Felted Purse

By Spotlight

Project supplied by one of our favourite Creative Teachers, Jenny King

Final Result

Materials

• 2 balls main colour- Ashfords Tekapo MC or 1 hank Te Awa, 1 ball black Tekapo as C1 or 4 balls Vintage Hues by Cleckheaton
• Size 5.50mm crochet hook

Step 1

Back/flap
The back and flap of the bag are made in one piece using MC.
Make 16ch, 3tr, 2ch, 4tr in the 4th ch from hook, 1 tr in each of the next 11 ch,4tr, 2ch, 4tr in the last ch; now working on the other side of the chains, 1tr in each of the 11 ch bottoms. JWSS. Turn.
Row 2: 3ch, *1tr in each tr until the 2-ch sp, 4tr, 2ch, 4tr into the 2-ch sp. Rep from * once. 1tr in each st to beg of the round. JWSS. Turn.
Rep round 2 until 9 rounds have been worked. Fasten off.

Place a marker in the 49th st from the 2nd ch on both sides. This is for the placement of the strap. The 34 stitches either side of this form the top flap.

Step 2

Front
6ch, JWSS into the 1st ch to form a circle.
Row 1: 3ch, 5tr into the circle, turn.
Row 2: 3ch, 1tr in the same place as the 3 ch, 2tr in each st. Turn (12 tr).
Row 3: 3ch, 1tr in the same place as the 3 ch, * 1tr in the next st, 2tr in the next st, rep from * to end. Turn (16 tr).
Row 4: 3ch, 1tr in the same place as the 3 ch, * 1 tr in ea of next 2 st , 2tr in the next st, rep from * to end. Turn (24 tr).
Row 5: 3ch, 1tr in the same place as the 3 ch, * 1 tr in ea of next 3 st, 2tr in the next st, rep from * to end. Turn (30 tr).
Row 6: 3ch, 1tr in the same place as the 3 ch, * 1tr in ea of next 4 st, 2tr in the next st, rep from * to end. Turn (36 tr).

Continue increasing in this manner until the stitches between the increases (underlined numbers) are 15 (102 tr).

Row 18: 3ch, 1tr in ea st to end (102 st). Turn the work so that the next row of stitches is along the straight edge.

Eyelet row: 4ch, 1dtr, 2ch in the first st, * 1dtr, 2ch in the side of each tr along this straight edge to the last st, 2dtr in the last st. Fasten off.

Step 3

Strap
Make 6ch, 1tr in the 4th ch from hook, 1tr in each st (4 tr).
Row 2: 3ch, 1tr in ea of next 3 st.
Rep row 2 until the strap measures 127cm. Fasten off.

Sew in place after working the black trim.

Step 4

Black trim
Work 2 rounds of dc around the Back/Flap of the bag.

Work 2 rows of dc in black around the curved edge only of the front. Match the back to the front and dc through both thicknesses to join.

Step 5

Drawstring ties - make 2 using black
Make 3 ch, 1tr in the same place as the 3 ch, * 3ch, 1tr in the top of the last tr * worked.
Rep from * to * until it measures 41cm.

Sew them into place on the inside of the back at the outer edge. Do not thread though the eyelets until after the felting has occurred.

Step 6

Felting instructions
Place the finished article inside a Lingerie bag. Set the washing machine to the smallest load and its hottest setting. Add regular washing powder for that size load. Agitate for 20 - 25 minutes.

Remove and rinse thoroughly in cold water. Roll in a towel to remove excess water. Shape as desired and leave to dry.

Abbreviation

ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
tr = treble
dc = double crochet
sp = space
rep = repeat
st = stitch
beg = beginning
ea = each
dtr = double treble
JWSS = Join with a slip stitch

Handy Hint

When felting, the rate of shrinkage is influenced by many factors - how hot the water is, how hard the water is, how much the item is agitated, the amount and kind of soap used and what colour the yarn is (it’s a fact!). So felting is not an exact science but it is great fun!