You probably know me well enough by now to realize that I like the craft that can work for you. These Jug Totes are no different. So why not put them to work for you? You'll have this under your belt within a couple of hours. All you need to know how to do is crochet (for the one shown in the picture).

You'll want to get started on a couple of these totes, so you'll have plenty in which to carry lunches (saves resources), essentials to the beach, toys to the Day Care, or baby supplies for a visit to the relatives. Keep a small sewing or embroidery project in a Jug Tote at the side of your TV chair. It'll be handy, clean, and ready to bring out while your presence is summoned before the tube.

Ingredients:

a milk or honey jug, with the top lobbed off
a paper hole puncher
1 skien of yarn
Crochet needle size I
3 feet of lace (optional)

Directions:

1. Punch holes along the rim of the jug. About half an inch apart and one fourth inch from top. (Figure 1)
2. Take a piece of yarn (10 feet should do), double it, and tie a knot at the ends. Use the blanket stitch through the holes. This serves as an anchor in which to start your crocheting. (Figures 2 and 3)
3. If you run out of yarn before you get to the end, just knot ends together. This craft is very 'forgiving'.
4. When you've come to the end of the holes, knot the two ends together. (Figure 4)
5. Now it's time to start crocheting. You can use a single crochet, half-double crochet (used in picture), or double crochet.

For single crochet: chain one
For half double crochet: chain two
For double crochet: chain three

Proceed by crocheting a stitch in each button-hole 'stitch' between the holes. (Figure 5)

6. When you've reached the end of the row, slip stitch into the top chain of the chain stitches you started the row with. Chain one (or two or three, depending on what stitch you are using, and start crocheting into the chain stitch of the previous row.

7. Repeat the rows until you have the size of tote you want. (Figure 6)

8. Take your lace and thread in and out of the top stitches. This is going to be the handle. (Figure 7) You don't have to use contrasting lace. I used this color so you could see how to thread the handle at the top. You can crochet a handle out of yarn by using the chain stitch. Make it as long as you want your handles. This works beautifully.

9. Thread around again, going through the same stitches at the top, but weaving in the opposite way. (Figure 8).

10. You will end up with 2 loops on the sides. Tie off. (Figure 9) Pull these loops to close the tote, and use as the handle. And you've got yourself a tote.