Triangle Stitch Hemp Purse

Triangle Stitch Hemp Purse
by Cynthia Shaffer
Featuring Crochet Hemp

Materials and Supplies Needed:

• Worsted Weight Crochet Hemp (Bleached) 12 strand
• Needles: size 7  (18”) long circular knitting needles
• Crochet hook: size 5 (3.75mm)
• Large-eye needle
• 1 ¼” metal ring

What You Do:
Cast on 72 stitches.
Set-up row: Knit 1 row connecting stitches in the round.
Row 1: *  K 6, P 1, K 5 *
Row 2: *  K 5, P 3, K 4 *
Row 3: *  K 4, P 5, K 3 *
Row 4: *  K 3, P 7, K 2 *
Row 5: *  K 2, P 9, K 1 *
Row 6:   K all stitches
Row 7: *  P 1, K 11 *
Row 8: *  P 2, K 9, P 1 *
Row 9: *  P 3, K 7, P 2 *
Row 10: *  P 4, K 5, P 3 *
Row 11: * P 5, K 3, P 4 *
Row 12:  K all stitches
Repeat rows 1-12 three more times

Cast off the top edge in I-cord:  Cast 3 stitches onto the right needle. Transfer these stitches to the left needle. Knit the 1st stitch, knit the 2^nd stitch then knit the 3^rd and the 4^th stitches together in the back. You have just cast off one stitch in I-cord. Continue until all the stitches have been cast off. Weave in the ends with the large eye needle.

Using the crochet hook, single crochet across the bottom to close up the bottom of the purse. Weave in the ends using the large eye needle.

Making the strap:
Cast on 8 stitches.  Knit these stitches then push them across the cable to the left needle. The yarn will now be coming off of the back of the last stitch on the left needle. Knit these stitches onto the right needle and repeat the above sequence until the strap measures 40”. Cast off the 8 stitches.  Use the tails that are left from the cast on and cast off and the large eye needle and stitch the strap at the sides of the purse.

Closure:
Using the crochet hook make a chain that is 40 stitches long leaving about 10 inches of yarn at the ends.

Single crochet around a metal ring until the stitches are tight and so that you can no longer see the silver metal showing through.  Fold the chain piece in half and insert the loop just under the ring and then insert the chain ends into the loop and pull it around the crochet ring.  Find the center back of the purse and using the large eye needle and the ends left from the chain, sew the chain/ring closure onto the inside of the purse and then weave the ends into the purse.