Twinkle twinkle

Knit this elegant clutch just in time for party season

SIZE

Approximately 12 x 16cm

MATERIALS

One 50g ball of Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino in Red 34.

Pair of 3.25mm knitting needles. Approximately 60g of Czech seed beads size 8/0 colour 1 (SB8-1) – silver-lined crystal beads. (creativebeadcraft.co.uk).

One fine beading needle.

15 x 20cm of fabric for lining. Iron-on fabric interlining.

TENSION

25 sts and 34 rows to 10cm square over unbeaded st-st using 3.25mm needles.

ABBREVIATIONS

cm centimetres; cont continue; k knit; p purl; PB place bead: bring yarn to front of work between needles, slip next st purlwise, push bead close to work, take yarn to back of work between needles to work next st; rep repeat RS right side; st(s) stitch(es); st-st stocking stitch.

NOTES

● Before casting on, you need to thread the beads on to the yarn. If your beading needle is made from very fine gauge wire with a long collapsible eye, you can thread the beads directly on to the yarn. If you have to use a fine needle with a small eye, you need to thread the needle with a length of sewing thread tied to form a loop, then thread the yarn through the loop, so the beads thread on to the sewing thread first, then on to the yarn.

The beads need to have a centre hole large enough for two thicknesses of yarn to pass through, or you will not be able to thread the beads. You may find some beads have a slightly smaller centre hole, this is due to a thicker than normal coating of silver and you will need to discard these, but you will have more than enough to complete the bag as they are sold in 100g packs.

● When working the back of the bag, turn the chart upside down as you will be repeating the chart from the 50th to the 1st row.

TO MAKE (WORKED IN ONE PIECE) Front flap

With 3.25mm needles, cast on 45 sts. 1st row (RS) (1st chart row) K2, [PB, k1] to last st, k1. 2nd and all wrong side

rows P all sts, making sure beads sit on the right side of work. 3rd row (3rd chart row) K3, *[PB, k1] 6 times, k2. Repeat from * to end of row. Cont to work from chart until all 50 rows have been worked. Foldline row (51st chart row) (RS) P to end.

Back

Work from chart from 50th to 1st row (see Notes), so ending with a RS row.

Base

P 5 rows.

Front

Next row (RS) Work across 1st chart row. Cont to work from chart from 2nd to 47th row, so ending with a RS row. Cast off knitwise on wrong side.

Lining

Iron interlining on to wrong side of lining fabric. Using the knitted piece as a template, cut a piece of fabric, adding 1.5cm all around for seams. Fold seam allowance on to the wrong side and press. Hand sew lining to wrong side of knitted piece.

TO MAKE UP

Fold the piece along the base and sew bag front to bag back along the side edges, allowing front flap to fold over on to the right side.