I recently completed work on this crochet cat bag:

and here is how I did it.

(Note: this directions have NOT been tested, so if you encounter any difficulties or errors, please send an email to leslie at crochetbug dot com)

Tools: 5.5mm hook
5.0mm hook
Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Scissors

Materials: worsted weight yarns of your choice

Gauge: Base should measure 11″ after 20 rounds

Special stitches:

Shell: 2dc, chain 1, 2dc

Puff stitch: Working around the stitches indicated, (YO, insert hook into the space between shells two rows below, YO and draw the yarn up to the working row), repeat twice more. You will have seven loops on your hook, yarn over and draw through the first six loops, yarn over and draw through the 2 loops remaining on the hook to complete the stitch.

Here is a video of how to make the puff stitch:

Rounds 1 through 21 are worked in continuous rounds. Do not join; mark beginning of rounds.

Note: I do not make a chain one before making the first single crochet of the bag. I draw the loop up from the slip stitch join of the ch 4 and work the first sc from there

With the 5.5 mm hook and the worsted weight yarn or your choice, ch 4; join with slip st in first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: 6 sc in ring (6 sc).
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sc).
Round 3: (2 sc in next st, sc next st), repeat from 6 times (18 sc).
Round 4: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (24 sc).
Round 5: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts) 6 times (30 sc).
Round 6: (sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (36 sc).
Round 7: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts) 6 times (42 sc).
Round 8: (sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (48 sc).
Round 9: (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts) 6 times (54 sc).
Round 10: (sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (60 sc).
Round 11: (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 5 sts) 6 times (66 sc).
Round 12: (sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (72 sc).
Round 13: (sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 6 sts) 6 times (78 sc).
Round 14: (sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (84 sc).
Round 15: (sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 7 sts) 6 times (90 sc).
Round 16: (sc in next 14 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (96 sc).
Round 17: (sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 8 sts) 6 times (102 sc).
Round 18: (sc in each of next 16 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (108 sc).
Round 19: (sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 9 sts) 6 times (114 sc).
Round 20: (sc in next 18 sts, 2 sc in next st) 6 times (120 sc)

SWITCH TO THE 5.0 mm HOOK and continue working in a spiral in the same color you used for the base.

Round 21: (skip first 3 sts; 2dc, ch 1 in next stitch, 2dc in next st) 24 times. Join with a sl stitch to first dc made. (24 shells)

From this point on, you will no longer be working in a spiral but will join and turn at the end of each round.

Round 22: Turn your bag and sl st over to chain-1 space, chain 3 (counts as first dc) dc, chain 1, 2dc into same chain-1 space as ch-3 dc, (2dc, chain 1, 2dc in next chain-1 space) 23 times. Join with a sl st to the first dc of the round and fasten off. (24 shells)

The next three rounds will be worked in a new color and will form the first “cats” of the cat bag.

Round 23: Working with a new color, turn the bag (so that you are working in the opposite direction of the round just completed) and join the new color with a sl stitch to any chain-1 space. Chain 3 (counts as first dc) dc, chain 1, 2dc into same chain-1 space as ch-3 dc, Puff stitch (2dc, chain 1, 2dc in next chain-1 space) 23 times. Join with a sl st to the first dc of the round (24 shells and 24 puff stitches).

Round 24: Turn and sl stitch to the next chain-1 space of the previous round. Chain 3 (counts as first dc) dc, chain 1, 2dc into same chain-1 space as ch-3 dc, (2dc, chain 1, 2dc in next chain-1 space) 23 times. Join with a sl st to the first dc of the round (24 shells).

Round 25: Turn and sl stitch to the next chain-1 space of the previous round. Chain 3 (counts as first dc) dc, chain 1, 2dc into same chain-1 space as ch-3 dc, (2dc, chain 1, 2dc in next chain-1 space) 23 times. Join with a sl st to the first dc of the round (24 shells). Fasten off

Rounds 26 -37: Repeat rounds 23 – 25 four times more, changing colors after every three rounds.

Round 38: Working with a new color, turn the bag (so that you are working in the opposite direction of the round just completed) and join the new color with a sl stitch to any chain-1 space. Chain 3 (counts as first dc) dc, chain 1, 2dc into same chain-1 space as ch-3 dc, Puff stitch (2dc, chain 1, 2dc in next chain-1 space) 23 times. Join with a sl st to the first dc of the round (24 shells and 24 puff stitches).

Round 39: Turn and sl stitch to the next chain-1 space of the previous round. Chain 3 (counts as first dc) dc, chain 1, 2dc into same chain-1 space as ch-3 dc, (2dc, chain 1, 2dc in next chain-1 space) 23 times. Join with a sl st to the first dc of the round (24 shells).

Round 40: Turn and work a (sc decrease over the next two stitches, chain 3, slip stitch into third chain from hook (first ear formed) sc into next st, sc into ch-1 space, chain 3, slip stitch into third chain from hook, sc in next st) 24 times. Join to first sc dec and fasten off.

The handles are up to you. I chose to use one strand of each of the colors I used for the cats, and I twisted them together using a hand-held mixer, and then inserted the ends through chain-1 spaces of the first round of the last color I used for the cats and secured the ends with a knot.