No one could argue that a sweet handbag is too formal – in fact, its chunky ribbed texture and slightly uneven shape make it just right for a walk in the park or a relaxed weekend in the country. Once you’ve got the hang of the project’s basic principles. you could easily adapt its height, width and, of course, colour, to match any outfit in your wardrobe. The bag fastens with a simple button pushed through the stitches: a nice alternative might be a small toggle or maybe a leather knot.

You will need:

(To make a bag measuring about 24 x 30cm)
* One hank (350g) natural merino wool roving (pre-spun wool), wound into two balls
* One hank (350g) raspberry ripple, space-dyed merino wool roving, wound into two balls
* Pair 15mm knitting needles
* Fabric detergent and conditioner
* Measuring tape or ruler
* Iron
* Sewing machine
* Thread to match the wool
* Piece of linen measuring 26 x 58cm
* Needle
* pins
* Button

Using two strands of natural roving, cast on enough stitches to make a finished (after feltings width of 26cm. Knit. using stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl). to make a finished length of loco. Break off one strand of natural, leaving about 15cm of wool, and tie in a pink strand. Continue for a further finished length of loam. Break off the second strand of natural and tie in the second strand of pink. Continue, using two pink strands, for a further finished length of 20cm.

When the total length is equal to a finished length of 40cm. break off one pink strand and tie in a natural strand. Knit for a finished length of loco. Break off the second pink strand and tie in the second strand of natural. Continue. using two natural strands, for another finished length of loco, until the total length is equivalent to a finished length of 60cm. Cast off on either row.

Gently felt the knitted rectangle by washing it in hot, soapy water and kneading it for a few minutes, until you feel the quality of the fabric change. Rinse
with cold water. Repeat if necessary. Add some fabric conditioner and rinse again. Spin it in a washing machine and dry flat. pulling the knitting into shape
while it is still wet. The bag should shrink to about 26 x 60cm.

Using two strands of roving, knit a sample swatch loom square and count the number of rows and stitches. Felt the square (see step 4) and. when dry, measure its size in order to establish both the knitting tension and how the felting affects the wool. From this, work out the number of stitches and rows
you will need to knit for this project. (As a general guide, you will need to knit the bag a little wider to allow for the felting, but since all wool behaves slightly differently, it is necessary to check. If your bag does not come out to the exact measurements given here, don’t worry – just remember to adjust the size of the lining accordingly.)

Fold the knitted rectangle in half, right sides together, and press. Allowing 1cm for the seams, machine stitch the two long sides together.

Place the knitted bag (inside out) inside the linen bag – it will protrude by cm. Hand sew the lining to the knitting at the top and turn out. The top edge
will curl over.

Using two strands of natural roving. knit a strap 5 x 80cm. casting on an uneven number of stitches. Slip the first stitch of each row (transfer the stitch
from the left to the right needle without working it) to create rolled edges on the underside of the strap. Felt as in step 4. Sew the strap to the top of the bad and the button to the inside of the knitting, above the lining. Use a stitch as a buttonhole.

Take the linen and stitch a jack hem at each of its short ends. Fold in half, right sides together and stitch the two long sides together, allowing 1cm for
the seams. Turn right side out.