How About A Knitted Purse?
I’m off on another tangent! How about knitting a purse? Hop on down to your local Joanne Fabric Store or Walmart, or your favorite knitting store, and pick up a couple of skeins of wool yarn, and yes, it has to be wool. I know that Lion Brand has a new wool yarn out that comes in 18 beautiful colors and is only $5.99 a skein, and if you can’t find the color you want, you can order it direct from Lionbrand. It will take approximately three skeins to complete a small purse. You will also need a size 13 circular needle that is 16 inches long (size really is important),and two size 11 double pointed needles (I didn’t have size 11’s so I used the size 8’s I did have and it worked fine). You will be knitting the purse with two strands of yarn at all times and when it is finished, you will be felting it.
Using your circular needle and two strands of yarn, cast on 60 stitches loosely and join into a round.
Knit in rounds (knit all stitches in all rows) until your piece measures 16 inches.
On your last round, cast off in a knit stitch. This will be the top of your purse.
Turn inside out and lay flat.
Now to make the strap, use your double pointed needles, and cast on 4 stitches.
Cast on 4 stitches, *Knit 4 and don ‘t turn, slip sts to the other end of the needle. Take yarn across the back of work and repeat from *
until your strap measures approx. 36 inches long. If you haven’t made cording before, it is an easy and fun little process.
Now make another one just the same length. When it is done I twisted the two straps together (it almost looks like it is braided) and secured to each side of the purse using a yarn needle and a piece of yarn, sew it on really well . I attached mine about one inch down the side.
Cast on enough stitches to equal about 6 inches and knit one row, purl back. Continue in this manner until your piece measures approx 6″ X 6″.
Sew your square onto the front of the purse, using your yarn needle and a single piece of yarn, leaving the top edge open., and you will
have a small pocket.
Sew the bottom seam of your purse closed.
Now to felt it……
Set your washer to hot and your load size to small and maximum agitation.
Put your purse in a zippered pillow protector, and place in washer. Check it every five minutes or so, and continue to reset the washer to
agitate. Do not let it spin out. When you are happy with the size, remove it from the washer. I rolled mine in a couple of old bath towels
to get out the excess water.
Next, I stretched it into the size and shape I wanted and stretched out my strap, keeping it in the twisted form, and laid it on another bath
towel to dry. The wet wool will smell a little like a wet dog for awhile. Done!!
If you ever need to wash your purse, just use a mild detergent, and cool water and lay flat to dry.
If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask.
