Aubergine Shopping Bag

I've been working on this handy shopping bag pattern for a while.  It uses one and a half skein of King Cole Bamboo Cotton yarn (100g per skein, dk, 230 metres) and a 4.5mm hook.  Try sizing up the hook to create a bigger bag (remember to allow for extra yarn!), or re-imagine the simple base as a doily pattern...  Try using up scraps from other projects too.

Pattern begins:
1.  Ch3, work 12dc in 3rd ch from hook, sl st to top of first dc to join (12)
2.  Ch2 (does not count as stitch), 2dc in each st around, join with sl st in first dc (24)
3.  Ch2, *2dc, dc* around, sl st in top of first dc (36)
4..  Ch2, *2dc, dc in next 2 sts* around, sl st to join (48)
5.  Ch2, *2dc, dc in next 3 sts* around, sl st to join (60)
6.  Ch2, *2dc, dc in next 4 sts* around, sl st to join (72)
7.  Ch2, *2dc, dc in next 5 sts* around, sl st to join (84)

You may add extra inc rounds here by following the pattern.

Begin sides:

1.  Ch2 (does not count as st), *[dc, ch1, dc] in same sp, sk 2, [2dc, ch1, 2dc], sk2* around, sl st to top of first dc to join
2.  Sl st across to ch sp, [2dc, ch1, 2dc] in ch sp, sk sts to next ch sp, [dc, ch1, dc], sk sts to next ch sp* around, sl st in top of first dc to join.
3.  Sl st across to ch sp, [dc, ch1, dc] in ch sp, sk sts to next ch sp, [2dc, ch1, 2dc] in ch sp, sk sts to next ch sp* around, sl st in top of first dc to join.

Repeat rows 2-3 until you are happy with the height (mine is 26 rows total)

Edging:  
1.  Sl st to 2nd dc of [2dc, ch1, 2dc] group, ch1, *sc in same space, sc around ch, sc in next dc, sk last dc of group, sc in next dc, sc around ch sp, sc in dc, sk first dc of next group*, cont in pattern around, sl st to join (84)
2.  Ch1, hdc in each st around, sl st to join
3.  Ch1, sc around, sl st to join, fasten off and weave in ends.

Tunisian handles

1.  Rejoin yarn in 8th st from start.  Pick up sts in the next 6 sc (7 loops on hook), return pass.
2-29 Tunisian simple st in each st across, ret pass.

At this point either tunisian bind off, skip 14 sts and whip stitch to next 7 (matching sts).

Or, skip 20 sts, holding WS tog and with tunisian handle towards you (bag behind), slst tog 21st st and beginning loop, sl st tog next 6 sts, fasten off.

1.  Counting around, sk 14 more sts, rejoin yarn with sl st.  Pick up sts in the next 6 sts, ret pass.
2-29.  Tunisian simple st in each st across, ret pass.

Join end of strap to body of bag in the same way again.

Sew in ends and go shopping!