Designed by Maureen Mason-Jamieson, 108 Brooklyn Ave., Toronto, ON, Canada, M4M 2X5, maureen@kinverknits.com. Copyright 2000. Visit my website at: www.kinverknits.com!

Abbreviations: MC - main colour, CC1 (2, 3, 4) - contrast colour 1 (2, 3, 4), st(s) - stitch(es), k - knit, p - purl, st(s) - stitch(es), yfwd - bring yarn forward towards you so it will be in position to knit the first stitch of next row (note if last stitch worked is a purl stitch, yarn is already forward), sl 1 - slip one stitch purlwise, k 2 (3) tog - knit two (three) stitches together, p 2 (3) tog - purl two (three) stitches together.

Materials: Sample made with Shelridge Farm 100% wool, 100 g, 250 m: MC - white, CC1 - spring green, CC2 - apricot (wool/mohair mix), CC3 - sandstone, CC4 - lilac (this will several purses); or use a double knitting weight yarn in one main colour plus four contrast colours - 25 g of each colour required. Needles: 4 mm (U.S. size 6) double-pointed needles (use only 2); 1 button.

Materials: Sample made with Shelridge Farm 100% wool, 100 g, 250 m: MC - white, CC1 - spring green, CC2 - apricot (wool/mohair mix), CC3 - sandstone, CC4 - lilac (this will several purses); or use a double knitting weight yarn in one main colour plus four contrast colours - 25 g of each colour required. Needles: 4 mm (U.S. size 6) double-pointed needles (use only 2); 1 button.

Finished purse size: 7" x 7 ". Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette.

Purse Flap: Make two basic shells first, one MC plus CC1 and one MC plus CC2 following instructions below.

Basic Shells

Row 1: With MC cast on LOOSELY 25 stitches.
Row 2: (Wrong side of work). Knit across to last stitch, bring your yarn forward, slip 1 st purlwise. Do not cut colour 1 � carry colour not in use up side of work.
Row 3 and 4: With appropriate CC, knit across to last st, yfwd, sl 1. Weave in your yarn end on Row 3 as you knit.
Row 5: With MC, k 1 st, *k1, sl 1 with yarn in back. Repeat from * to last 2 sts, k 1, yfwd, sl 1.
Row 6: With MC, k 1 st, *k1, sl 1 with yarn in front. Repeat from * to last 2 sts, k 1, yfwd, sl 1.
Row 7 and 8: With CC, repeat rows 3 and 4.
Row 9: Repeat Row 5.
Row 10: Repeat Row 6.
Row 11: Repeat Row 3.
Row 12: With CC, *k 2 tog. Repeat from * across to last st, yfwd, sl 1. Total stitches - 13.
Row 13: Repeat Row 5.
Row 14: Repeat Row 6. Cut MC leaving 3" tail. Weave in tail on next row.
Row 15: Repeat Row 3.
Row 16: *K 2 tog. Repeat from * across row to last st, yfwd, sl 1. Total stitches - 7.
Row 17 to 20: Work 4 rows of seed stitch (*k 1, p 1, repeat from *). Remember to knit the first st of every row, work in pattern across to the last st, yfwd, sl the last st purlwise on every row to maintain chain selvedge.
Row 21: (Right side of work) K 1, k 2 tog, p 1, k 2 tog, yfwd, sl 1. (5 sts)
Row 22: K 2, p 1, k 1, yfwd, sl 1.
Row 23: K 1, p 3 tog, yfwd, sl 1. (3 sts).
Row 24: K 1, p 1, yfwd, sl 1. Turn, k 3 tog and fasten off.

Lay the two basic shells on a table in front of you. Make a third, connecting, shell using MC and CC3. Pick up 12 sts from left side of righthand (apricot) shell, cast on 1 st, pick up 12 sts from right side of lefthand (spring green) shell. Continue, following basic shell instructions as given above, from Row 2.

Next, make a vertical half shell using MC and CC4 following instructions given below.

Vertical Half Shell

Row 1: With MC, pick up 12 sts along right side of adjoining shell (apricot), cast on 1 st. Total stitches - 13.
Work rows 2 to 11 as for basic shell.
Row 12: (Wrong side) With CC4, *k 2 tog. Repeat from * across row to last st, yfwd, sl 1. (7 sts)
Row 13: With MC, k 1, *k 1, sl 1 with yarn in back. Repeat from * across to last 2 sts, k 1, yfwd, sl 1.
Row 14: With MC, k 2 sts, *sl 1 with yarn in front. Repeat from * across to last st, yfwd, sl 1. Cut MC leaving 3" tail, weave in tail next row.
Row 15: With CC4, knit across to last st, yfwd, sl 1.
Row 16: *K 2 tog. Repeat from * to last st, yfwd, sl 1. (4 sts) . Work seed st for 4 rows remembering to maintain chain selvedge. Right side rows: K 1, p 1, k 1, yfwd, sl 1. Wrong side rows: K 2, p 1, sl 1 (yarn is already forward).
Row 21: (Note 1 st decrease at end of row). (Right Side) K 1, seed st to last 3 st, k 2 tog, yfwd, sl 1. (Note that for vertical half shells facing other direction work decrease at beginning of row by k 2 tog, seed across to last st, yfwd, sl 1. This maintains chain selvedge.)
Row 22: (Wrong Side) K 1, seed st to last st, yfwd, sl 1.
Repeat the last two rows until 3 sts remain. Next row: k 2 tog, yfwd, sl 1. Turn, k 1, yfwd, sl 1. Turn, k 2 tog, fasten off.

For vertical half shell facing other direction, with MC pick up 12 sts along left side of adjoining shell (spring green), cast on 1 st. Total stitches - 13. Follow instructions above until you reach Row 21. Row 21: (Note 1 st decrease at beginning of row). (Right Side) K 2 tog, seed across to last st, yfwd, sl 1. This maintains chain selvedge. Row 22: (Wrong Side) K 1, seed st to last st, yfwd, sl 1. Repeat the last two rows until 3 sts remain. Next row: k 2 tog, yfwd, sl 1. Turn, k 1, yfwd, sl 1. Turn, k 2 tog, fasten off.

To complete purse flap, make 2 horizontal half shells, one with MC and CC1 and one with MC and CC2 following instructions given below.

Horizontal Half Shells

Follow basic instructions to end of Row 16. Instead of seed stitch rows, continue in garter stitch and decrease every row as follows: you have 7 sts on the needle to start. Row 17: *k 2 tog. Repeat from * to last st, yfwd, sl 1 (4 sts).

Next row: (Wrong side) k 1, k 2 tog, yfwd, sl 1 ( 3 sts). Turn, k 3 tog. Fasten off.

Block your finished purse flap before continuing. After blocking, begin at right hand side of right (public side), pick up 40 sts with MC along top edge as follows: 1 st from top of shell 5, 18 st along horizontal half shell, 2 st from top of shell 3, 18 st along horizontal half shell, and 1 st from top of shell 4. Turn, knit back and knit 2 more rows with MC. Cut MC leaving a 3" tail.

Striped Purse Body: Note: cut each colour after stripe, do NOT carry yarn up side.

Row pattern: knit 2 rows garter, 2 rows stockinette, 2 rows garter in following colour sequence: CC2, CC3 CC1, CC4.

Repeat colour sequence once more, then repeat row pattern using CC2 and CC3. With CC1, knit 6 rows garter for bottom turning ridge. Repeat row pattern with CC4, then work through colour sequence (CC2, CC3, CC1, CC4) twice. To finish, with CC2, knit 2 rows garter, 2 rows stockinette, 2 rows garter. Bind off all stitches knitwise on next row. Sew side edges of purse together neatly (note that only every other stripe will match in colour). Cut a piece of cardboard 6 3/4" square and insert in purse so it will stay flat when hanging from your shoulder. Line with fabric if desired using cardboard square as a pattern.

Cut 3 lengths of MC 120" (10 feet) long. Knot both ends. Hook one end around a door knob and insert a pencil in the other end. Turn pencil over and over in one direction until strands are tightly twisted. (Better yet, get a friend to hold the other end and twist in the opposite direction.) Fold in half, keeping the cord taut to avoid tangles. Let the cord twist back on itself and knot the ends. Sew into position under flap and trim knotted end. Sew a button at center front and make a button loop. Block your purse and enjoy.

Copyright 2000, Kinver Beach Knit Design. This pattern is intended for your personal use only. Do not duplicate or reproduce this pattern without permission from the author.