Crochet Tote Bag Pattern:

• USE THE 5MM HOOK
• Round 1: With the blue yarn, ch 51 and turn.
• Round 2: In the second ch from the hook make a sc inc. Continue to make sc in each ch. When you get to the last ch, sc 3 times into the last chain. You should now be on the unworked side of the chain - now sc in each ch. When you get to the end of the chain, make a sc in the same chain you made a sc inc in (102).
• Round 3-54: Sc in every stitch (102). When you are done with round 54, fasten off and weave in any ends.

Crochet Handles:

• Row 1: With the black yarn ch x6. When making your slip knot, leave about 10 inches of yarn before making the knot so you have a tail to sew the strap to the bag.
• Row 2: In the second chain from the hook make a sc. Then sc the rest of the row of chains. Then ch x1 and turn (5).
• Row 3-100: Sc in every stitch. Then ch x1 and turn (100). Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
• Make 2 handles.

Crochet Possum Applique:

• USE THE 4MM HOOK

First Leg:

• Row 1: With gray yarn, ch x2
• Row 2: Sc inc in the second ch from the hook (2). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 3: Sc, sc inc (3). Then fasten off.

Second Leg:

• Row 1: With gray yarn, ch x2
• Row 2: Sc inc in the second ch from the hook (2). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 3: Sc, sc inc (3). Now we are moving onto the body.

Crochet Possum Body:

• Row 4: Sc x 2, sc inc, then ch x10 and sc inc in the first stitch of the 3rd row of the first foot we made. Then sc in the next 2 stitches. Your possum feet should be connected into one piece because of the chain (18). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 5: Sc inc, sc x17. The end with the sc inc is the tail end of the possum - use a stitch marker if you can’t remember what side is which (19).
• Row 6-11: Sc in every stitch, then ch x1 and turn (19).
• Row 12: Sc x17, dec (18). The decrease should be on the tail end side of the possum applique. Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 13: Sc x18 (18). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 14: Sc x16, dec (17). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 15: Dec, sc x13, dec (15). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 16: Dec, sc x11, dec (13). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 17: Dec, sc x7, sl st x4 (12). The sl st should be made at the head side of the crochet possum pattern. Then fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Crochet Possum Head:

Lower Jaw:

• Row 1: With white yarn, ch x2.
• Row 2: In the second ch from the hook, make a sc (1). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 3: Sc inc (2). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 4: Sc x2 (2). Then fasten off the yarn.

Upper Jaw:

• Row 1: Ch x3.
• Row 2: In the second ch from the hook make a sc. Then make another sc in the next ch (2). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 3: Sc, sc inc (3). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 4: Sc inc, sc x2 (4). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 5: Sc x4, then join the lower jaw by making a sc in each of its top stitches (6). Then ch x1 and turn.

The Rest of the Head:

• Row 6: Sc x5, sc inc (7). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 7: Sc x7 (7). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 8: Dec, sc x5 (6). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 9: Sc x6 (6). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 10: Dec, sc x2, dec (4). Then fasten off the yarn and leave a tail for sewing.

Top Ear:

• Flip the white possum head so the mouth is facing left. Join the black yarn to the last row’s raw edge.
• Row 1: Sc x3, 1 sc for each row. You aren't working in sc tops so this might be a little tricky as this is the raw edge you will be working in (3). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 2: Sc x3 (3). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 3: Sc, dec (2). Then fasten off the yarn and weave in any ends.

Lower Ear:

• With the mouth facing right again, rotate the face so the last white row worked is on top, and the top ear is on the right. Join the black yarn into the 3rd stitch from the right.
• Row 1: Sc x2 (2). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 2: Sc inc, sc (3). Then ch x1 and turn.
• Row 3: Sc x3 (3). Then fasten off and weave in any ends.
• Weave in any ends.
• Now is a good time to sew the top of the head to the body. You can arrange the head however you like on the front side of the possum - I tilted mine upwards so it looks like its yelling into the void.

Crochet Possum Feet:

• Using the pink yarn, join the yarn at the bottom of the possum legs.
• *Ch x3, and then in the second ch from the hook make a sl st. Make a sl st in the following ch, then sl st to where you joined the yarn.
• Repeat * 2 more times.
• Do this for both feet. Leave a tail for sewing.

Crochet Possum Tail:

• Join the pink yarn to row 5 of the leg/body portion of the pattern. Then ch x20 and fasten off. Remember to leave a tail for sewing.

Crochet Possum Nose:

• Join the pink yarn to where the tip of the nose area on the possum face. Then sc and sl st into the same place you joined the yarn. Then fasten off and weave in any ends.

Possum Face:

• Using black yarn, embroider the possum face. I added an angry eyebrow slant and a dot for the eye between the ears near the middle of the face. You can choose to do this face or another face.

Sewing:

• Sew the Possum to the bottom left of the crochet tote bag. You can manipulate the possum legs to a sitting, laying down, or standing position if you want.
• Sew the tote handles to the top of the bag - 1 handle per side of the bag.

Embroidering:

• This is where you can really let your creativity shine, as there are plenty of blank spaces on the bag to personalize! You can keep it simple like mine with just a bold shout, or add your own flair with extra embroidery. My sister, for example, plans to add a dumpster-on-fire applique when she makes this bag—so the possibilities are endless!
• For my own "AAHHH!!" shout, I kept it simple and used just white yarn. To start, I created the shouting lines, which helped me figure out where the letters would fit. I began by drawing lines radiating from the mouth, making them smaller near the mouth and gradually getting wider as they moved outward. This gave me a guide for how the embroidery would change length as it extended further away from the mouth.
• To make the lines, I used basic line embroidery and went back over them, tacking them down to create a continuous look for the shouting lines. For the "AAHHH!!" itself, I chose simple letter shapes that could be completed with small, easy line strokes. I also made sure to leave a small space (about the width of a single crochet stitch) between each letter, keeping it neat and consistent.
• Optional: Sew a liner to the inside of the bag so the bag doesn't stretch out when in use.
• And that's it—your very own Crochet Possum Bag is ready to show off!