CROCODILE STITCH BAG

By Shanti Ordoñez, 2011

This is a crochet bag that uses the crocodile stitch for the front and the shell stitch for the back. The
crocodile stitch results in a very fun and highly textured fabric, dense enough to give the piece a good
structure without being super heavy.
The stitch itself is not difficult once you got how to make it, but it could be challenging for a beginner.

** The Crocodile stitch used in this bag is based on the one explained by Jenny at
yarn-muse.blogspot.com where she has written instructions and videos on how to work the first 3 rows
with this stitch.

Finished Measurements: 10x10” (25x25 cm), with a 43” strap (109 cm).
Yarn: This bag was made with 2 balls of Cascade 220 Superwash (color 870), however you can make
it with around 430yds of any worsted yarn.
Hook: 5mm (US H) hook.
Gauge: Is not critical for this bag
Lining: Optional, Line your bag with a pretty fabric and a magnetic snap!
Abbreviations: The pattern is written in US terminology.
ch -- chain
sc -- single crochet
hdc -- half double crochet
dc -- double crochet
sl st -- slip stitch

To work the scale pattern: work 5 dc around the post of the first dc of the set (from top to bottom of
the dc post), ch 1, work 5 dc around the post of the second dc inserting your hook from left to right
(from bottom to top of the dc post)

Shanti Ordoñez http://wiresandyarns.blogspot.com/

To make the front:
Make a slip knot. Chain 37.
Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in every ch until the end of the chain. (36 sc)
Row 2: ch 3, turn, dc in base of ch3, *ch 2, skip 2 ch, 2 dc in next sc*, until the end of the row.
Row 3: ch 1, turn, work scale pattern around the first set of 2 dc's, *skip one set of 2 dc's and work
scale pattern in the next set of dc's (the one following the one you just skiped)*; repeat from * until the
end of the row, working just 4 dc in the 2nd part of the last scale. -- 7 scales.
Row 4: ch 3, turn, sl st around the post of first dc (from row 2) to complete the last scale pattern from
row 3. Ch 3, dc in center sp of scale, *ch 2, 2 dc in sp between the scale you're in and the next one,
ch 2, 2 dc into center of next scale*; repeat from * until the end of the row. When you work between 2
scales, you can put your hook into the space between the 2 dc's and all the way through the scales so
you “catch” them with the dc's you're making, giving more structure to the fabric.
Row 5: turn, sl st in 2nd dc, *work scale pattern on next set of dc's, skip one set of dc*; repeat from *
until the end of the row, sl st on last dc to secure the end of the scale. At this point you should have 6
scales interspersed with those from row 3.
Row 6: ch 3, turn, dc at base of 3 ch (or in between the dc's set you are on top of), *ch 2, 2 dc in center
of next scale, ch 2, 2 dc between 2 scales*; until the end of the row.
Rows 7-34: Repeat Rows 3-6 until you have 17 rows of scales (or until desire high).
Row 35: ch 1, turn, sc in each st util the end of the row. Fasten off.

To make the back:

Make slip knot. Chain 38.
5 dc in designated st count as 1 shell.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across – 37 sts.
Row 2: ch 1, turn, *skip 2 st, 5 dc in next st , skip 2 st, sc in next st*, repeat from * until the end of the
row. (6 shells)
Row 3: ch 3, turn, 2 dc in same stitch (base of ch-3 just made which is the last sc of previous row) to
complete half shell, *skip 2 dc, sc in 3rd dc of next shell, skip 2 dc, 5 dc in sc*, repeat from * until you
make the sc on top of the last shell, skip 2 dc, 3 dc in last sc. (half shell, 5 shells, half shell)
Row 4-26: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.
Row 27: ch 1, turn, sc in next dc, hdc in next dc, *dc in sc, work (hdc, 3 sc, hdc) on shell*; repeat from
* until last complete shell, dc in sc, hdc in next dc, sc in each of 3 remaining dc of the half shell. Fasten
off. This row should make the top border of the shells even.

To make the strap:

Make slip knot. Chain 12
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in each st to the end of the row.
Row 2: ch 2, turn. Hdc in same st then hdc in each st across.
Repeat row 2 to desired length. The bag in the picture has 148 rows.
** If you have enough yarn, you can make a round of sc all around of the strap to give it a nicer
finished look.
** You can make the strap really long so you can sew it all around the bag to give it more depth.

To asemble:
Sew together front and back with wrong sides facing each other with sc. Sew the strap to the inside of
the bag with a darning needle.

Shanti Ordoñez http://wiresandyarns.blogspot.com/