Ocean Hexi's Series~Final Chapter~Plain Hexi & FREE Beach Bag Pattern

I have a series of fun and whimsical Ocean themed hexagon motif patterns to share with you! I will post each one separately each day this week, so make sure you come back for each one!

Once they are all posted, I will also have a fun pattern for you to use all of them together!

Our final installment~the Plain Hexi, and a Beach Bag pattern, that uses ALL of the series together...

Materials Used:
Worsted weight yarn, in your choice of colors
Size G/6 (4.25mm) crochet hook

Size/Gauge:
Finished motifs measure approximately 4.5” across. Gauge is not important to this project, so you can easily change hook and yarn sizes for different finished dimensions.

Stitches Used/Abbreviations:
Ch-chain
Rnd-round
Sc-single crochet
Hdc-half double crochet
Dc-double crochet
Trc-triple (or treble) crochet
BLO-work in back loops only of indicated stitch(es)
FLO-work in front loops only of indicated stitch(es)
Sl st-slip stitch

Plain Hexi:
Rnd 1: ch 2. Work 8 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join. (8 sts)
Rnd 2: ch 1. *Sc in next st, work 2 sc in next st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: ch 1. *Sc in next st, work 2 sc in next st*. Repeat (*) around. Join. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: ch 2. (Does not count as a stitch) *Work {1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc} in next st. Dc in each of the next 2 sts*. Repeat (*) 5 more times. Join. (6 “points”)
Rnd 5: ch 2. (Does not count as a stitch) *Work {1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc} in next ch 2 space. Dc in each of the next 4 sts*. Repeat (*) 5 more times. Join. (6 “points”) Fasten off.

You can make your hexi's in any color combinations you'd like (obviously). Here, I have created a layout diagram, to show how you assemble the motifs into a great beach bag!
Each hexagon marked with a "C" is where I placed a character motif. All the rest were plain motifs. 
Each hexagon with a line through it, is where you will fold your bag, when all motifs are stitched together. You will then stitch your sides together, folding the 2 marked motifs to either the front or back, to create a solid rectangular shape.

Ocean Hexi's Beach Bag:
Create 20 motifs. For the model, I created 1 of each character (crab, seashell, turtle, starfish, squid, and fish) and 14 plain hexi's. 
Lay motifs out in the pattern shown in the diagram above, and join, using your preferred method of joining. (I slip stitch through both layers, using the outside, or "back" loops only.)
After motifs are all joined, fold the bottom edge up, to meet the top edge, with right sides together, and join your sides. Be sure to fold the 2 side hexi's in, when you reach them, to the adjoining motifs.

Handle Strap:
Join yarn at side seam, in first stitch before the seam. Ch 75 (or desired length for handle). Join in same st on OPPOSITE side edge of bag. Sl st in next st. Ch 1, TURN. Hdc in each ch across. Sl st in first st AFTER seam join. Sl st in next st. Ch 1, TURN. Hdc in each st across. Sl st in 1st st after seam join (opposite side). Do not fasten off.

Top Edge:
 Ch 1. Sc in each st around top edge, working slip stitches across handle sections. Join. Fasten off. Weave in ends.