Jhe Melina Clutch
eigned by Denise Ooie de Oie (hp:/ / oieevie.blogpol.cm.
Inspired by the 40s crochet designer K. Melina, this clutch is a quick spring or summer project that is all about texture. It's constructed in one piece, has minimal finishing, and packs a lot of stylish punch. Make it in neutral colors for a fresh go-with-anything daytime bag, or dress up the buttons and fiber for an elegant evening look. Finished Size: 11" wide x 7" in height Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic (100% mercerized cotton, 108 yards per 50 g ball; dk weight or 3 based on the Standard Yarn Weight System from the Craft Yarn Council) #3001 - white (2 balls) (A); #3003 - linen white (2 balls) (B) Hook: Size H/8 (5.00 mm) or any size to obtain gauge Notions: Three (3) %" buttons; yarn needle, straight pins Gauge: (unblocked) 13 rows and 15 stitches = 4 inches using an H/8 (5.00mm) hook in single crochetwithyarnhelddouble
Skill level: easy
Note: The front cover of the clutch is worked first as a rectangle in-the-round, and then the body of the clutch is worked back and forth in rows.
Stitches used:
chain single crochet (sc) foundation single crochet (fsc) sc in the back loop of the stitch sc in the front loop of the stitch
Want to work foundation single crochet but unsure of this technique? Check out these Internet resources to help you get into the fsc swing: http://www.futuregirl.com/craft blog/2009/3/tutorial-foundation-singlecrochet.aspx (excellent photos and history); http://snuffykin.livejournal.com/43642.html (als0 good photos); and http://www.crochetme.com/glossary/foundation-single-crochet-fsc.aspx (the Interweave Crochet blog - very basic, but gets the job done).
Create the front of the bag:
With one strand of A and B held together, chain 2. In the second chain from the hook, begin fsc. Fsc 17 (5" in length). Do not turn work. Alternate beginning for those who do not want to work any fsc: With one strand of A and B held together, chain 18. In the second chain from the hook, work a sc, and in each stitch across for a total of 17 sc (5" in length). Do not turn work. Rotate work 90 degrees and sc in bottom side of the foundation row in the stitch closest to the hook. Continue to sc to the end (17 sc). In the same stitch as final sc, sc twice more (total of three). This will create a rounded edge on this end of the foundation row. (Note: with the creation of this rounded edge, you will now proceed to work along the opposite side of the foundation row.) Work a sc in the next stitch. Continue to sc across the row (17 sc). In the last stitch, work two more sc, for a total of three sc. This will create your first corner on this end of the budding rectangle. Do three sc in the very next stitch, creating your second corner at this end. Continue to sc across row to the other end of the rectangle (17 sc). In the last stitch, work two more sc for a total of three, forming the first corner at this opposite end of the rectangle. Work three sc in the next stitch. This will create your second corner at this end of the rectangle. You will now have a rectanglewithfour distinct corners. Work a sc in each stitch to the end of this long side (18 sc, ending in the middle stitch of the 3 stitch corner below). Work two more sc in this stitch, for a total of three. Continue working sc around the rectangle in this manner, doing three sc in the middle stitch of each corner, for 8 rounds (33 stitches on the long side of the rectangle), ending on the top left-hand corner of the rectangle.
Start buttonhole round:
After working three sc in the corner stitch, sc across first short side (17 sc). Do three sc in the middle stitch of the three corner sc stitches in the previous row. Sc in the next five stitches. Chain 3, skip the next 3 stitches, sc in the next stitch (first buttonhole made). Single crochet in the next five stitches. Chain 3, skip the next 3 stitches, sc in the next stitch (second buttonhole made). Single crochet in the next five stitches. Chain 3, skip the next 3 stitches, sc in the next stitch (third and final buttonhole made). Sc in each stitch to the end of the row, working corner as usual. Complete round as usual until you are back in the top left-hand corner of the rectangle. You should have 35 stitches on that final top row of the rectangle.
Create the body of the bag:
Row One: Chain 1 and turn work (the wrong side of the bag). Sc in the front loop only in the second stitch from the hook (the first sc of the previous row) and then in the front loop only of every stitch across the row (35 sc). Chain 1, turn. Row Two: Sc in the back loop only in the second stitch from the hook (the first sc of the previous row) and then in the back loop only of every stitch across the row (35 sc). Chain 1, turn. Repeat these two rows until the body is 12 inches in length (should be approximately 41 rows). You can end your work on either row.
For more information on crochet in America post-WWll, please feel free to read the article on the subject at the Crochet Insider.com website: http://www.crochetinsider.com/article/finding-crochets-american-history-part-2. ation to K. Melina, whose clutch designs set the crochet bag standard in the late 40s ICelinaClutch page3 Qeigned by Deniseol Ooie e Oie atena phol cptOie, 201rigs re.ReaeKep yomioe gouk pem, k?
