Peacock purse
Bring on the flamboyant! Clever slip stitch creates this extravagant clasp purse for your flashiest parties.
PEACOCK PURSE
Note The purse Front is knitted in a slipstitch pattern to give a spotty effect to create the eyes in the peacock tail but when knitting the tail, it’s really easy to do and is just like working in stripes. When sewing the purse pieces to the clasp, it is easier to start at the centre top of the knitting and work outward toward the hinges.
FRONT
Cast on 58 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A. Row 1 (RS) K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS) P13, (p2tog, P4) 5 times, p2tog, P13. [52 sts]
Join Yarn B.
Row 3 With Yarn B, Sl2, *K3, Sl2; rep from * to end.
Row 4 With Yarn B, Sl2, *P3, Sl2; rep from * to end.
Rows 5 and 6 Rep Rows 3 and 4.
Row 7 With Yarn A, knit.
Row 8 With Yarn A, K12, (k2tog, K3) 5 times, k2tog, K13. [46 sts] Row 9 With Yarn B, *Sl2, K2, Sl2, K3; rep from * to last st, Sl1. Row 10 With Yarn B, Sl1, *P3, Sl2, P2, Sl2; rep from * to end. Rows 11 and 12 Rep Rows 9 and 10.
Row 13 With Yarn A, knit.
Row 14 With Yarn A, K12, (k2tog, K2) 5 times, k2tog, K12. [40 sts] Row 15 With Yarn B, Sl1, *K2, Sl2; rep to last 3 sts, K2, Sl1. Row 16 With Yarn B, Sl1, *P2, Sl2; rep to last 3 sts, P2, Sl1. Rows 17 and 18 With Yarn A, knit.
Row 19 With Yarn B, Sl3, *K2, Sl2; rep from * to last 5 sts, K2, Sl3. Row 20 With Yarn B, Sl3, *P2, Sl2; rep from * to last 5 sts, P2, Sl3. Row 21 With Yarn A, K12, (k2tog, K1) 5 times, k2tog, K11. [34 sts] Row 22 With Yarn A, K11, (k2tog) 6 times, K11. [28 sts]
Row 23 With Yarn B, Sl1, *K2, Sl2; rep from * to last 3 sts, K2, Sl1. Row 24 With Yarn B, Sl1, *P2, Sl2; rep from * to last 3 sts, P2, Sl1. Break Yarn B and cont with Yarn A only.
Rows 25 and 26 Knit.
Row 27 K8, (k2tog) 6 times, K8. [22 sts]
Row 28 K6, (k2tog) 5 times, K6. [17 sts]
Cast off.
BACK
Cast on 58 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A. Row 1 (RS) K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS) P13, (p2tog, P4) 5 times, p2tog, P13. [52 sts] Row 3 Knit.
Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 Knit.
Row 6 K12, (k2tog, K3) 5 times, k2tog, K13. [46 sts] Rows 7 to 9 Rep Rows 3 to 5.
Row 10 K12, (k2tog, K2) 5 times, k2tog, K12. [40 sts] Rows 11 to 13 Rep Row 3 to 5.
Row 15 K12, (k2tog, K1) 5 times, k2tog, K11. [34 sts] Row 16 Knit.
Row 17 P11, (p2tog) 6 times, P11. [28 sts]
Rows 18 and 19 Knit.
Row 20 K8, (k2tog) 6 times, K8. [22 sts]
Row 21 P6, (p2tog) 5 times, P6. [17 sts]
Cast off.
PEACOCK HEAD AND BODY
Cast on 6 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn C.
Row 1 (RS) (Kfb) 6 times. [12 sts]
Rows 2 to 6 Starting with a purl row, work 5 rows in st st. Row 7 (K2, k2tog) 3 times. [9 sts]
Row 8 Purl.
Row 9 (K1, k2tog) 3 times. [6 sts]
Row 10 Purl.
Row 11 Skpo, K2, k2tog. [4 sts]
Row 12 Purl.
Row 13 (Kfb) 4 times. [8 sts]
Rows 14 to 17 Starting with a purl row, work 4 rows in st st. Break off yarn, thread through remaining sts and fasten off.
BEAK
Cast on 3 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn D.
Cast off.
Oversew the cast-on edge to the cast-off edge.
LEGS
Cast on
1 st using 3.25mm needles and Yarn D. Knit 24 rows.
Fasten off.
MAKING UP
1 To shape Front, keeping the work flat and using mattress stitch, join the cast-off edge to itself so that the row-end edges make one long flat edge at the bottom of the purse. Repeat for Back.
2 With WS facing each other, pin Front and Back together and sew the row-end edges together.
3 Using sewing thread, sew the cast-on edge to the inside of the clasp for Front and Back.
4 With Yarn A, sew up remaining side seams from the bottom edge of the purse to the clasp hinges.
5 With WS of Peacock Body tog and using mattress stitch, join row ends, and stuff only the Head part as you go.
6 Attach eye beads. Pin and sew the Body to the centre front of the purse, keeping the cast-on edge of the Body level with the row end edge of the purse Front.
7 Sew the beak in position on centre front of the Head. At each end of the Leg piece, curl the end of the knitting up 5 rows to shape a foot and secure with a stitch.
8 Folding piece in half, then sew in place with fold to the centre bottom of the Body. Weave in all ends.