Knit Purse for a Young Lady

I have had some inquiries about a picture I posted of this knitted purse:

The truth is that I whipped this up during a nap time for a very talented photographer friend of mine. Well, it was actually intended for her adorable daughter, but I am not sure who will use it more!

I wish I could say that I had a great pattern to share, but it was one of those spur of the moment, "I have an idea....what if..." things and I dipped into my stash for some chunky raspberry colored wool yarn. Once I cast on and started knitting, the whole purse felt too big for a three and half year old lady, so I commenced with the k2tog decreases, until it felt right.

It was one of those quintessential gray Maine afternoons when I raided my fabric stash for a piece of lining fabric that felt vintage girly to go with what turned out to be a vintage shaped little cozy purse. The lighting wasn't great that day and I haven't the skills to master the light in photographs, please excuse! I realize that I didn't take a picture of the floral lining, but it was oh so sweet, a bit thirties or fourties looking... I used the knit purse front for a pattern and simply cut around the outside to get the shape of the lining. I know, but if you know me, you know how I do not like to slow down enough to actually do things logically, or sensibly...I can't help myself... Then I machine sewed the lining, now I can barely remember the steps, but it did involve turning the top edges in so there is a clean top edge...

Then I sewed an oatmeal colored muslin to the front, right sides together (oh how my old Singer enjoyed sewing over a knit item. Not so much. Put fabric side down if anyone tries this, not yarn side on the presser foot-big mess!) and placed the lining inside, pressed, machine sewed a double seam across the top edges, tucking pink store bought quilt binding in for straps, and buttoned on a knit flower from the stash. I wanted to make little Lucia a brooch... But as a mommy myself, of a daughter always requesting to wear my sharp -pinned brooches, I decided it would be best to sew a button on the back of the flower, to be slipped between stitches of the purse, or a sweater, hat or scarf. Now Lucia can have her very own brooch with no sharp pins to worry about...

I sewed a pocket in the lining, for a proper young lady's personal affects, don't you hate it when you lose your lip balm in the bottom of your purse?!? This annoyance unfortunately starts early in life for some of us. An interior pocket is a most important handbag feature I think.

It went out on a special delivery for Christmas, this woman has been an inspiration to me personally, professionally and artistically since I met her. A small knit token of my appreciation was the least I could give!