Beaded Shamrock Bag

Specially for St. Patrick's Day, a beaded bag with shamrock drawstrings.

Approximate Time: Less than 2 hours.

Supplies:

• 2 ounces worsted weight yarn in main color
• 1/2 ounce of green worsted weight yarn
• 72 pony beads
• I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
• yarn needle

Instructions:

Before beginning string 72 pony beads on yarn of your choice. I always string on a few extra, just in case I mess up on my stitch count and need another bead or two.

Round 1: Chain 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with slip stitch in first sc. Pull slip stitch tight, until it almost disappears. (6 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each stitch around. Join with slip stitch in first sc. (12 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc) around. Join with slip stitch in first sc. (18 sc)

Round 4: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc) around. Join with slip stitch in first sc. (24 sc)

Round 5: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc) around. Join with slip stitch in first sc. (30 sc)

Round 6: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 4 sc) around. Join with slip stitch in first sc. (36 sc)

Round 7: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 5 sc) around. Join with slip stitch in first sc. (42 sc)

Round 8: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 6 sc) around. Join with slip stitch in first sc. (48 sc)

Round 9: Sc in each sc around. Join with slip stitch in first sc. (48 sc)

Round 10: Ch 2 (don't count as hdc), hdc in same stitch as join and each stitch around, skip ch 2 and join with slip stitch in first hdc. (48 hdc)

Round 11: Ch 2, hdc in same stitch as join and each stitch around, skip ch 2 and join with slip stitch in first hdc. (48 hdc)

Round 12: Ch 2, hdc in same stitch as join. Yarn over, move up one bead to the hook, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull yarn through. You should now have three loops on your hook, with the bead on the middle loop. Yarn over and pull through all three loops. You just completed an hdc bead stitch. *Hdc in next st, hdc bead st in next st,* repeat around. Join with a slip stitch in first hdc. (24 beads)

Round 13: Ch 2, hdc in same stitch as join, hdc in st over each bead and in each hdc around, skip ch 2 and join in first hdc. (48 hdc)

Round 14-15: Ch 2, hdc in same stitch as join, hdc in each hdc around, skip ch 2 and join with slip stitch in first hdc. (48 hdc)

Rounds 16-23: Repeat rounds 12-15 twice.

Round 24: Ch 1, sc in same stitch as join and each hdc around. Join with a slip stitch in first sc. (48 sc)

Round 25: Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, (skip 1 sc, sc in next sc, ch 3) around, ending skip 1 sc, sc in next sc, ch 1, hdc in top of first sc. (24 loops)

Round 26: Ch 1, sc in loop formed by ch 1, hdc, *slipstitch in next sc, 3 sc in ch 3 loop, repeat from * around. End with slipstitch in sc, 2 sc in loop. Join with slip stitch in first sc.

Fasten off weave in ends.

Drawstrings: Make 2

Chain 4, join with a slipstitch in first chain to form a ring.

Chain 3, tr, dc, tr, ch 3, slip stitch in ring. Repeat from * twice.

Ch 90, work tr, dc, tr, ch 3, slipstitch in the fourth chain from hook. *Chain 3, tr, dc, tr, ch 3, slip stitch in ring. Repeat from * once.

Fasten off and using tapestry needle run tails under base of the stitches and tighten hole in center of shamrock.

Weave drawstrings through spaces made by round 25, tie ends together with an overhand knot.

By Suzetta from Bellingham, WA