Knitty: editorial win 05

kate creatures boogie time knecklace bamboozelle namastebest friend
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urban rustic gloves real stocking cap mrs beetonlayersstarsky

by Kristin Goedert

Cashmere is a special luxury that you deserve this holiday season- after all, you've been good all year, right? Just one skein of super plush Joseph Galler Pashmina will make two ultra luxe purses- one for you to keep and one for you to give as a gift to your closest gal pal.

Quick to knit in a simple-yet-elegant cable pattern, and then beaded for some extra special holiday sparkle, this purse will have everyone clamoring for best-friend status!

photos: Kristin Goedert

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width: 5 inches
Height: 6.5 inches

MATERIALS

Joseph Galler Pashmina [100% superfine cashmere; 170 yds/155m per 50g skein]; color: Blush; 1 skein [Note: Makes 2 purses.]

1 set US #3/3 mm straight needles
Cable needle
Small yarn needle
Two 2" x 5" metal handbag frames style #28118 in silver from www.mjtrim.com
0.25 yds fabric for lining
1 tube size 8 beads
1.25 yds coordinating trim (optional)
Sewing needle
Thread to match yarn and lining

GAUGE

32 sts/38 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch UNBLOCKED.

You will need to unravel your gauge swatch once you have gotten gauge and use that yarn to knit with, so do NOT block your swatch.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here]

C4F: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work, k next 2 sts, k 2 sts from cable needle.

Cable Pattern (Worked over 44 sts):
[Note: These instructions contain the same infomation as is found in the Chart below.]
Set-up Rows:
Row 1 [RS]: K4, [p3, k4, p3, k3] to last st, k1.
Row 2 [WS]: P4, [k3, p4, k3, p3] to last st, p1.
Row 3 [RS]: K4, [p3, C4F, p3, k3] to last st, k1.

Pattern Rows:
Even-numbered Rows 4-14 [WS]: P4, [k3, p4, k3, p3] to last st, p1.
Rows 5, 9, 11, 13 [RS]: K4, [p3, k4, p3, k3] to last st, k1.
Rows 7, 15 [RS]: K4, [p3, C4F, p3, k3] to last st, k1.

Repeat Rows 4-15 for Cable Pattern.

DIRECTIONS

Purse Body
CO 44 stitches.

Work Rows 1-3 of Cable Pattern.

Work Rows 4-15 of Cable Pattern 9 times.

Work Rows 4-5 of Cable Pattern once more. BO all sts in patt (WS row).

FINISHING

Block knitted piece to 5.5 inches x 12 inches.

Beading (Optional)
Run thread through back of knitted piece, down one side of each cable and up the other side, placing one bead on each side of each cable twist. Loop thread through each bead twice to secure in place.

Lining
Cut a rectangle from lining fabric, measuring 6 inches by 13 inches. (This allows for a 0.5 inch seam allowance on each edge.)

Fold fabric in half widthwise. Using sewing needle and thread, sew first 3.75 inches of each long edge of rectangle, beginning at fold, using 0.5 inch seam allowance.

Fold over 0.5 inch of remaining edges of lining and press.

Assembly
Fold knitted piece in half widthwise. Using yarn needle and yarn, sew first 4 inches of each long edge of purse body, beginning at fold. Cable pattern should line up around purse body.

Slip lining into purse. Using sewing needle and thread, slip stitch into place around top and open sides.

Fit body of purse into purse frame. Trying to keep stitches under frame edge so that they don’t show, stitch into place as follows:

Pass needle from back to front through lining and knitted piece, then through metal loop on frame edge.

Pick up bead, then pass needle back through loop on frame edge, and back through knitted piece and lining.

Repeat until each loop on frame edge has a bead, and knitted purse body is secure.

If you find that you have difficulty keeping stitches hidden, once you have sewn purse body to the frame, fit coordinating trim under frame edge and stitch into place, covering original stitches.

Once purse body is secured to frame, pass a single stitch through grommet on each side of purse frame and into side of knitted body, stitching body into place. Use same thread to sew shut any remaining open seam on each side, then tie off and slip knot and ends to inside of piece.

Now make another one for your best friend!

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

As a child, Kristin Goedert spent much of her time making stuff, from hats for soft-boiled eggs to sock monkeys, doll clothes to pot holders. Now that she is a grown up (or so they say) she puts her creative talents to good use as a graphic designer and owner of Kristin Goedert Design.

Kristin lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and cats and spends as much of her free time as she can knitting, spinning, and dreaming of cashmere yarn.