Just the right size for your phone, debit card and keys, this clever clutch features a hand strap closure which allows one to securely carry the clutch with one hand!
Time: Weekend Project
Skill Level: Easy
Size: 8.5” W x 5.5” H
Gauge: 26 sts and 26 rows = 4” [10 cm] in garter st
Materials
Yarn: Lion Brand Touch of Linen (51% cotton/49% linen; 197 yards [180 meters]/100 grams): #134A terracotta (MC, 1 ball), #102W clay (CC, 1 ball)
Hook/Needles: US size 2 (2.75 mm) dpn, (3 needles) and size B/1/2.25mm crochet hook
Notions: Stitch holders, tapestry needle, scissors, ink pen,13 1/2” x 8 1/8” rectangle terracotta colored felt (lining), matching thread and hand sewing needle.
Pattern Notes
Stitched horizontal rows create the vertical lines of Clutch.
Cast on and bind off edges are sewn together to create the side edges of Clutch.
Pattern
HAND STRAP
Row 1 (WS): With CC, CO and k 44 sts. (44 sts)
Row 2: [K1, p1] across.
Row 3: With MC, p across.
Row 4: Rep row 2.
Rows 5-6: With CC, rep rows 3-4.
Rows 7-8: With MC, rep rows 3-4.
Rows 9-10: With CC, rep rows 3-4.
Last row: BO in [k1, p1] pattern.
CLUTCH
With CC, cast on 60 sts.
Row 1 (RS): K. (60 sts)
Rows 2-4: K.
Rows 5-6: With MC, k.
Rows 7-96: Rep rows 1-6 alternately 15 times.
Row 97-100: With CC, rep rows 1-4.
Last row: BO kwise.
FRONT FLAP
Wind a 6-yard length of MC into a small ball. Set aside.
Row 1 (RS): With one short end of Clutch RS facing, working in ends of rows with larger ball of MC, pick up and k 56 st evenly spaced. (56 sts)
Rows 2-19: K.
Row 20: K 14, move first 13 sts to stitch holder, BO next 30 sts (upper edge of flap opening), k last 12 sts. (13 sts remaining)
FLAP OPENING RIGHT SIDE EDGE
Rows 21-34: K. At end of row 34, move sts to 2nd stitch holder, do not cut yarn.
FLAP OPENING LEFT SIDE EDGE
Rows 21-34: With left side edge of Flap RS facing, move sts from first stitch holder to needle, beg at inside edge of hand strap opening with smaller ball of yarn, rep rows 21-34. At end of row 34, place sts on stitch holder.
FLAP BOTTOM EDGE
Row 35: With right side edge of Flap RS facing, move sts from st holder to needle and k across, using backwards lp cast on method, CO 30 sts (bottom edge of hand strap opening), move flap opening left side edge sts from holder to needle and k across. (56 sts)
Next 13 rows: K.
Last row: BO knitwise (bottom edge of Flap).
FACING
Row 1: With remaining unworked ends of rows of Clutch (Front) RS facing, pick up and k 56 sts. (56)
Row 2: P.
Row 3: K.
Row 4: P.
Last row: BO knitwise.
FLAP OUTER EDGE
Rnd 1: With left side edge of Flap RS facing, using crochet hook, work 28 surface sl sts along side edge to bottom edge, work 56 surface sl sts across bound off edge of flap, work 28 sl sts across right side edge of flap, working across top edge of Flap, work 56 sl stitches at base of row 1 between Clutch and Flap, do not join. (168 surface sl sts)
Rnd 2: Working in back lps of sl sts, sl st in each st around, join in beg sl st. Fasten off. (168 sl sts)
FLAP INSIDE OPENING EDGE
Rnd 1: With bottom edge of Hand Strap Opening RS facing, beg at bottom right corner with crochet hook, work 30 surface sl st across bottom edge, work 7 surface sl sts up left side edge of opening, work 30 surface sl sts across upper edge of opening, work 7 surface sl sts down right-side edge of opening, join in beg sl st. Fasten off. (74 surface sl sts)
Designer Tip:
Non-crochet Alternate Flap Edging
Instead of using crochet hook, use a tapestry needle and MC to work the same number of embroidered chain sts along outer and inner edges of Flap and Inside Opening, instead of the crocheted surface sl sts.
FINISHING
Center one short end of felt rectangle (lining) onto WS of Clutch, have cut edge against seam created by row 1 of Facing and having approximately 1/8” of Clutch extending beyond each end of seam. Fold facing to WS over felt and use hand sewing needle and doubled thread to sew BO edge of facing to felt using a running stitch.
Pin remaining felt rectangle to WS of Clutch having approximately 1/8” of Clutch protruding beyond felt outer edges. With Clutch RS facing, use pen to trace around inside edge of flap opening. Unpin flap area of Clutch and use scissors to cut felt approximately 1/8” away from traced line. Re-pin felt to flap. If necessary, trim away more felt until opening is approximately 1/8” larger than Flap opening.
Use needle and doubled thread to sew cut edges of opening of felt to WS of flap using a blanket stitch. Work blanket stitch to join outer edges of felt to clutch. (See Clutch inside view photo)
Fold 1/2” of strap end to WS and use tapestry needle and CC to whipstitch to secure. With Clutch front facing, center strap having one long edge approximately 1” down from top fold and short ends approximately 7/8” in from side edge. Use sewing needle and double thread to sew ends of strap through both layers of Clutch and lining to secure.
Fold striped portion of Clutch RS together, use tapestry needle and CC to whipstitch seams at side
To close and carry clutch: fold flap over clutch, having opening centered over hand strap. Pull hand strap through opening, insert hand through strap to carry.