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Surf's Up: Crochet Bikini and Drawstring Bag Hit the beach in style, courtesy of NexGeneration's crochet designs. From "Uncommon Threads" episode DUCT-256

(Continued from page 2)

Beach Bag

Drew Emborsky designed his drawstring bag to hold keys, cell phone and other accessories while you're at the beach. He crochets a variation of the chain stitch using variegated yarn. A rectangle is created and then the bottom is pulled and sewn together. Finally he attaches a handle by whip-stitching a chain-stitched piece to the top of the bag.

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	Drew Emborsky's Beach Bag
	Figure A

Materials:

crochet hook, US size F/5[3.75mm]
1.75oz (136yds) Patons Grace, Spearmint
1.74oz (136yds) Patons Grace, Ginger
2 large-eyed 5" glass beads in coordinating color

With Spearmint Ch 51:
Row 1: (RS) Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (50sc).
Rows 2-3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (figure A).
Row 4: Ch 2, turn, *skip one st, dc in next three sts, dc in sk st working behind the previous sts.*. Repeat from *to* across. Dc in last st.
Row 5: Ch 1. turn, working in back loops only, sc in each st across.
Row 6: Ch I, turn, working in front loops only, sc in each st across.
Row 7: Ch 2, turn, *sk one st, dc in next three sts, dc in sk st working in front of the previous sts*. Repeat from *to* across. Dc in last st.
Rows 8-10: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Fasten off.

Creating the cables

Single crochet in each stitch

Adding more cable rows

Change to Ginger as follows:

Adding the second color

Row 1: With RS facing, attach yarn with a sc to first st of row. Sc in each st across.
Rows 2-3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 4: Ch 2 turn, *sk 1st, dc in next 3sts, dc in sk st working behind the previous sts*. Repeat from *to* across. Dc in last st.
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, working in back loops only, sc in each st across.
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, working in front loops only, sc in each st across.
Row 7: Ch 2, turn, *sk 1st, dc in next 3sts, dc in sk st working in the front of the previous sts*. Repeat from *to* across. Dc in last st.
Rows 8-10: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Fasten off.

Repeat pattern alternating between Spearmint and Ginger until you have a total of 6 stripes. Weave in all ends before continuing.

Drawstring
With Spearmint, ch 2, sc in 2nd ch from hook. *Ch 2, sc in back loop of previous st*. Repeat from *to* until drawstring is 20" long.

Handle
With Ginger, ch 2, sc in 2nd ch from hook. *Ch 2, sc in back loop of previous st*. Repeat from *to* until handle is 30" long.

Assembly

1. Fold the rectangle in half, matching up the first and last rows with right sides facing, and whip-stitch together to create a tube. Turn right side out.

2. Thread a long piece of yarn through the ends of one side of the tube, cinch it completely closed and secure it tightly. This is the basic bag.

3. Thread the drawstring around the top of the bag, about 1" down from the edge, through the holes created by the pattern. Thread a bead on each end of the drawstring and secure with a simple knot. Attach the handle by whip-stitching 1" of each end inside the opposite sides of the top of the bag.

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RESOURCES :
Paton yarn
Website: www.patonsyarns.com

GUESTS :

Drew Emborsky
E-mail: drew@thecrochetdude.biz
Website: www.drewemborsky.com

Amie Hirtes
Website: www.nexstitch.com

Pam Gillette
E-mail: pamgillette@yahoo.com
Website: www.knottygeneration.com