Instructions

Bag front and back: make 2

Foundation row: Using the G hook with black, make starting knot, place on hook and chain 36.

Pattern: Using the traditional Tunisian foundation, insert hook into back loop of second chain from hook, yarn over and draw through leaving loop on hook — two loops on hook. Continue to end. Drop black. There will be 36 loops on the hook.

Turn hook. Slide stitches to working end. Make starting knot with copper, place on hook and draw through first black loop to secure. (Knots will be on opposite ends of the hook.)

Using the traditional Tunisian stitch part two, yarn over and draw through the copper loop and one black loop. Continue to end with one copper loop remaining on hook.

Using the traditional Tunisian part one, insert hook into the front vertical post of the second stitch, yarn over and draw through. This is your second loop. Continue to end. Drop copper. There will be 36 loops on the hook.

Turn hook, using a back and forth motion, so thread does not become twisted. Slide stitches to working end.

Decrease Row: Pick up black. Yarn over and draw through two copper loops. Yarn over and draw through black loop and one copper loop. Continue until two copper loops remain. Yarn over and draw through black loop and the last two copper loops. The two loops in the decrease count as the first stitch.

Using the traditional Tunisian part one, insert hook into the front vertical post of the second stitch, yarn over, draw through. This is your second loop. Continue to end, making sure you insert into both of the copper loops decreased at the beginning. Drop black. There will be 34 loops on the hook.

Turn hook. Slide stitches to working end. Pick up copper. Yarn over and draw through one black loop. Copper loop will remain on hook, the rest will be black. Yarn over and draw through the copper loop and one black loop. Continue to end until one copper loop remains on hook.

Insert hook into the front vertical post of the second stitch, yarn over, draw through. This is your second loop. Continue to end. Drop copper. There will be 34 loops on the hook.

Continue decreasing the copper loops in this manner until one loop remains, hold copper thread with black and tie off. Weave in ends from the starting row.

Bag flap: make 1

Pattern: Using the traditional Tunisian foundation, insert hook into back loop of second chain from hook, yarn over and draw through leaving loop on hook — two loops on hook. Continue to end. Drop black. There will be 36 loops on the hook.

You will decrease in every row for the flap. Turn hook. Slide stitches to working end. Make starting knot with copper, place on hook and draw through two black loops to secure, this is the beginning decrease. (Knots will be on opposite ends of the hook.) Using the traditional Tunisian stitch part two, yarn over and draw through the copper loop and one black loop. Continue until two black loops remain, yarn over and draw through the copper loop and the last two black loops, this is the ending decrease. 

Using the traditional Tunisian part one, insert hook behind front vertical post of the second stitch, yarn over and draw through. This is your second loop. Continue to end, making sure to insert hook behind both front vertical posts of the decrease. Drop copper. There will be 34 loops on the hook. 

Turn hook. Slide stitches to working end. Pick up black, work decrease at beginning and end of row.

Continue until one loop remains, hold copper thread with black and tie off. leave ends very long for use in the closure. Weave in ends at the starting rows. DO NOT weave in the threads at point end.

Tassel: make 2

Using credit card, hold both threads together and wrap loosely around credit card until desired thickness is reached. End on the same side you begin. Use long thread to tie off at top fold. Slide off card. Secure bundle close to top knot. Cut loops on the bottom, trimming ends to make even. 

Assembly

Front, back, flap:

Place front and back of bag together same sides facing. Using black thread, sew sides together with a whip stitch. Place flap at top edge of bag with same sides facing out. Using black thread, sew sides together with a whip stitch. Weave in ends of thread used for sewing. Do not weave in threads at the point end of the flap. 

Using both color threads, make a starting knot and join at the top corner of the front/back seam with a slip knot. Chain until strap reaches desired length. Join at opposite top corner of the front/back seam. Weave in ends. 

Tassel:

Insert hook into bottom point of bag. Pull one top thread end through. Secure with a knot. Turn bag inside out and repeat with second tassel.

After tassel is attached, close bag. Run threads at point of flap down and around tassel and tie in a bow behind tassel for closure.