Ever since I first learned to crochet I have seen pictures of this awesome purse that I knew I wanted to make, unfortunately when I went to find the pattern I found a chart or instructions in a language I don't understand. Luckily after some searching I found this great tutorial by Bend Beanies on how to make the "Fat Bag". Original design "Fat Bag" by Samanta Maragno CLICK on the image to make it bigger The chart is the original design, "Bend Beanies" edited the pattern by adding extra rows. The first one I made I made was according to Bend Beanies edits. I was happy with it but I personally like a very deep purse and I felt like my stuff was going to fall out of it if I bent down so I sat down and figured out how to make it the way I want it. I sketched it out and worked it up and I am extremely happy with the results. The first day I was wearing it I was at JoAnns and got complimented by some fellow crocheters in the yarn isle! One thing that I think made my purse pop was that I used 2 different ombre yarns. Both were Lily's Sugar and Cream and both had 2 common colors. (shades named Moondance & Beach Ball Blue) I switched the yarns after every 2 rows. The common colors of these 2 yarns were white and light blue. I highly recommend using Sugar and Cream because they have a great selection of self striping/ombre yarns and the stiffness the cotton provides is perfect for this purse. I added a few rows of just white cotton in the middle rows of the strap so it has colored "borders". The changes I made are simple, normally you start by working 5 hdc on each side of the increase and stop increasing at 18 on each side. With my edit you start with 7 on each side of the increase and stop increasing at 24 on each side. The other change I made is that when you are working the straps you work some decreases. Ravelry page for this fatter fat bag - Add it to your library! Fatter "Fat Bag" H Hook Uses approx. 350 yards, it depends on how long and wide you make the straps sl st= slip stitch sts=stitches st=stitch sc= single crochet hdc= half double crochet hdc2tog= half double crochet decrease hdc increase= 2 hdc's into one stitch All turning chain 2 count as a hdc Chain 23 hdc into the 3rd chain from the hook, hdc in next 6 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 7 ch 2, hdc in next 7 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 8 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 8 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 9 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 9 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 10 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 10 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 11 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 11 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 12 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 12 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 13 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 13 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 14 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 14 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 15 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 15 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 16 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 16 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 17 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 17 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 18 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 18 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 19 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 19 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 20 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 20 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 21 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 21 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 22 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 22 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 23 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 23 sts., 2 hdc in next st., hdc in next 5, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 24 sts, turn Work hdc across in each stitch for 24 rows (you can add extra rows if you would like) ch 2, hdc in next 23 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 24 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 22 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 23sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 21 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 22 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 20 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 21 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 19 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 20 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 18 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 19 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 17 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 18 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 16 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 17 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 15 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 16 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 14 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 15 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 13 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 14 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 12 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 13 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 11 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 12 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 10 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 11 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 9 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 10 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 8 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 9 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 7 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 8 sts, turn ch 2, hdc in next 6 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in next 5 sts., hdc2tog, hdc in next 7 sts fasten off and weave in the ends I had an old Ed Hardy scarf that I was able to upcycle it and use it to line my purse, which I think is a great compliment to the other colors. Lining the purse: I highly recommend lining this purse, you don't have to but I think you should. The Bend Beanies tutorial is great for lining the purse and starting the band and straps so use that. They provide lots of pictures and a great detailed explaination. But remember that you want to really squoosh the piece together and do the first band row (working into the turning chains) tightly.. the tighter the more the pleats will stand out. Their directions are correct..do not do that row loosely! So pop over there and then once your ready to do the first row on the straps (after you've done the chains) you can follow the direction below. After you've worked up the "band" and started the straps by working the chains and now you're back to where you first attached the yarn for the straps. Find the 5 stitches that were worked in the middle between the increases/decreases and mark the stitches next to them so you can use these 5 stitches as a reference for the center. sc around in each stitch decrease, sc, decrease into the 5 stitches between the markers 3 decreases centered above the markers 2 decreases centered above the markers 1 decrease centered above the markers sc around in each stitch sc around in each stitch If you want super wide straps than do more rows of sc fasten off and weave in the ends :) My colorful Fat Bag!