Using vintage crochet pattern for women’s handbag:
BAG-Front Starting at center, ch 5. Join. 1st rnd: Ch 3, 14 dc in ring. Join with sl st in top st of ch-3. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, dc in joining st, * 2 dc in next dc. Repeat from * around. Join. 3rd rnd: Ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc. Repeat from * around. Join (45 dc, counting ch-3 as 1 dc). 4th rnd: Ch 3, dc in each dc around. Join. 5th rnd: Sc in joining st, sc in next dc, * 2 sc in next dc, sc in next 2 dc. Repeat from * around (60 sc). 6th rnd: Sc in each sc around. 7th rnd: * 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around (90 sc). 8th, 9th and 10th rnds: Sc in each sc around. 11th rnd: Sc in next 2 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 25 sc (top section), 3 sc in next sc, sc in each sc to end of rnd. 12th and 13th rnds: (Sc in each sc to center sc of next 3-sc group, 3 sc in center sc) twice, sc in each sc to end of rnd. Sl st in next sc. Break off.
BACK Work exactly as for Front.
GUSSET Starting at short end, ch 11. 1st row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. 2nd row: Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat the 2nd row until piece measures 17 ½ inches. Break off.
With right sides facing, pin Gusset around bottom of Front from 3-sc group to 3-sc group. Working through both thicknesses, make sc evenly across long sides. Join Back in same way.
ROSE (Make 2) Starting at center, ch 5. Join. 1st rnd: Ch 3, 11 dc in ring. Sl st in top st of ch-3. 2nd rnd: * Ch 3, skip 1 dc, sc in next dc. Repeat from * around, join (6 loops). 3rd rnd: In each loop make sc, half dc, dc, half dc and sc. Join. 4th rnd: Ch 1, * sc on back of bar of next dc, ch 5. Repeat from * around. Join. 5th rnd: In each ch-5 loop make sc, half dc, dc, tr, dc, half dc and sc. Join. 6th rnd: Ch 2, * sc in back of bar of next tr, ch 7. Repeat from * around. Join. 7th rnd: In each ch-7 loop make sc, half dc, dc, 3 tr, dc, half dc and sc, Sl st in 1st sc. Break off.
LEAF (Make 12) With 4 threads of Green, ch 8. 1st row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, half dc in next ch, dc in next 3 ch, half dc in next ch, sc in last ch. Break off.
Sew 3 groups of 2 leaves at edge of 3rd rnd on each side of bag. Sew a Rose to each center on each side of bag.
RING (Make 8 ) Make 16 sc over each bone ring. Sl st in 1 st sc. Break off.
Sew rings evenly across top of bag.
Cut a strip of buckram the size of gusset and tack on wrong side. Line bag with felt. Draw ribbon twice through rings and tie ends in a bow.
Make a bag suitable for girls age 6-12 years.
By using colorful yarn and some minor tweaking with the pattern, a vintage ladies’ handbag can turn into a bright purse for girls or a parade hat for the adventurous.
Edward wearing the purse.
CROCHETING NOTES: I worked the front, back, flowers and leaves of the purse as the original pattern but decided to improvise on the handle. Instead of making rings to hold the strap of the purse, I made two 1 inch wide strips: one to serve as a kind of ‘hook’ and the other to go into the hook and serve as handle. If you wish to make a hat you can omit the handle.
The finished purse.
Bag–Front:
Starting at center, ch 5. Join.
Row 1: Ch 3, 14 dc in ring. Join with sl st in top st of ch 3.
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in joining st, * 2 dc in next dc.
Repeat from * around. Join.
Row 3: Ch 3, * 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc. Repeat from * around. Join (45 dc, counting ch 3 as 1 dc).
Row 4: Ch 3, dc in each dc around. Join.
Row 5: Sc in joining st, sc in next dc, * 2 sc in next dc, sc in next 2 dc. Repeat from * around (60 sc).
Row 6: Sc in each sc around.
Row 7: * 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around (90 sc).
Rows 8, 9 and 10: Sc in each sc around.
Row 11: Sc in next 2 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 25 sc (top section), 3 sc in next sc, sc in each sc to end of row.
Rows 12 and 13: (Sc in each sc to center sc of next 3 sc group, 3 sc in center sc) twice, sc in each sc to end of row. Sl st in next sc. Break off.
Back: Work exactly as for Front.
Gusset: Starting at short end, ch 11.
1st row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn.
2nd row: Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn. Repeat the 2nd row until piece measures 17 1/2 inches. Break off. With right sides facing, pin Gusset around bottom of Front from 3 sc group to 3 sc group. Working through
both thicknesses, make sc evenly across long sides.
Join Back in same way.
Rose (Make 2): Starting at center, ch 5. Join.
Row 1: Ch 3, 11 dc in ring. Sl st in top st of ch 3.
Row 2: * Ch 3, skip 1 dc, sc in next dc. Repeat from * around, join (6 loops).
Row 3: In each loop make sc, half dc, dc, half dc and sc. Join.
Row 4: Ch 1, * sc on back of bar of next dc, ch 5.
Repeat from * around. Join.
Row 5: In each ch 5 loop make sc, half dc, dc tr, dc, half dc and sc. Join.
Row 6: Ch 2, * sc in back of bar of next tr, ch 7.
Repeat from * around. Join.
Row 7: In each ch 7 loop make sc, half dc, dc, 3 tr, dc half dc and sc. Sl st in 1st sc. Break off.
Leaf (Make 12): With 4 threads of Green, ch 8.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, half dc in next ch, dc in next 3 ch, half dc in next ch, sc in last ch. Break off.
Sew 3 groups of 2 leaves at edge of 3rd rnd on each side of bag. Sew a Rose to each center on each side of bag.
Purse strap:
Ch 9. Dc in 3rd ch from hook. Dc across. Turn.
Ch 3. Dc across.
Repeat until strip is 12 inches long.
For enclosure:
Ch 7. Dc in 3rd ch from hook. Dc across. Turn.
Ch 3. Dc across.
Repeat until strip is 6 inches long.
Sew shorter strip to center of opening of the purse on one side, and the longer strip on the other side, as shown in photograph.
The source pattern is “Number 2713 Purse”, a purse pattern originally published by The Spool Cotton Company, Book No. 219, in 1945. You can find the original pattern in the FreeVintageCrochet website.
Fatima,
I saw the black triangle necklace noted on the APL list and took a look–and kept looking at your fantastic and easy to use website. My mother crocheted a lot, I prefer to knit as my idea of crochet is totally what she did. Seeing the fantastic uses you make of patterns and your great clothing designs makes me rethink! Maybe I should give crochet another chance. You’ve come up with a lot of wonderful ideas. I hope that you find a great market for the lovely things you create. Really wonderful items!
Thanks so much, Ruth! I’m very happy that all this work with the website/blog is making others happy! And yes, maybe someday I could earn a bit of income from all the crochet – I’m enjoying it a lot as it is, and am not earning any money at all (I decided against advertising because it slows down my website and makes it harder for people to use the site). Anyway, maybe I can try setting up an online shop right here, but in the meantime, need to do more work!
Thanks for visiting!
Cheers!
Fatima
You are a brilliant artist. I’ve been crocheting for many years and haven’t created nearly as many lovely things. I’m especially impressed with your ability to create your own designs and patterns. Keep up the beautiful work!
Thank you so much, Lori! I do feel rather guilty for neglecting this website for several weeks now, being busy with other things. But knowing that there are people who appreciate what’s on this website and could have some use, I think I better move my ass and get back to working on crochet!
I miss crocheting!