Crocheted Deco-Ribbon beach bag

This pattern is a variation of one originally designed by Kim Huhta for Crystal Palace's Monterey cotton yarn. It's been revised for Deco-Ribbon, which gives a very good texture and a firm practical bag. It's very simple to make, a cylinder open on top, closed with a drawstring and finished either with a single wide strap or as a backpack with integrated drawstring. The interesting part comes from the color variations in random stripes. It could also be done in solid colors, or in black and white stripes as in the original cotton. Kim also makes stunning bags from the black ribbon with white stripes, appropriate for the most elegant occasions.

Materials: 6 balls (50g each) of Deco-Ribbon.
Crochet hook, size J
Or size to give gauge: 3 dc/inch
If shoulder bag, one 1.25" button
Finished size: 14" x 18"

Ch6, sl st into 1st ch to make a ring
Note: ch 2 at beg of each round counts as 1 dc
Round 1: Ch 2. Work 7 dc into ring. Sl st into 2nd of starting 2ch (counts as 8th dc).
Round 2: Ch 2. 2 dc in each st to end of round. Sl st into 2nd of starting 2ch (16st).
Round 3: Ch 2. 2 dc in each st to end of round. Sl st into 2nd of starting 2ch (32st).
Round 4: Ch 2. *1 dc in next st, 2dc in next st*, repeat to end of round. Sl st into 2nd of starting 2ch (48st).
Round 5: Ch 2. *1 dc in next 2 st, 2dc in next st*, repeat to end of round. Sl st into 2nd of starting 2ch (64st).
Round 6: Ch 2. *1 dc in next 7 st, 2dc in next st*, repeat to end of round. Sl st into 2nd of starting 2ch (72st).
Work even rows in the round till bag measures 17" (40cm) from starting ring.
Eyelet row: Ch 2. *1 dc in next 7 st, ch 1 (skipping next st)*, repeat to end of round. Sl st into 2nd of starting 2ch. (still 72st).
Ending row: Ch1. sc in each st to end of round.

Here you must choose whether you want a shoulder bag or a backpack. Both involve a drawstring. It only closes the top of the shoulder bag, but in the backpack it extends to also form the straps.

If you want a shoulder bag, make a drawstring about 25" long. Thread through eyelets at top, make a loose half-knot at each end.
Then make a shoulder strap:
*ch 1, 1 sc in next 9 st, turn*
Repeat till strap measures 38" or desired length (larger people will want longer straps and conversely). Secure yarn, leaving about 8" of tail to sew strap at top of bag.
Sew strap to top, at end of bag away from drawstring opening. Sew other end of strap to center of bottom of bag, adding the button as security and decoration. Alternatively, sew both ends of strap to top and use as a handle.

If you want a backpack, make a drawstring about 36" long. Thread through eyelets at top, so that folds form on each side of the bag.
Sew the drawstring to bottom of bag, fanning out from center to about 1/3 of total bag circumference. Drawstring will naturally pull the bag closed when the bag is worn, but will be easy to pull open when the bag is off the person.

One -could- make a flap to close the bag, but it seems rather unnecessary. This bag is obviously not waterproof, and the drawstring is secure enough to keep items from falling out. On the other hand, do note that thin sharp objects such as pencils or knitting needles might well fall out if not contained in something else, even though the fabric is dense enough to contain most other things.

Here are couple suggested colorways for these bags, showing also the different effects from making stripes of different widths.
For the bag on the left:

2 balls 125 mandarine/dark mustard
1 ball 124 deep red/twilight
1 ball 126 sunshine/electric lime
1 ball 117 twilight/white
1 ball 111 dark mustard/white

for the bag on the right:

2 balls 125 mandarine/dark mustard
2 balls 110 salsa verde/dark mustard
2 balls 123 magenta/hot pink