DESIGNED BY ROBYN CHACHULA
This sweet little clutch is created using two special techniques: first the body is wet-felted and then it is embellished with motifs that are attached by needle felting. The result is both beautiful and functional, and it’s guaranteed to have folks asking, “How did you do that?”
11" (28 cm) wide by 5½" (14 cm) high, before felting.
8" (20.5 cm) wide by 4¾" (12 cm) high, after felting.
Motif A = 4" (10 cm) diameter.
Motif B = 2¾" (7 cm) diameter.
DK weight (#3 Light).
Shown here: Blue Sky Alpaca Suri Merino (60% baby suri alpaca, 40% merino wool; 164 yd [150 m]/3.5 oz [100 g]): #423 Twilight (MC), #417 Seamist (A), #420 Autumn (B), 1 hank each.
Size H/8 (5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
Needlefelting pad and pen; 8" (20.5 cm) all-purpose zipper matching MC; tapestry needle; sewing thread of matching MC; sewing needle.
16 sts and 11 rows = 4" (10 cm) in hdc stitch patt using H/8 (5 mm) hook.
Take time to check gauge.
Tr
*Yarn over 2 times, insert hook in st, yarn over and pull up loop (4 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops, yarn over and draw through 2 loops, yarn over and draw through remaining 2 loops; rep from *.
Dtr
Yarn over 3 times, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook] 4 times.
P-st
Dtr in st indicated, ch 4, dc in middle of prev dtr post.
Y-st
Tr in st indicated, ch 4, hdc in middle of prev tr post.
Picot
Ch 3, sl st to first ch.
NOTES
Clutch is crocheted and seamed before felting.
Motifs are needlefelted onto clutch after.
Instructions
Ch 13 with MC.
Rnd 1 (RS): Hdc in 4th ch from hook (skip ch counts as hdc), hdc in each ch across to last, 5 hdc in last ch, turn 180 and begin working in free loops of foundation ch, hdc in next 9 ch, 4 hdc in next ch, sl st to first ch—28 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 2: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in top of t-ch, 2 hdc in next 4 hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc, 2 hdc in next 5 hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc, sl st to top of t-ch—38 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 3: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 9 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next hdc] 5 times, hdc in next 9 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next hdc] 4 times, 2 hdc in last hdc, sl st to top of t-ch—48 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 4: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in top of t-ch, hdc in next 2 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 2 hdc] 4 times, hdc in next 9 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 2 hdc] 5 times, hdc in next 9 hdc, sl st to top of t-ch—58 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 5: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 9 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 3 hdc] 5 times, hdc in next 9 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 3 hdc] 4 times, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in last 2 hdc, sl st to top of t-ch—68 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 6: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in top of t-ch, hdc in next 4 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 4 hdc] 4 times, hdc in next 9 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 4 hdc] 5 times, hdc in next 9 hdc, sl st to top of t-ch—78 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 7: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 9 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 5 hdc] 5 times, hdc in next 9 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 5 hdc] 4 times, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in last 4 hdc, sl st to top of t-ch—88 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 8: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in top of t-ch, hdc in next 6 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 6 hdc] 4 times, hdc in next 9 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 6 hdc] 5 times, hdc in next 9 hdc, sl st to top of t-ch—98 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 9: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 15 hdc, *[2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 6 hdc] twice, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 5 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 6 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc*, hdc in next 21 hdc; rep from * to *, hdc in each hdc to end of rnd, sl st to top of t-ch—108 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 10: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 7 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 8 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 8 hdc, 2hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 25 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 8 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 8 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in each hdc to end of rnd, sl st to top of t-ch—116 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 11: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in each hdc around, sl st to top of t-ch. Turn.
Rnd 12: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 8 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc] 4 times, hdc in next 18 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc] 4 times, hdc in each hdc to end of rnd, sl st to top of t-ch—124 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 13: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in each hdc across, sl st to top of t-ch. Turn.
Rnd 14: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 9 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 10 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 10 hdc, 2hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 29 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 10 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 10 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in each hdc to end of rnd, sl st to top of t-ch—132 hdc. Turn.
Rnd 15: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 27 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc] twice, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 45 hdc, [2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next 9 hdc] twice, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in each hdc across, sl st to top of t-ch—138 hdc. Do not turn.
Side Flap
Row 1: Sl st to next hdc, ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 8 hdc—9 hdc. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in each hdc across. Turn.
Rep Row 2 eight times. Fasten off.
Opposite Flap
Row 1: Skip 60 hdc, join MC to next st with sl st, ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in next 8 hdc, turn.
Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in each hdc across. Turn.
Rep Row 2 eight times. Fasten off.
Seaming and Felting
Whipstitch body and flap edges together to form purse. Place clutch in bucket filled with hot water. Scrub clutch by hand for a few minutes, run clutch under cool water. Repeat hot scrubbing and cool rinse until clutch is desired size. Place clutch over small box wrapped in plastic to dry.
Motif A (make 2)
Ch 10 with A, sl st to first ch to form ring. Do not turn.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 24 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. Do not turn.
Rnd 2: Ch 6, [skip 1 sc, P-st in next st] 11 times, skip 1 sc, dc in 3rd ch of t-ch, ch 2, hdc in top of t-ch—12 p-sts. Do not turn.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, 3 sc around post of hdc, [picot, 5 sc in next ch-4 sp] 11 times, picot, 2 sc in first ch-2 sp. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Motif B (make 2)
Ch 9 with B, sl st to first ch to form ring. Do not turn.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 18 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. Do not turn.
Rnd 2: Ch 4, [skip 1 sc, y-st in next st] 8 times, hdc in 2nd ch of t-ch, ch 4, sl st in top of t-ch—9 y-sts. Do not turn.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc bet t-ch and next y-st, [ch 6, sc bet y-sts] 8 times, ch 6, sl st to first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Finishing
Using photo as guide, needlefelt motifs A and B to both sides of clutch.
Sew zipper to inside of bag, near the top edge.
