CD-base Handbag

You will need:
Five 6mm dpns
Two 6mm straight needles (optional)
Two balls of King Cole Waves (MC)
Two balls Sirdar Curly Wurly (CC)
One button with a shaft (easier to sew than a button with holes)
Stitch marker
3mm crotchet hook
Tapestry needle
Sewing needle
Small amount of sewing thread in MC
One CD (music on it is entirely up to you!)

Gauge is pretty important with this bag = 3 sts per inch

The bag is made by knitting a tube, then decreasing sts to make a flat, circular bottom. A CD is then knitted into the base for support; then handles and a flap are added.

Bag:

With both yarns held together CO 38 sts, join to knit in the round (1st needle 10 sts, 2nd needle 9 sts, 3rd needle 10 sts, 4th needle 9sts) being careful not to twist (place marker at start of round), then work k1, p1 for 3 rounds.
K until tube is about 6 inches long.

P 1 round, then drop the Curly Wurly (CC) and cut it leaving a tail long enough to weave in later.

K 1 round.Make two decreases per needle for this round by k3, k2tog, k2 k2tog, k to end of round.

K 1 round...
Continue in this way until there are 4 sts left on each needle; then k1, k2tog k1; next round k1, k2tog; cut a long tail and pull through all sts and pull tight; sew to secure; weave in all ends.

Using the crotchet hook, pull all the curly bits through to the outside of the bag.

Using MC, CO 40 sts (10 on each needle), join to knit in the round being careful not to twist, then k 2 rounds.

Decrease as above, until you have 4 sts left on each needle; then k1, k2tog k1; next round k1, k2tog; cut a long tail and pull through all sts and pull tight; sew to secure; weave in ends. You will now have a floppy sort of circle.

Turn bag inside out and sew half of the floppy circle to the inside of the bottom.

Insert the CD, then continue sewing until CD is totally encased.

The turn back the right way out.

Handle:

Using both yarns held together, CO 7 sts and knit (stocking stitch) for about 12 inches.

Sew ends inside opposite sides of the opening. As stocking stitch naturally curls, there is no need to sew this tube shut (but you could if you wanted to).

Flap:

In the centre of the back of the bag opening, pick up 8 sts.

K1, p1 to end of row.

P1, k1 to end of row; keep doing this for about 3 inches, ending on a p1, k1 row.

K1, p1, k1, BO 2 sts, p1, k1, p1.

P1, k1, p1, CO 2 sts, k1, p1.

Work another two rows, keeping in pattern and BO.

Using sewing needle and thread, sew button in correct place according to buttonhole.

Presto, a pretty little bag that knits up fast and is superglam.

I added pearls to the front of mine to zhoosh it up a little. You could decorate it, or not, as you like.

I made this as a present for someone, and I burned songs the recipient would like, even though she can never listen to the CD. I felt so guilty that I then burned another CD with the songs on that she could enjoy!

Quick update

Shit Easter not made better by loads of chocolate. Done some gardening, still have to dispose of Christmas tree from year before last (I said I didn't want a bloody tree), at least the weeds are dying after I sprayed them, might even keep the pooping cats away from the garden.
Beers last night, watched random mish-mash of jumbled up films: Lord of the Rings (new and cartoon), Derek Jarman's Glitterbug (again) and bits of Blue, and episode of Moonlighting, some Moomins, and flicking through channels.
No texts or calls except from my Mam who's on holiday, decided to go to Ammanford in the day, but was too short notice to drop in on people and checked bank balance = not going anywhere.
Stayed in instead waiting for weeds to die and stop choking my garden.
Man coming to see Simon's room next week, he is a playwright - he's the coolest sounding person to have answered any of my adverts. Hope he likes the house and me.
Been drawing my crafty presents for John, Zann and Sarah. I don't want to give too much away, but John's is green, Zann's has some green, and Sarah's doesn't. I'm so cryptic.

Not sure what Jesus did at this time. Did he ride somewhere on a donkey, or get up after being dead? Of course Easter / Eostara is a pagan festival anyway, so let's go with that. I'm happier being a moon-staring hare anyway (though I do love chocolate).

New LP - Jettisoned

New LP Jettisoned available for free download. The soundtrack to a non-existent film.


Just click here.