Fab Floral Clutch

Skill Level: Intermediate

Measurements: 9.5” [24 cm] length and 6” [15.5 cm] width

Gauge: 19 sts and 26 rows = 4” [10 cm] square, using US size 7 (4.5 mm) in pattern, blocked;

TAKE TIME TO MAKE A SWATCH AND OBTAIN THE GAUGE

Materials

Yarn:

 Cascade Yarns Avalon (50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic; 176 yards [160 meters]/ 100 grams): 23 Crown Jewel (MC), 1 hank; 10 Artisan’s Gold (CC), 1 hank

Needles: US size 3 (3 mm) and US size 7 (4.5 mm): circular 16” needles (or longer if you will use magic loop method), two US 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed needles to knit a strap; OR SIZE TO OBTAIN THE GAUGE

Notions: Waste yarn for provisional cast on; tapestry needle; zipper 11”; fabric for lining, 14”x11”; sewing needle with thread to sew the lining; pins

Abbreviations

MC – main color
CC – contrast color
sl1 – slip 1 st from LN to RN without working it
LN – left needle
RN – right needle
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
k – knit
p – purl
yo – yarn over
k2tog – knit 2 sts together
ssk – slip, slip, knit
k3tog– knit 3 sts together

Special Stitches

Seed stitch (worked in rnd on even number of sts)

Rnd 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to M, SM.

Rnd 2 (RS): *P1, k1; rep from * to M, SM.

Rep Rows 1-2 for pattern.

Garter stitch (worked in the rnd, beg with a purl rnd):

Rnd 1 (RS): P to end of rnd, SM.

Rnd 2 (RS): K to end of rnd, SM.

Rep Rows 1-2.

Pattern

Clutch

With larger needles and waste yarn, CO 94 sts.

Using MC, knit 94 sts. Join to work in rnd, being extra careful not to twist the sts. PM for beg of rnd.

Work in garter stitch for 5 rnds.

Begin to work Stranded Floral Chart using both MC and CC. This is a fair isle knitting, so you should work in stockinette, chanding colors as the chart says, as follows:

Next round (RS): Work Stranded Floral Chart 2 times, SM.

Work 1 full repeat of the chart once (20 rows total).

Cut MC thread.

With CC, knit 1 rnd.

Next round: (k3, k2tog) 19 times, k to end rnd, SM – 78 sts on the needles.

Work Seed stitch pattern for 1.2” [3 cm].

BO sts using larger spare needles, as follows:

3-needle BO row (right sides up, wrong sides inside): Hold two tips of circular needles parallel, facing right, remove marker, and begin binding off. Insert tip of RN into 1st st on 1st needle, insert tip of RN into 1st st on 2nd needle, knit them together, *insert tip of RN into 1st st on 1st needle, insert tip of RN into 1st st on 2nd needle, knit them together, pass 1st st over 2nd st on RN (1 st decreased); rep from * to end rnd. No sts left.

Carefully unravel waste yarn and place open sts on smaller needles one by one, beg with first cast on st –  93 sts on the needles.

Work in Garter st for 3 rows, beg with a purl rnd.

Next Rnd (RS): Yo, k2tog, k to end rnd.

Purl 1 rnd.

BO in knit.

Strap

With one of double pointed needles and MC, CO 5 sts.

Row 1: K5, slide these worked sts from RN back to LN.

Rep last row until the strap measures 19.7” [50 cm]. BO all sts, cut thread.

Leaf (make 2)

With larger needles and CC, CO 7 sts using long tail method.

Set up Row: BO 5 sts (on the needles: 1 st unworked on LN, and 1 st on RN), yo, k1 form LN – 3 sts.

Row 1 (RS): K1, yo, k1, yo, k1 – 5 sts.
Row 2 and all WS rows: K.
Row 3: K2, yo, k1, yo, k2 – 7 sts.
Row 5: K3, yo, k1 yo, k3 – 9 sts.
Row 7: K4, yo, k1, yo, k4 – 11 sts.
Row 9: Ssk, k7, k2tog – 9 sts.
Row 11: Ssk, k5, k2tog – 7 sts.
Row 13: Ssk, k3, k2tog – 5 sts.
Row 15: Ssk, k1, k2tog – 3 sts.
Row 16: K3tog.

Fasten off remaining st, leaving a 6” (15 cm) tail for securing a leaf on a zip’s pull-tab.

Finishing

Cut yarn. Weave-in ends. Wet-block to measurements.

Lining

Measure the clutch. Cut fabric according to your measurements as follows: the width of the fabric should be the width of the clutch. The height of the fabric should be equal to twice the heigth of the bag, plus 1 inch. Fold the fabric in half, right sides in, joining long edges. Sew two side seams from the top edge to the bottom, stitching 1/3’’ (0.8cm) from raw edges. Fold 1/3” (0.8cm) of the top edge of the lining out. Press the lining. Insert it into the clutch, wrong side out, align the side seams with the sides of the bag. Open a zip and place both ends of it between sides of a knitted clutch and a lining, making sure that a slider body is placed by a wrist strap once the zip is open, pinning it in several places along the edge. Stitch along both edges. When the zipper is closed, a slider body should be placed at the opposite side of a wrist strap.

Insert wrist strap into a hole at the top of the bag. Make a knot with two strap ends. Secure a leaf on zip’s pull-tab.

STRANDED FLORAL CHART

The chart shows only RS of the fabric. Work stranded pattern 2 times in a row in stockinette.