Instant Gratification
A Bulky Cabled Purse By Vanessa Earl
Description
Skills: Knitting in the round on two circular needles, twoincreases or decreases, just knits and purls! The bag can be lined for extra color stranded knitting, knitting from charts.
Materials
Approximately 175-200 yards of bulky weight yarn. (Bag is shown with 2 skeins of Cascade Yarns Lana Grande, Color 6034, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 100gr/87 yards.) 1 set of 13" US Size 15 straight needles or 29" Us Size15 circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge). 1 cable needle (can be a size 15 double pointed needle). 1 tapestry needle for sewing seams. 2 purse handles (these can be any style you wish, but at least 8" in width/diameter to hold bag).
Size
Finished purse measures 14" at base and is 9" deep.
Gauge
2 stitches = 1" in stockinette stitch with bulky weight yarn and size 15 needles. Note: lf you choose fo knit a smaller purse by using medium weighf yarn
Abbreviations
RS = Right Side WS = Wrong Side K = Knit P = Purl St = Stitch C8B = Slip 4 sts to the cable needle and hold in back. K4, then K4 off of cable needle.
Directions
Cast on 50 stitches. Row 1: \*P2, K3, P8, K3\* repeat 3 times, P2. Row 2: \*K2, P3, K8, P3\* repeat 3 times, K2. Row 3: same as row 1. Row 4: \*K2, P3, C8B, P3\* repeat 3x, K2. Row 5, 7, & 9: same as row 1. Row 6, 8, & 10: same as row 2. Repeat rows 4 through 10 until your bag is 18" (or desired length). BE SURE To HAVE ABOUT 1/4 OF YOUR YARN LEFTOVER TOSEW SIDE SEAMS ANDATTACHPURSETOTHEHANDLES. End on row 7. Bind off stitches IN PATTERN.
Finishing
Fold finished piece in half and sew side seams using the mattress stitch. Cables should be running parallel to your seams. Attach purse handles to the open end of the bag with remaining yarn.
If you wish, you can line your bag with fabric. This will give it a more finished look and more stability. You will need about 1/2 yard of fabric and a needle and thread to hand sew the lining. You can find a great tutorial for lining knit bags here: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/Stitches/Lining/Lining.php Enjoy!
