Child's Rectangle Purse
By: Jennifer Stover (phdaisy1@aol.com) Originally Published April 2010
A super quick bag that is knit in stockinette, this is sure to be a crowd-pleaser with girls who can never have enough purses! Make one to match every outfit! This is a great project that can be used as part of a gift, decorative ways for simple storage and a general all-purpose stash buster. This can be embellished with varieties of adornments or leave plain when using variegated yarns.
Child's Rectangle Purse
SIZE 9" × 8"
MATERIALS
·Us 8 or9 needle · Gauge: 4-5 stitches per inch ·16sts x 22 rows = 4" square · 250 - 280yds Worsted weight yarn (examples shown made with Red Heart Supersaver) ·Yarn needle for stitching sides and weaving in ends
KEY
CO- Cast on BO- Bind off
PATTERN TIPS
· Leave a long tail 12" - x14" when casting on to use for sewing up one side seam · To create selvedge edge, always slip the first stitch on every row in knit or purl as it corresponds to the row. This will allow for easy seaming. · The easiest way to cast back on in the middle of a project is the backward loop method. Tutorials are available online for this method. · BO on right side (knit row) and leave a long tail 12" - 14". This will provide the yarn for seaming on the other side of thepurse. · If you want to use the most of the skein, measure enough yarn at the end tail to equal 7 rows (includes bind-off row) + seaming. A rough estimate is to calculate 1" of yarn per stitch. Example: 40 sts x 7 rows / 12in = 23.3 feet. Round to 23%' - 24' for safety,tie contrasting yarn to mark spot in yarn or make a slip knot. When you reach the mark, begin the handle row. · This is not a felted project. Fabric willstretch. For a denser fabric, decrease the needle by one or two sizes and increase the stitch count on the row appropriately to obtain gauge.
PATTERN
Cast on 40 stitches. Begin stockinette. Rows 1, 3: Knit Rows 2, 4: Purl Row 5: K13, BO 12, K14 Row 6: P13, CO 12, P14 Continue in stockinette for 16" or desired length (remember, bag will be folded in half) ending with wrong side (purl) row. Repeat rows 5 and 6 for second handle Continue in stockinette for 4 more rows Bind off on right (knit) side leaving 12"-14" yarn for weaving in ends via mattress stitch or preferred method.
OPTIONS
Adorn purse several ways by adding knit/crochet flowers on the side, monogram or even do a free-form i-cord design by stitching onto fabric. For additional ways of securing items inside, install a zipper closure just below the handle, a button/clasp through the handle and even knit an i-cord strap for an additional way to carry. Pattern is property of Jennifer Stover. Please credit designer where appropriate. Individual project may be sold or distributed freely.
