Dancing Flames Market Bag CAL
Part Three – The Body of the Bag

Welcome to Part Three of the Dancing Flames Market Bag CAL! For the past two weeks, you got your supply list in Part One, and you got to work on the bottom of the bag in Part Two. We are halfway to the finish line; the end of the yarn if you will!

This week, we will be working on the body of the bag! This section features some fun and interesting stitch work. You’ll be working the chevron stitch, which, I promise you is very easy to do. Trust me, if I can do it, you can, too! In addition to the chevron stitch, you’ll be working slip stitches to give the bag the illusion of surface crochet with what I like to call the “sideways V”.

Just as a reminder, here is the schedule for the Dancing Flames Market Bag CAL:

• Thursday, July 6, 2017 (part one, supplies list)
• Thursday, July 13, 2016 (part two, bottom of the bag)
• Thursday, July 20, 2017 (part three, body of the bag)
• Thursday, July 27, (part four, handles of the bag)

Now, on to the pattern! Please read the pattern notes as it’ll make the pattern easier to understand.

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Pattern Notes

• You will be working with a 5.5mm hook for the body of the bag.
• The Ch3 equals a dc. When joining the chevron rounds, join with a sl st to the top of the Ch3.
• The Ch2 equals an hdc. When joining the hdc rounds, join to the top of the ch2.
• The Ch1 does NOT equel a stitch.
• Rounds 20 & 31 are the foundation chevron rounds; this is the set up for the subsequent chevron rounds.
• Repeat instructions in [ ] the number of times indicated behind [ ].
• Note that the stitch count at the end of each round will be indicated in these: < >.
• You may use stitch markers to mark your first sl st in rounds 27 & 29 for easy identification when you need to join rounds.
• OPTIONAL: For rounds 27 & 29, you may cut your yarn and attach a color that is a contrast color to the hdc. This is so that the “sideways v” (made with a sl st) stands out more. If you do decide to do this, cut a length that runs the entire color you want to use as a contrast color so that you have enough for both rounds. If you decided to switch to a contrast color, for rounds 28 & 30, you can pick back up the previous color that you were working with in round 26. Again, this is so that the “sideways v” stands out.
• If you do NOT decide to switch colors, just continue working with your yarn without cutting and following the pattern.

Pattern – using a 5.5mm hook

Round 20: Ch3 (see pattern notes), 1 dc in the same st and the next 3 sts, [sk2 sts,1 dc in the next 4 sts, ch2, 1 dc in the next 4 sts] 7x, sk2 sts, 1 dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next, 1 dc in the last st, join. <66 dc; 7 ch-2 sps>

Round 21: Ch3 (see pattern notes), 2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in the next 2 sts, [sk2 sts, 1 dc in the next 3 sts, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next ch-2 sp, 1 dc in the next 3 sts] 7x, sk2 sts, 1 dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in the last st, join. <66 dc, 7 ch-2 sps>

Rounds 22 – 25: Repeat round 21.

Round 26: Ch2 (see pattern notes), 1 hdc in ea st around, placing 2 hdc in ea ch-2 sp, join. <80 hdc>

Round 27: (See pattern notes.) Ch1, loosely sl st in the same st and in ea st around, join to the first sl st skipping over the Ch1. You’ve just made a row of “sideways v”. <80 sl sts>

Round 28: (See pattern notes.) Ch2, 1 hdc in the middle loop of the next st (see picture) and in ea middle loop of ea st across, join. This middle loop is technically the front loop of the hdc in round 26. <80 hdc>

Round 29: (See pattern notes.) Ch1, loosely sl st in the same st and in ea st around, join to the first sl st skipping over the Ch1. You’ve just made a row of “sideways v” <80 sl sts>

Round 30: (See pattern notes.) Ch2, 1 hdc in the middle loop of the next st (see picture) and in ea middle loop of ea st across, join. This middle loop is technically the front loop of the hdc in round 26. <80 hdc>

Round 31: Ch3 (see pattern notes), 1 dc in the same st and the next 3 sts, [sk2 sts,1 dc in the next 4 sts, ch2, 1 dc in the next 4 sts] 7x, sk2 sts, 1 dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next, 1 dc in the last st, join. <66 dc; 7 ch-2 sps>

Round 32: Ch3 (see pattern notes), 2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in the next 2 sts, [sk2 sts, 1 dc in the next 3 sts, (dc, ch2, dc) in the next ch-2 sp, 1 dc in the next 3 sts] 7x, sk2 sts, 1 dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in the last st, join. <66 dc, 7 ch-2 sps>

Rounds 33 – 36: Repeat round 32.

Round 37: Ch2 (see pattern notes), 1 hdc in ea st around, placing 2 hdc in ea ch-2 sp, join. <80 hdc>

Stop here for now. You’ve just completed the body of the bag. Yay! We are almost there. This section ONLY should measure about 8 1/2″ tall (L) and 11″ W. The entire piece, thus far, should measure 12 1/2″ tall (L).

Please be sure to keep your stitches in place and ready for the part four, the handles of the bag! Can’t wait to share this one with you. If you have any questions, you can join my FB group!

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