By Melissa Mall

Photos: Melissa Mall

This little purse is just the right size for carrying a phone, wallet, and keys, with room for a little bit more. Worked in the round with a touch of texture, it is quick to finish and easy to personalize. Try it with a self-striping yarn for a completely different effect!

Difficulty: Easy

Size: 8″ wide, 5.5″ deep (not including strap)

Materials:

• Red Heart Super Saver [100% Acrylic; 244yd/223m per 5oz/141g skein]; color: Monet; 90yds
• H/8 (5.00mm) hook
• Yarn Needle
• 1 – 5/8″ button

Gauge: 15 sts/12 rows = 4″ in patt.

Special Stitches:
fldc (Front Loop Double Crochet) – double crochet through the front loop of the stitch one row below.

Directions:

Bag

Rnd 1: Ch 55; join in 1st chain to form ring. Ch 1, sc in each ch around. (55 sc) Join rnd.

Rnd 2: Ch 1 and, working in the back loop only, sc in each st around. (55 sc) Join rnd.

Rnd 3: Ch 1; working in BLO, sc 5. *Fldc, sc 10 in BLO.* Repeat from * to * until 6 remain. Fldc; sc to end of rnd. (55 sts) Join.

Rnd 4: Ch 1; working in BLO, sc 6. *Fldc, sc 10 in BLO.* Repeat from * to * until 5 sts remain. Fldc; sc to end of rnd. (55 sts) Join.

Rnd 5: Ch 1; working in BLO, sc 7. *Fldc, sc 10 in BLO.* Repeat from * to * until 4 sts remain. Fldc; sc to end of rnd. (55 sts) Join.

Continue in patt. as established (bringing the last fldc from the end of the round around to the beginning of the round once it reaches the join) until piece measures 5.5 inches from beginning; finish off.

Button Flap

Row 1: Ch 6. Sk 1 ch, sc in each of the next 5 ch. (5 sc) Turn.

Rows 2-6: Ch 1; sc across. (5 sc) Turn.

Row 7: Ch 1; sc in each of the next 2 sts. Ch 2, sk 1 sc, sc in each of the last 2 sts. Turn.

Row 8: Ch 1; sc in each of the next 2 sts, sc in ch-sp, sc in each of the last 2 sts. (5 sc) Turn.

Row 9: Ch 1; sc dec, sc in next st, sc dec. (3 sc). Sl st all the way around the edge; finish off.

Strap

Row 1: Make a chain 22″ long. Turn.

Row 2: Sl st in each ch across. Turn.

Rows 3-6: Sl st in BLO across; turn.

Finish off.

Finishing

1. Turn bag wrong-side out; flatten with join at one edge. Sew Row 1 together, turn right-side out again.
2. Sew flat edge of button flap to top edge of bag. Sew button to other side in the correct position.
3. Sew strap to bag at top corners; weave in all ends.

About the Designer Melissa Mall is an at-home mom with four sons and a new baby girl! They have settled in to a quiet (or “quiet,” if you like) rural life in Missouri and are enjoying doing things like gardening and keeping chickens in the backyard. You can keep up with their ordinary adventures over at her blog, or take a peek at her crochet patterns and tutorials at Inner Child Crochet.

Pattern & images © Melissa Mall. All rights reserved.