Pattern description: Tunisian Crochet Convertible Clutch
Size
Width – 29 cm, height – 33 cm
You will need
- Spirali yarn (74% polyacrylic, 20% sheep’s wool, 6% polyester, approx. 80 m/50 g) – 100 g gray, Meribel yarn (50% wool, 40% polyacrylic, 10% alpaca wool, approx. 90 m/50 g) – 100 g anthracite
- Tunisian double-ended crochet hook for circular work, size 3.5-4 mm, at least 15 cm long
- 1-2 safety pins or stitch markers
Patterns and Charts
Work in Tunisian technique both in rounds and in rows back and forth.
“Victoria” Stitch (“Simple Tunisian Stitch”)
Insert the hook toward you between the left and right vertical bar of the stitch from the previous row (rnd). As a result, both bars of the neighboring stitches (right and left) “shift.” Note that the hook is inserted under the horizontal strand of the stitch (the loop from the previous row).
If the “Victoria” pattern is worked in rows back and forth, keep in mind the following when picking up stitches: at the beginning of each forward row, skip 1 stitch, and at the end of each return row, skip the second-to-last stitch.
Attention! When turning your work, always turn it in the same direction as in the previous row, so the yarn strands from the balls do not twist.
Secure inactive loops worked with Spirali or Meribel yarn with a safety pin. If your work is too loose, use a 3.5 mm hook.
Strictly follow the gauge given in the instructions! Change hooks if necessary.
Changing Yarn
For example, if the loops were picked up with Meribel yarn and the same yarn is used to secure the loops, then the yarn that was previously used to secure the loops (here, Spirali) must be pulled through all the loops on the hook with Meribel yarn, so that only 1 loop of Spirali yarn remains on the hook.
Then pick up loops with Spirali yarn and secure them with Meribel yarn.
Gauge
15 sts x 14 rows = 10 x 10 cm, worked in “Victoria” stitch with 1 ch.
Instructions
With Meribel yarn, make a starting chain of 90 ch, join into a ring with 1 sl st. If desired, attach a stitch marker (and move it up from one rnd to the next).
Next, work 1 rnd of sl st with Meribel yarn, inserting the hook only under the top strand of the chain. In rnd 2, continuously pull up loops with Spirali yarn from each back strand of the chain, alternating 1 st and 1 st with 1 ch. Secure these loops with Meribel yarn.
In rnds 3, 4, 5, and 6, work the “Victoria” pattern: pick up loops with Spirali yarn and secure loops with Meribel yarn.
At the end of rnd 6, when securing the loops, pull the Meribel yarn through all (including the last) loops worked with Spirali yarn, and in rnd 7 work sl st in the “Victoria” pattern with Meribel yarn.
Before starting rnd 7 with Meribel yarn, lay the Spirali yarn up and to the right.
In rnd 8, work sl st with Meribel yarn, inserting the hook into the top strand of the previous row and at the same time into the strand of the loops secured with Meribel yarn in rnd 6, then pull the yarn through for the sl st.
After rnd 8, work the first side panel (next to the top open edge of the bag) in rows back and forth using only Spirali yarn: pick up loops with Spirali yarn from the next 32 sts (the side panels are worked only in the “Victoria” pattern, that is, without the alternating chains used in the pattern) and insert the hook under the back (= deeper-lying) strand worked with Meribel yarn = row 1.
Continue working with Spirali yarn only for 5 rows (rows 2-6) in the “Victoria” pattern. For the left edge, insert the hook at the left end of the row consistently into the last stitch of the previous row so that, when inserting, there are 2 vertical bars on the hook on the left side and a 3rd bar on the right side, then pull up 1 st.
After completing row 5, work sc upward along the right side section with Meribel yarn. To do this, insert the hook under both vertical bars at the top of the front edge stitch in the “Victoria” pattern.
In row 6, also pick up loops with Spirali yarn according to the pattern (the working Spirali yarn now lies along the left edge of the side panel).
Now secure the loops picked up with Spirali yarn using Meribel yarn. To do this, turn the work and use the second hook.
Turn the work again and, with the first hook and Spirali yarn, work sl st down along the left vertical side section, inserting the hook only under the back vertical bar of the stitch.
Then work sc along the left side section with Meribel yarn, inserting the hook in front of the 2 vertical bars of the left edge of the “Victoria” pattern.
With Spirali yarn, work sl st along the inside of the bag under the dark Meribel loop, 13 sts to the left, inserting the hook under the vertical bars of the Spirali loops from rnd 6.
With Meribel yarn, work 13 sl st to the left, inserting the hook under the back horizontal strand of the Meribel loop. Now work the second side panel in the same way.
Then, just as after the first side panel worked with Spirali yarn, work 13 sl st to the left along the inside of the bag under the dark Meribel loop, inserting the hook under the vertical bars of the loops worked with Spirali yarn in rnd 6.
With Meribel yarn, work 13 sl st to the left as well, inserting the hook under the back strand of the loop worked with Meribel yarn.
Next, with Spirali yarn, work sl st up along the front side of the 1st side panel, inserting the hook under the front strand of the sc worked with Meribel yarn.
Then also with Meribel yarn, work sl st along the top front side of the 1st side panel, inserting the hook under the front bar of the sl st already worked with Spirali yarn.
Now with Meribel yarn, work the “Victoria” pattern along the 1st side panel with sl st.
Then work 13 ch (to transition to the 1st top open edge of the bag).
Next, work sl st in the “Victoria” pattern along the 2nd side panel.
Work another chain of 13 ch (to transition to the 2nd top open edge of the bag).
Before moving to the next rnd with Meribel yarn, lay the Spirali yarn up onto the front side.
Now work 1 rnd of sl st with Meribel yarn, inserting the hook under the top strand of the previous row (over both side edges) and at the same time into the horizontal strand of the loop worked with Meribel yarn in the previous row.
When working the ch (to transition to the top open edges of the bag), insert the hook only under the top strand of the stitch.
Now begin working along the right edge of the 1st side panel.
With Spirali yarn, continuously work from each back = lower horizontal strand of the chain stitches, alternating 1 st and 1 st with 1 ch. Secure these loops with Meribel yarn.
Then determine the new start of the round – to do this, overlap the top edges of the bag and precisely mark the middle of the front panel of the bag with a marker or safety pin.
For the next 35 rnds, work the “Victoria” pattern: pick up loops with Spirali yarn, secure loops with Meribel yarn.
At the end, work 1 rnd of sl st with Meribel yarn, inserting the hook as for the “Victoria” pattern.
Then work another rnd of sl st, inserting the hook under the top strand of the stitch from the previous row.
Now finish the bag with sl st in Meribel yarn (along its outer side). To do this, insert the hook under the two opposite top strands of the previous row.
Weave in the yarn end.
