Knitted purse

[ricochetwild]

My first big knitting project has just begun - I'm experimenting with knitting a purse. My idea is this: Make two 15x17 'patches'. For each of them, when done instead of casting off, tie thread of the point of the needle and pull it through, then tie off the yarn so it doesn't unravel. Stitch up the two patches to make a pouch-type thing, then stitch a thin (5 stiches-ish) strap of an undecided length. Sitch that on and, if I learn how to, line the inside with cloth.

So if any of you have attempted this or actually made one, do you have suggestions or tips? Thanks ^_^  

[Peppermint Elf]

Uhh.... do you mean inches or centimeters? Because that's going to be a HUUUUGE purse if it's 2 15x17 inch "patches". eek  

[ricochetwild]

XD Meant 15 stitches by 17 rows. Sorry didn't clarify.  

[[ the.knitting.ninja ]]

sounds good to me

i tryed it once and it worked. i'm not terribly good at reading patterns  

[Peppermint Elf]

ricochetwild

XD Meant 15 stitches by 17 rows. Sorry didn't clarify.

xd That sounds much more like a purse. At 15x17 inches... it'd be more like a diaper bag.... or carryall. eek What size needles are you using?  

[ricochetwild]

4.5 mm? Honestly I just went to Michael's and picked a normal-looking one and a bigger one for the more troublesome yarns ^_^  

[taligator]

sounds good to me .. post pics when you are done. smile  

[um...yea]

why don't you just make one piece, the same width, just twice as long? that way you fold it in half and you would have one less side to stitch together.  

[gemini6184]

For closure you could sew a button on at the top of one side and make a loop at the top of the other side 3nodding

I did knit a purse once though it wasnt a big success. I found the fabric drooped and stretched a lot and I had made the strap too stretchy. I think thats why a lot of purse patterns have you put plastic canvas in the bottom.  

[ricochetwild]

I'm actually hoping the strap will stretch out and become longer, but I hadn't thought about the actual purse doing that. I'm hoping to learn how to line it with some kind of cloth, though, so hopefully that will fix that.

I thought about the doubling-up idea, and my mom is actually trying it that way XD When we're done, we can compare!  

[HK123]

what size needles are you using and what color of yarn?  

[ricochetwild]

The needles are 4.5 mm. The yarn is...blue? XD A very nice dark blue though.  

[Lady Austina]

I made a purse and it came out fine, I need to make a better stronger strap though.

What I did was:
-with size 9 needles

-Knit 3 in. in garter stitch (9in wide)
-Then knitted 18in in stocking knit stitch

When I was done I casted off and toke the end and brought it to the end of the garter stitch flap

Turned inside out and matress stitch the sides together.


That was my first attemp at a purse with no pattern.

Oh ya and my purse would strech at the bottom when I would put some thing in it.

But it was a beginner purse I'm working on it though.  

[xo_dreamstar_ox]

My sister went through a phase where all she did was knit purses... ?
Anyhow... use two yarns to make your project sturdier! idea  

[ricochetwild]

Thanks for the tips, guys ^_^