episode 1
Kate – Houndstooth Pocketbook Zippered Bag Cover by Catherine J. Hall

This purse pattern is adapted from one I came up with some time ago. The classic houndstooth design is inspired by the large-scale motif on a beautiful dressing gown worn by the glamorous Katharine Hepburn in the movie Adam's Rib. With this pattern, you can cover any bag or purse in a stylish houndstooth design. Here you'll find an example of an inexpensive, zippered cosmetics pouch dressed up in knitted finery. A button holds the cover on, and the plastic bag serves as a lining. Your new bag can carry knitting needles and notions, or you can use it to wrap a gift. You can also use it as a wallet. There are even extra "hidden" pockets for cash or receipts. The pattern is a perfect introduction to Fair Isle knitting, even if you have never attempted colorwork before.

So, head to the dollar bin of your favorite department store and make yourself an elegant pocketbook.

SIZE/MEASUREMENTS

Sample purse is based around a zippered cosmetics pouch that is 6" wide by 4.5" high, but the pattern can be adapted to fit any size of a flat plastic bag.

MATERIALS

Yarn - Cascade Yarn "Fixation", 98.3% cotton, 1.7% elastic, 50 gr/100 yard

1 skein # 8990 Black

1 skein # 8001 White

I was able to get three 6" x 4.5" bag covers out of these two skeins of yarn.

It wouldn't be much of a splurge to get more than one cheap little pouch. Then you could make an extra pocketbook or two!

Bag - Zippered plastic pouch, 6" wide by 4.5" high*

Needles - I used Japanese 22cm (8") circular needles by Clover in size #4

You may use 30cm (12") circular needles, or dpn's in the appropriate size to achieve gauge

Notions - Tapestry needle

Stitch marker

Button of your choice

Needle and thread (for sewing on button)

*NOTE - This plastic bag is the kind used to carry cosmetics or school supplies. The sample is 6" x 4.5". The yarn, and therefore the knitted cover, is quite stretchy, so these measurements do not have to match your bag exactly. In addition, the pattern can be adapted easily to fit any flat bag you may want to use as a lining.

GAUGE

26 stitches = 4 inches in pattern

When making a gauge swatch, work in the round, and remember that the gauge is measured in the houndstooth pattern, NOT in stockinette stitch. I did this by casting on 32 stitches and joining them to work in the round, placing a marker to indicate the beginning of the round. I then worked the first 2 rounds in a K2, P2 rib. Next, repeat the houndstooth pattern twice (8 rounds), and finish with 2 more rounds of K2, P2. Bind off, and you have a cute little bracelet, as well as a gauge swatch! If you are using a 12" needle, you may need to cast on more than 32 stitches (just make sure that the number of stitches is divisible by 4), in which case you will end up with a headband.

I do fear to say it, as the goddesses of knitting will surely confiscate my needles....BUT...Fixation is a stretchy yarn. The project is small. You want to go all out and "forget" to make the swatch, diving right in to the pattern instead? I won't tell!

PATTERN NOTES

The bag cover is made in the round using the Fair Isle technique of colorwork. Although you can make it using double pointed needles (dpn's), it may be easier to work with two strands of yarn on a small circular needle.

The classic houndstooth pattern is a perfect first Fair Isle project. Because you only work up to three stitches of one color at a time, you don't have to worry about long "carries" (the unused yarn which is carried along the back side of the work as you go). Carries can result in twisted yarns and/or tension problems. Each of the two skeins can be held separately the entire time, whether you choose to use the one- or two-handed method of Fair Isle knitting.

One-Handed Method - Hold your yarn as you usually do to knit (either in the left or right hand), but hold both strands over the finger that you use to "feed" your knitting. Keep the strands separated, with one of them (your choice) always at the top of the finger and the other at the bottom. While knitting, wrap the strand of the correct color around the tip of the right hand needle and knit as you normally do.

There are even little devices that you can purchase that you wear on your knitting finger in order the keep the strands separated for you, but when you are using only two colors of yarn, it is not difficult to keep them in place. If you do need help, you can place one ball of yarn on your right side and the other on your left, again remembering which color you need to keep on top of your knitting finger.

Two-Handed Method - This is my preference when working with two colors, even though getting used to it did take some time. It does feel very strange at first, but it is well worth the extra work in the beginning, especially when you realize how quickly you become a two-fisted expert! You have probably been told that you are either a Continental or an English/American knitter, depending on which hand you use to carry your yarn and "feed" your knitting. To knit with both hands at once, both picking and throwing, is truly a sight to see. Try it for yourself, and KEEP AT IT!!! At least for a few rows. I promise, it will get easier, and after one or two projects it will feel like second nature. Just remember how it felt when you learned to knit and purl, back when you were all thumbs, or when it felt as though you needed an extra hand or two to hold all of that "stuff".

First, decide which hand will knit which yarn, and then keep them that way (switching back and forth can throw off the tension of the piece). Place one ball of yarn on each side of you, and hold one color in each hand. "Pick" with the yarn in the left hand and "throw" with the yarn in the right hand as you knit, choosing the correct color of yarn based on the chart/directions. You can see illustrations of each method in most beginning knitting books, magazines, or on-line sources. You can also learn from a friend who knits with the opposite hand that you do, and in turn teach him or her your method. Soon you'll both be knitting with both hands, which is surely an enviable skill.

Another skill you can learn from this pattern is that of chart reading. If you are used to working from a chart, either in colorwork or lace knitting, great! If not, it is not hard to learn, and it can make reading patterns, even those in a foreign language, easier. Just remember that you are knitting from the bottom row of the pattern, from right to left, and that each repeat in a row (or round) of a pattern is indicated by one repeat in each row of the chart. I have also included written instructions, but getting the hang of a repetitive pattern like this one can be easier when you are using a graph instead of reading a set of commands.

If your bag is not the same size as the one in this pattern (6" wide by 4.5" high), don't fret! The pattern is easy to adapt. I have included specific instructions contained in [brackets] as they are needed in the pattern.

K = knit

P = purl

st = stitch

sts = stitches

B = black yarn

W = white yarn

PATTERN

Using the black yarn only, Cast On 80 sts. [Measure your bag. Multiply twice the width of the bag by the gauge (6.5 sts per inch) to determine the number of sts in each round. This cast on number must be divisible by 4, so you may have to fudge the number of sts a little.]

Join, being careful not to twist. Place marker at beginning of round.

Rounds 1-4 - Knit even with B.

Begin knitting with both colors following chart, or using the following written instructions.

Round 5 - K1B, *K1W, K3B,* repeat from * until 3 sts remain, K1W, K2B.

Round 6 - *K3W, K1B*, repeat from * to end.

Round 7 - *K1B, K3W*, repeat from * to end.

Round 8 - K2B, *K1W, K3B*, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, K1W, K1B.

Rounds 9-32 - Repeat Rounds 5-8 (4 row pattern) 6 more times [or until the knitted piece measures the height of your plastic bag].

Round 33 - Bind Off 44 sts (36 sts remain) holding both strands of yarn together. [Bind Off one-half the number of Cast On sts, plus 4].

Note, if using Fixation or other very elastic yarn, Bind Off tightly. If not, Bind Off loosely.

Continue knitting remaining sts in pattern.

When you get to the end of this round, Cast On 36 more sts [or number of sts that you just knit] holding both strands of yarn together.

You now have 72 sts total [or twice the number of cast on sts minus 8].

Join and place marker at beginning of round.

Rounds 34-48 - Continue in pattern to make bag flap.

[You may need more or fewer rounds, depending on the height of your plastic bag.]

Rounds 49-52 - Drop W.

With B, K even (4 rounds).

Bind Off.

Finishing:

Sew bottom shut with black yarn.

Either crochet or sew top shut with black yarn. In either case, crochet a loop in the middle of the top seam to serve as a button loop.

Weave in yarn ends with tapestry needle.

Insert plastic bag into cover. Close flap and mark where loop falls on cover with a safety pin or piece of thread. Sew button where marked.

Do not sew inside of flap closed, as this can serve as a "Secret Pocket" to keep receipts, cash, business cards, etc. handy. You can also slip papers or cards between the plastic bag and the cover.

If your bag has a little handle at the side, you can either tuck it inside of the cover or let it poke out from the flap to serve as a carrying handle. Or, if you like, you can remove it with scissors.

Play Fair - Please, remember this basic kindness. These patterns, as well as the images and other artworks, are for non-commercial use only. If you decide to make one of the Luscious Gracious projects, remember it is not legal to sell the item. Our patterns may not be reprinted or copied in any way without our express permission.

Enjoy your pretty little pocketbook!