join-as-you-go method or to sew it together afterwards.

-Make a chain of 4 and finish with a slip stitch.

Row 1

Make 3 ch and pull the thread over needle three times to start a puff stitch. Chain 1, then make another puff-stitch and do this again until you have a total of 8 puff-stitches.

Row 2 Start the same as the previous row and make 3-loop puff-stitches between 2 stitches of the previous row. Chain 1 between each puff-stitch. Finish with a slip stitch.

Row 3 Start same as the previous two rows, make a puff stitch, chain 2, make another puff stitch. In the next 3 spaces between 2 stitches you make 1 puff-stitch but in the corners, you make 2 puff-stitches in the same space. Just like you would with granny square-corners. Join with a slip stitch.

Putting the bag together

-Now you have the bottom, which you have already attached to your first row of eight squares, or are you going to sew/crochet together. Your work will look something like photo C. As you can see I have made a row with puff-stitches above the squares. To make this row, make an entire row of puff-stitches all around the top of the squares. Begin by chaining 3, make a 3 loop puff-stitch and then work in the next space and make 4 loop puff-stitches in every next space. Don't make chains between the puffstitches this time.

-Now you have a bottom with the 8 squares, with a row of puff-stitches and you have a row of squares, on top of these you will also make a row of puff-stitches. You'll crochet both these rows of puff-stitches together. See Photo caption D.

Adding the last rows If you have putt the bag together so far, you will be making the top. You add three rows of puff-stitches all around as described previously. Then take a new color, this color is your edge. Make sure you choose a color that you still have enough yarn of. Start with single crochet in one of the loops above the puffstitches of the previous row. Crochet all around the entire row using single crochet. In the next row crochet above the first row of single crochet. Do this until you have a wide brim, as wide as you want. I have made it eight rows wide.

Then you start a new row but above the right edge of the central square in front of the bag you make chainstitches (see photo captions of the brim) I've crocheted 70 chainstitches. Then you start above the left edge above the central square of the bag. make single crochet again and move on aroun this row and do exactly the same with the handle like the front of the bag. Then make single crochet all around again untill the handles are 8 rows wide again. (Or more)

Your bag is finished! Now you can still make a small flower to decorate the large border.

Chain 4 and join with a slip stitch, work around the circle and make 10 single crochet stitches around the circle and join with a slip stitch. Join a different color and make a slip stitch in a loop of the first circle * ch 2 and make in the same stitch 2 puff-stitch-loops and continue to make 2 puf-stitch loops in the next stitch, chain 2 and make a single crochet stitch in the same stitch*, You have now worked 1 petal in 2 stitches, repeat between **5 times and you have a nice puff-stitch flower!

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