Minty Mandala Purse

I designed the Minty Mandala Purse for ME! My Fat Bottom Bag has been through a lot, and needed to be replaced.  I wanted something with a fun Bohemian style. Enjoy your new free crochet pattern!

Minty Mandala Purse Crochet Pattern

Purse measures approximately 11 inches wide and 8 inches tall.

Supplies
3 colors of Red Heart Soft Essentials (Bulky 5) (This yarn is BEAUTIFUL btw!!)
5 mm Crochet Hook
Large Button (between 1 inch and 1.5 inch)
Yarn Needle

Stitches Used
Magic Circle
CH – Chain
SC – Single Crochet
HDC – Half Double Crochet
DC – Double Crochet
FPTRE – Front Post Tipple Crochet
Puff Stitch  (Click the name of this stitch to see written and video instructions.) 

Yarn Colors
Red Heart Soft Essentials
Color A – Biscuit (1 ball)
Color B – Charcoal (2 balls)
Color C – Minty (1 ball)

This purse will be made in four parts.
-The Cover Flap
-Body
-Sides
-Strap

Cover Flap 
Using Color A
Row 1: Magic Circle. 5 HDC into magic circle. DO NOT JOIN. Pull circle tight. CH 1. Turn.  (5 stitches)
Row 2: 2 SC into the first stitch. 1 SC into the next stitch. 2 SC into the next stitch. SC into the next stitch. 2 SC into the last stitch.  (8 stitches)
Change to Color B
Row 3: CH 2, turn. DC into first stitch. 2 DC into next stitch.  *1 DC into next stitch. 2 DC into next stitch.  Repeat from * 2 more times. (12 stitches)
Change to color A
Row 4: CH 1. turn, SC into first two stitches. FPTRE around the second SC from row 1. (Do not skip any stitches. Every stitch from row 3 will be crocheted into)
SC into next 2 stitches. FPTRE around the same second SC from row 1.
SC into next 2 stitches. FPTRE around the 3rd SC from row 1.
SC into next 2 stitches.  FPTRE around the same 4th SC from row 1.
SC into next 2 stitches. FPTRE around the same 4th SC from row 1. SC into last 2 stitches.  (17 stitches)
Change to Color B
Row 5: CH 1, turn. SC into each stitch. (17 stitches)
Change to Color C
-Note- On the next row, you will start using the Puff Stitch. If you clicked on the puff stitch link  you will see there is a chain at the end of the puff stitch. This will increase our stitch count although I do not count chains in the final stitch count at the end of each row. 
Row 6: CH 1, turn. HDC into first stitch. *Puff stitch into the next stitch. HDC into the next stitch. Repeat from * 7 more times. (17 stitches)
Change to Color B
Row 7: CH 1, turn. HDC into each stitch.  (25 stitches)
Row 8: CH 1, turn. *2 HDC into next stitch. 1 HDC into next 4 stitches. Repeat from * 4 more times. (30 stitches)
Change to Color A
Row 9: CH 1, turn. *2  HDC into next stitch. 1 HDC into next 5 stitches. Repeat from * 4 more times. (35 stitches)
Change to Color C
Row 10: CH 1, turn. HDC into first stitch. *Puff stitch into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. Repeat from *
Repeat from * 16 more times.  (35 stitches)
Change to Color B
Row 11: CH 1, turn. 1 HDC into each stitch. (52 stitches)
Change to Color A 
Row 12: CH 1, turn. 1 HDC into each of the next 24 stitches. CH 4. Skip 4 stitches. HDC into next 24 stitches.  (48 stitches)
Row 13: CH 1, turn.  1 HDC into each of the next 12 HDC. 2 HDC into next stitch. 1 HDC into next 5 stitches. 2 HDC into next stitch. 1 HDC into next 5 stitches. 5 HDC into CH space. 1 HDC into next 5 stitches. 2 HDC into next stitch. 1 HDC into the next 5 stitches. 2 HDC into next stitch. 1 HDC into last 12 stitches.  (57 stitches)
Change to Color C
Row 14: CH 1, turn. 1 SC into each stitch. (57 stitches)
Finish off and weave in your ends.

Body
Using Color B
Row 1: CH 31, turn. Skip 1 CH. HDC into each chain across. (30 stitches)
Row 2-25: CH 1, turn, HDC into each stitch across. (30 stitches.)
Row 26: Crocheting into the back loop only. CH 1, turn. SC into the back loop of each stitch across.
Row 27-29: CH 1, turn. SC into each stitch across.
Row 30: Crocheting into the back loop only. CH 1, Turn, HDC into each stitch across.
Row 31- 54: CH 1, turn. HDC into each stitch across.

Row 55: CH 1. SC around the entire piece.  Be sure to put an extra SC on each corner. When working down the sides, you will put 1 SC into the sides of each HDC.  You should have 172 SC. Join to your first SC.

Finish off leaving long tail for attaching the cover flap. You may need to stretch the body of your purse side to side to make the cover flap and your purse line up evenly.

Sides
Make two
Using Color B
Row 1: CH 27, turn. Skip 1 CH. SC into each of the next 7 CH. HDC into each of the next 4 CH. DC into each of the next 10 CH. HDC into each of the next 2 CH. SC into each of the last 3 CH.
Row 2: CH 1, turn. SC into each of the next 5 stitches. HDC into next 14 stitches. SC into last 7 stitches.
Change to Color C
Row 3: CH 1 turn. SC into each of the 26 stitches across.
Change to Color B
Row 4: CH 1, turn. SC into each of the next 5 stitches. HDC into next 14 stitches. SC into last 7 stitches.
Row 5: CH 1, turn. SC into next 7 stitches. HDC into next 4 stitches. DC into next 10 stitches. HDC into next 2 stitches. SC into last 3 stitches.
Finish off, leaving a long enough tail for attaching it to the body of your purse. 

Strap
CH 10. Join to first CH. HDC into each of the next 9 CH. Do not finish off. Use a stitch marker to save your stitch. Attach second color yarn to the 10th CH. CH 1. HDC into the same CH.
HDC into the next 8 HDC of the previous color. Using a stitch marker, save your stitch.

Rotate back and forth between the two colors, spiraling around to form your purse strap.  Repeat until your strap is at least 2.5 ft long or until the desired length.

To finish off, sc into the next stitch, and then slip stitch into the next stitch with both colors.

When piecing together your purse, use a yarn needle and whip stitch. The side of the “sides” that are wider, go towards the bottom. The side that is skinner (with 7 SC ) goes towards to the top of the purse.