Speech bubble purse

A playful zip-up purse that’s perfect for your loose change or little essentials. Designed by Matthew Spiers. Yarn and Colours Must-Have (100% mercerised cotton, 50g/125m), 1 ball of each: Yarn A White (001)

Yarn B Violet (053) A 2mm (US 4 steel) hook A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook 10cm (4in) white zip Stitch markers

MEASUREMENTS 12cmx16cm (4¾x5¼in) NOTES

Work the first dc of each round in the same st as ss join from previous round. The ‘tail’ is the little curved spike that sticks out from the oval.

FRONT

Using Yarn A, ch16.

Round 1 Dc in second ch from hook and in next 13 ch, 4dc in next ch, working on opposite side of foundation ch, dc in next 13 ch, 3dc in next ch, ss into first dc made to join, ss in next dc. [34 dc]

Round 2 Ch1, *dc in next 13 sts, 2dc in each of next 4 sts; rep from *, ss in first dc. [42 dc]

Round 3 Ch1, dc in next 14 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 15 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next st, ss in first dc. [46 dc]

Round 4 Ch1, dc in next 14 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 15 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next st, ss in first dc. [50 dc]

Round 5 Ch1, dc in next 15 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 17 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next 2 sts, ss in first dc. [54 dc]

Round 6 Ch1, dc in next 15 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 17 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next 2 sts, ss in first dc. [58 dc]

Round 7 Ch1, dc in next 16 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 19 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next 3 sts, ss in first dc. [62 dc]

Round 8 Ch1, dc in next 16 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in

next 19 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next 3 sts, ss in first dc. [66 dc]

Round 9 Ch1, dc in next 17 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 21 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next 4 sts, ss in first dc. [70 dc]

Round 10 Ch1, dc in next 17 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 12 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 21 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next 4 sts, ss in first dc. [74 dc]

Round 11 Ch1, dc in next 18 sts (place a stitch marker in the first dc), *2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 23 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next 5 sts, ss in first dc (do not remove stitch marker), turn. [82 dc]

TAIL

Row 12 (WS) Ch1, 2dc in first dc, dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, turn. [5 sts]

Row 13 Ch1, 2dc in first dc, dc in each of next 2 dc, dc2tog, turn. [5 sts]

Row 14 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in each of next 3 dc, turn. [4 sts]

Row 15 Ch1, 2dc in first dc, dc in next dc, dc2tog, turn. [4 sts]

Row 16 Ch1, dc2tog, dc in each of next 2 dc, turn. [3 sts]

Row 17 Ch1, dc in first dc, dc2tog, turn. [2 sts] Row 18 Ch1, dc2tog. Fasten off.

EDGING

With RS facing, join Yarn B in marked first dc of Round 11.

Round 1 (RS) Ch1, dc in next 18 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 23 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next st, dc2tog in next dc and side of Row 12 (now working around the tail), dc into side of next row, (dc2tog in side of next 2 rows) twice, dc in side of next row, ch1, 2dc in top of Row 18, ch1, dc in side of next 2 rows, (2dc in side of next row, dc in side of next row) twice, dc in side of next row, ss into first dc to join.

Round 2 Ch1, dc in next 19 sts, *2dc in next st, dc in next 18 dc, 2dc in next st**, dc in next 25 sts; repeat from * to **, dc in next st, (dc2tog) twice, dc in next st, ch1, skip ch-1, 2dc in next dc, ch1, 2dc in next dc, ch1, skip ch-1, (dc in next st, 2dc in next st) twice, dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st, dc2tog, ss into first dc to join. Fasten off.

BACK

Using only Yarn B for all of Back, repeat Rounds 1-10 of Front. [74 dc]

Round 11 Work as Round 11 of Front to **, dc in next 2 sts, ch21, skip 21 dc (opening made); repeat from * to ** of Round 11 of Front, dc in next 5 sts, ss into first dc (do not remove stitch marker), turn. [82 dc] Repeat Rows 12-18 of Front. Repeat edging rows of Front, working into ch sts of opening on Round 1.

LETTERS

Use a 2mm hook and Yarn B for all letters. See Charts on p93.

O SHAPE

Ch16, ss to first ch to join into a ring.

Round 1 Ch1, *dc in next 2ch, 3dc in next ch, dc in next 4ch, 3dc in next ch; repeat from *, ss to first dc. Fasten off.

M SHAPE Ch12.

Round 1 Dc in second ch from hook and next 3 ch (place stitch marker in last dc), ch8, dc in second ch from hook and next 3 ch, 3dc in next ch, dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch, ch1, ss in side of marked stitch, ch1, 3dc in next ch, dc in next ch, 3dc in next ch, dc in next 4 ch. Fasten off.

G SHAPE

Ch12, ss to first ch to join into a ring.

Round 1 Ch1, 2dc in next ch, (dc in next 2 ch, 3dc in next ch) 3 times, dc in next 2 ch, dc in same ch as first dc made, ch8, 3dc in second ch from hook, dc in next 2ch, 3dc in next ch, dc in next 3ch, ss into first dc made. Fasten off.

EXCLAMATION MARK DOT

Ch2, 4dc in second ch from hook, ss to first dc. Fasten off.

STALK

Ch6, dc in second ch from hook and in each ch along. Fasten off.

TO MAKE UP

Using matching thread, sew zip into opening on Back piece with WS facing. Pin and sew letters onto RS of front piece. Line up Front and Back pieces together (Front with RS outwards, Back with WS outwards). With Front facing use Yarn B to ss through both layers around to join. You may find it helps to use stitch markers to help line up the two pieces.

Fasten off and weave in ends.