Crystal Palace Yarns
free knit felted purse pattern
Peppermint Stripes Iceland Bag
Designed, knit and felted by Terry L. Ross for Crystal Palace YarnsSee a non-felted version of this bag
knit in Party Ribbon + Rave trimMaterials:
3 - 100 gr balls Crystal Palace Iceland #1058, New Snow (Color A)
1 - 100 gr ball (100 grams) Crystal Palace Iceland #008, Red Cerise (Color B)
Crystal Palace Bamboo or DAISY Needles US Size 13 (9 mm) straight or 16" or 26" circular needle
2 - Crystal Palace Bamboo or DAISY Needles Double Point Size 13 (9 mm) needles
Purchased handbag handle and optional closure hardware
3 yards of ribbon for each color used
Tapestry needle
Stitch markersGauge: 2½" stitches per inch and 3 rows per inch in stockinette stitch
Dimensions: 15" x 15" square x 1½" deep before felting 11½" x 10½" tall x 1¼" deep after feltingTechnique: This bag is worked in two pieces, with the gusset and flaps picked up and knit on. An attached I-cord is worked at the top of the bag between the two flaps. The technique used for the front and back is to knit it from corner to corner, diagonally. After knitting, the front and back will appear to be more diamond-shaped than square. Don’t be alarmed when it looks warped prior to felting. The bag will felt into a more square shape and will be easy to coax into submission as you shape and dry it.
Abbreviations:
K Knit; P Purl; M1 Make one stitch; SSK Slip slip knit; K2tog Knit 2 together; RS Right side; WS Wrong sideBag front and back (make 2):
With the straight or circular needles and Color A, cast on 4 stitches. Knit one row.
Increase Rows –
Row 1: K1, M1, Knit to the last stitch, M1, K1
Row 2: Purl
Repeat the two rows above until you have 12 stitches on the needles. Change to Color B and
knit 2 rows following the increase row pattern (14 stitches). All increases will be made on the
RS (stockinette side) and all WS rows will be purled.
Switch back to Color A and work 8 rows using the increase pattern, followed by two rows of
Color B using the increase pattern, until there are 48 stitches on the needles (this will be after
having knit 4 rows in Color A). You will now begin to decrease.
Decrease Rows –
Row 1: K1, SSK, Knit to the last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1
Row 2: Purl
Continue decreasing, following the established pattern of 8 rows of Color A and 2 rows of Color
B. When there are 4 stitches on the needle, SSK, K2tog. From the RH needle, RS facing, pass the
right-most stitch over the left-most stitch and then bind off the remaining one stitch. Weave in
all ends.Gusset: Using Color A, with RS facing and the bound off corner at the top left, begin at that corner
picking up stitches around three sides of one of the squares. Pick up 48 stitches on each of the
three sides for a total of 144 stitches. You may find it helpful to place stitch markers after each
48 stitches to mark the corners for ease in joining the other side later. Work 5 rows in garter
stitch and then bind off all stitches, marking the corners with split ring markers.Flip the bag over, and pin the other square to the bound off gusset stitches, RS facing and
matching corners to the corner markers. Sew the three sides of the square to the gusset using
an invisible stitch such as the mattress stitch.Flaps: Using Color A, and WS facing, pick up 28 stitches in the center top of the bag, leaving
approximately 10 stitches on either side of the top open. Knit in garter stitch for 26 rows and
then bind off all stitches. Repeat for the other side.I-cord: Work an attached I-cord on 3 stitches of Color A around the sides between the flaps. Bind off
the I-cord and secure the ends under the flaps. To make the I-cord have the appearance of a
peppermint stick, you may wish to use one strand of Color B and the tapestry needle to sew an
overcast stitch that spirals around the I-cord.Felting: Felt the bag using your preferred method.
Finishing: Cut the 3 yards of ribbon into two equal pieces. Place the handle under the flap and mark
three sets of two parallel slits (6 total) to be cut into the flap and into the purse body directly
underneath the flap (two on each end and two centered on the flap). Carefully slit the flap and
bag so that the ribbon will fit through but will be neither loose nor puckered. Weave the ribbon
through the slits so that it securely holds the flap to the purse body. Tie the ends into a bow.
Repeat for the other side. Install closure hardware, if desired.Pattern Copyright 2006 Crystal Palace Yarns/Straw Into Gold, Inc. - We are happy to share this pattern with knitters. The pattern may be used for non-commercial personal or knitting guild use. It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format without permission. Knitting shops carrying CPY Yarns Iceland are welcome to print and share this pattern with customers of our yarns.
Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns - email cpyinfo -at- straw.com
or write to:
Last revision of this page July 10, 2006
Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
phone: 510-237-9988, fax: 510-237-9809
