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  North Adams, MA

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A Pair of Silk Purses

The silk yarn used for these purses is combined with the tiniest bit of polyester and then knitted into a ribbonlike strand. It has beautiful shine and texture and is as light as a feather. The fabric is very accommodating; it took to the frames as if they were made for each other (which, actually, they were).

MEASUREMENTS		Approximately 4" (10 cm) tall and 4" (10 cm) wide at widest point
YARN		Lang Yarns Silk, 98% silk/2% polyester, 0.88 oz (25 g)/85 yds (78 m), 727.0023 Blue
NEEDLES		US 5 (3.75 mm) straight needles for square purse, set of fi ve US 5 (3.75 mm) double-point needles for round purse or size you need to obtain correct gauge
GAUGE		32 stitches and 40 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch
OTHER SUPPLIES		Tapestry needle, sewing needle and coordinating sewing thread, square or round 2.5" (6.5 cm) purse frame, US D/3 (3.25 mm) crochet hook (for round bag), two jump rings, and chain of desired length (optional)

Knitting the Square-top Purse

Stitch Pattern - Knot Stitch
ROW 1: *K3, (P3tog, K3tog, P3tog in next 3 stitches); repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K3.
ROWS 2 AND ALL WS ROWS THROUGH 8: Purl.
ROWS 3 AND 7: Knit.
ROW 5: K3, *K3 (P3tog, K3tog, P3tog in next 3 stitches); repeat from * to last 6 stitches, K6.
REPEAT ROWS 1–8 FOR PATTERN.

Getting Started
Cast on 21 stitches. Purl 1 row. Work Rows 1–8 of Knot Stitch pattern, then
work Rows 1 and 2.

Begin Shaping
INCREASE ROW: K1, M1, work in pattern to last stitch, M1, K1.

Continue in pattern as established, working increase row every fourth RS row
(knit rows) 5 more times, then purl 1 row. You now have 33 stitches. Work 10
rows even in pattern.

DECREASE ROW: K1, ssk, work in pattern to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1.
V Continue in pattern as established, working decrease row every fourth RS row
(knit rows) 5 more times, then purl 1 row. You now have 21 stitches. Work 10
rows even in pattern. Bind off all stitches.

Finishing
Fold bag in half with WS together and sew side seams with mattress stitch (see
page 264) from bottom to end of shaping. Weave in ends. Use sewing needle
and thread to sew top of bag to frame. Attach chain with jump rings if desired.

Knitting the Round Purse

Getting Started
Cast on 8 stitches. Place 2 stitches on each of 4 double-point needles and join
into a round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Knit 1 round.

Note: If you fi nd it diffi cult to work this fi rst round, cast on 8 stitches and place
4 stitches on each of 2 needles. With a third needle, knit the stitches from one
needle, slide all stitches down to the other end of the needles and, with the
empty needle, knit the stitches from the second needle. It should now be easier
to distribute the 8 stitches onto 4 needles.

ROUND 1: *Kfb; repeat from *. You now have 16 stitches.
ROUND 2: Knit.
ROUND 3: *K2, M1; repeat from *. You now have 24 stitches.
ROUND 4: Knit.
ROUND 5: *K3, M1; repeat from *. You now have 32 stitches.
ROUND 6: *(P3tog, K3tog, P3tog in next 3 stitches), K1.
ROUND 7: *K4, M1; repeat from *. You now have 40 stitches.
ROUND 8: Knit.
ROUND 9: *K5, M1; repeat from *. You now have 48 stitches.
ROUND 10: Knit.
ROUND 11: *K6, M1; repeat from *. You now have 56 stitches.
ROUND 12: *K2, (P3tog, K3tog, P3tog in next 3 stitches), K2; repeat from *.
ROUND 13: *K7, M1; repeat from *. You now have 64 stitches.
ROUND 14: Knit.
ROUND 15: *K8, M1; repeat from *. You now have 72 stitches.
ROUND 16: Knit.
ROUND 17: *K9, M1; repeat from *. You now have 80 stitches.
ROUND 18: *K4, (P3tog, K3tog, P3tog in next 3 stitches), K3; repeat from *.
ROUND 19: *K10, M1; repeat from *. You now have 88 stitches.
ROUND 20: Knit.

Finishing the Bottom and Knitting the Top

ROW 1: K8, bind off 72, K8, then knit the 8 beginning-of-row stitches again. You
now have 16 stitches on 1 needle.
ROW 2: P16.
ROW 3: Bind off 2 stitches, K1 (you now have 2 stitches on needle), (P3tog, K3tog,
P3tog in next 3 stitches), K2, (P3tog, K3tog, P3tog in next 3 stitches), K4.
ROW 4: Bind off 2 stitches, purl to end of row.
ROW 5: Bind off 2 stitches, knit to end of row.
ROW 6: Bind off 2 stitches, purl to end of row.
Bind off remaining 8 stitches.
Repeat for other side of purse.

Finishing
With WS together and beginning with the fi rst bound-off stitches, join the
front and back together with slip stitch crochet (see page 266). Weave in ends.
Use sewing needle and thread to sew top of bag to frame, stretching the knitting
as necessary to make a smooth edge. Attach chain with jump rings, if
desired.