Koleido by Silkie B.
Patricia Carry-All Tote
by Silka Burgoyne Degree of Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
MATERIALS
[MC] Worsted Weight yarn - 400 yards [CC1] Worsted Weight yarn - 300 yards [CC2] Worsted Weight yarn - 40 yards for leaves (Optional)
The purse shown in the pictures were worked in Berroco Ultra Alpaca. Yarn such as Patons Classic, Ella Rae Classic and Cascade 220 will be a good substitute for this project.
NOTIONS:
· One 24 inches long size 10.5 ( $.6.5\;\mathrm{mm}$ circular needle Tapestry Needle Magnetic Snap (Optional) A pair of $9^{\circ}$ oval bamboo handle Lining Fabric (Optional) $\bullet$ Heavy Interfacing (Optional) $\bullet$ Sewing thread (Hand Quilting Cotton thread work great) - Optional Plastic Canvas (Optional - for purse bottom - but highly recommended) Beads (Optional - for the center of the flower)
GAUGE
15sts/18 rows $=4"$ in Stockinette stitch using 1 strands of yarn and size 10.5 needle
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Size before felting: 22W, $\mathrm{^{*}\,18H}\mathrm{~^{*}\,6\,D~}$ (Without the purse handle) Size after felting: 16W, $\mathrm{}^{*}\,13\mathrm{H}*34\mathrm{D}$ (Without the purse handle)
PATTERN NOTES
The sizing for this purse is only for reference. The final size of the purse is very much depending on the kniting style of the knitter and the length of the felting process. The Patricia tote is made with 4 pieces, purse front and back, and 2 side panels. The tote is worked using 1 strand of yarn througout. Please note that the pattern does not include the initial.
PATTERN
Stripe Pattern
MC- 18 Rows CC -1 Row MC - 12 Rows CC - 2 Rows MC - 8 Rows CC -3 Row MC - 5 Rows CC -5 Rows MC - 3 Rows CC - 8 Row MC - 2 Rows CC - 12 Rows MC - 1 Row
Purse Bottom
Purse Bottom is worked using garter st. To start, use MC and CO 70 sts. Knit for 24 rows, end with WS row.
Purse Body (Make 2)
The purse front and back are the same. The body of the tote is work in St st throughout. With WS facing up, pick up 70 sts on the long side of the bottom. Start working in the stripe pattern as indicated above. AT THE SAME TIME, work decrease on $2^{\mathrm{rd}}$ row and every 10th rows 7 times. To work descrease, k2, k2tog, work to last 4 sts, skp, k2.
Turning Ridge:
After finishing allthe stripe pattern and the decrease, there should be 54 stitches rmaining, and end with WS row. Use MC and work the turning ridge as following: Row 1 (RS): Purl Row 2: Purl work 2 more row in St st and BO all 54 sts knitwise. Fold on the trin ide toward the Wof thepurse, swit in placeThe double thicknesson the topwillgive the firm up the top edge of the purse and help shape up the top of the purse.
Purse Side (2):
The purse side is made by picking up sts at the side of the short side of the purse bottom. Work both side the same way. With purse bottom WS facing up, pick up 16 sts and knit in St st, work the stripe pattern as you work as purse body or use MC like the sample in the picture, work the turning ridge as the instruction above. Make the other purse side the same way. Use tapestry needle and yarn, join the sides to the purse front and back.
Handle Tab (2):
The purse handle tabs is made by picking up sts on the top of the purse body. You willneed to make 2 handle tabs by picking up sts from purse front and purse back. Lay the purse flat on the table, with RS facing up; pick up 40 sts in the middle of the purse front top. Knit 16 rows in St st and BO loosely. Work the same way for the other purse tab by picking sts from the purse back.
Flowers (Optional):
In this tot,terearedifrent tysf flwer.alused 2colrs forthflwers.f you prfinle cl version, just simple use the same color while refer to CC.
Big Flower:
User MC, and cast on 20 sts very very loosely. Row 1: Knit into front and back for every sts, 40 sts total. Row 2 and all even rows: Purl Row 3: Use CC, Knit into front and back for every sts. Row 5: Use CC, Knit into front and back for every sts, Row 7: Use CC, Knit into front and back for every sts, Row 9: Bind Off using MC Roll the cast on row and form the flower, sew in place.
Small Flower:
Work as Big Flower, but only cast on 10 sts instead of 20 sts.
Leave (Make 2):
Use CC2, cast on 3 sts Row 1: Knit into front and back for 1 st, Knit to last sts, Knit into front and back for last sts. 5 sts Row 2 and all even rows: Purl Row 3: Knit into front and back for 1 st, Knit to last sts, Knit into front and back for last sts. 7 sts Row 5: Knit into front and back for 1 st, Knit to last sts, Knit into front and back for last sts. 9 sts Row 7: Knit into front and back for 1 st, Knit to last sts, Knit into front and back for last sts. 11 sts Row 9, 11: Knit Row 13: K1, K2Tog, Knit to last 3 sts, SKP, K1, 9 sts Row 15: K1, K2Tog, Knit to last 3 sts, SKP, K1, 7 sts Row 17: K1, K2Tog, Knit to last 3 sts, SKP, K1, 5 sts Row 19: Knit Row 20: Bind Off
Finishing:
Sew the flowers and leaves on the purse front. Before felting, use a safety pin to pin the side of the leaves on the body of the purse to prevent changing shape felting process. Felt the purse by using the felting instruction below. Be sure to check the purse frequently because the flowers might change shape during the felting process. After the purse is completely dry, you can line the purse by using some matching fabric (I could highly recommend due to the size of the purse and only using 1 strand of yarn) and attach a magnetic snap to the purse by following manufacturing instruction. If you would like to make the purse more firms, use heavy interfacing with the lining fabric. For purse handles, wrap the handle tag around the handle and use sewing thread to sew the tag enclosed. If you prefer to add beads in the middle of the flower, simple use sewing threads to sew the beads in place.
FINISHING
Once all the component is in place, attached the flowers and leaves as indicated on the picture. Before felting, 1 would recommend to use a safety pins to pin the leaves and the outer part of the flowers in place. Use Hot/Cold water setting with the lowest water level, put the purse in a zip pillow case or mash laundry bag along with a pair of old jean, use alittle bit of hand soap instead of detergent and start the washing cycle. Be sure to check the progress frequently, the felting length will vary depending on the machine. For the front loading washing machine will take a little big longer in compare to top loader machine. Once the purse is completely dryed. You would need to attach handle to the purse, to attach handle by wrapping the handle tab on the handle and sew it securely onto the inside of the purse. Once the handles are attached to the purse, I would recommand to line the purse. Lining the purse will provide more durability to the purse. To do that, measure the bottom of the purse and cut a piece of plastic canvas that is $^1\!/\!4$ inch smaller than the actual size, turn the purse inside out and sew the plastic canvas to the bottom. Measure the length and width of the purse and cut the fabric with $^{1}\!/\!4$ inch seam allowance, in addition, cut interfacing to the size of the fabric without $^1\!/\!4$ inch seam allowance, and fuse to the fabric. The interfacing will make the fabric more sturdy. After sewing the seam of the fabric together, line the purse by putting the WS of fabric inside the purse; use hand quilting thread and hand stitch the top to the WS of the purse.
