Glamorous Evening Purse

Here is the little black purse I worked on before the New York trip. It was completed just in time for the wedding.Not bad for 2 bucks. It was absolutely perfect for toting my lipstick and camera around in - not that I took too many pictures. Was having too much fun, drinking and talking.

The bag went with all my other accessories - black, with a little sparkle.

I wondered about the handle. Should I make it i-cord, should I sew something inside it to make it round. As it was, the stockinette stitch curled up so nicely, it didn't need a thing.

Then I added the rose, just to make it a little fancier. I made more roses, but they would have just been, erm, too much.

So here is the pattern, should anyone want to replicate.

Yarn: I used Lion Brand Glitterspun, on sale at Joann's for $1.97 a ball :0) The gauge was 18st x 26 rows with a 5mm needle over 4" square.

Front, bottom and back:

Cast on 25 sts

Work 5 rows of 1x1 rib, working the 2 sts at either end as k2 (or p2) to make stockinette for seaming later.

Work 21 rows of stockinette stitch. Start and end with a knit row.

Next row, knit so that a row of purl bumps appear on the right side.

Work 7 rows of stockinette stitch. Start and end with a knit row.

Next row, knit so that a row of purl bumps appear on the right side.

The 2 purl bump rows defin the bottom of the bag.

Work 21 rows of stockinette stitch. Start and end with a knit row.

Work 5 rows of 1x1 rib, as above.

Bind off in 1x1 rib.

Sides and Handle:

Cast on 9 sts.

Work 110 rows in stockinette stitch. Work more rows if you want a longer handle.

Bind off.

Finishing:

Mattress stitch the sides of the bag to either end of the handle strip.

Add any embellishments you like.