Sequin knitting is very effective and easier than it looks. You simply thread the sequins onto the yarn first, then just work in stockinette stitch, pushing a sequin through as needed—in this case, on every third stitch of alternate rows. It’s not fast, because you have to slide the sequins up one at a time, but it’s fascinating to do. If you knit with sequins over an entire garment, it does take a long time, but this little bag is really quick to make.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
The bag took 4 hours to knit, plus 1 hour for finishing: 5 hours total.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Coats Anchor Arista is a chain-construction metallic-look yarn that’s a mix of 20% metal polyester and 80% viscose. It’s lightweight but surprisingly strong and has 109 yds. (100 m) to a 25 g (approx. 1 oz.) ball.
SIZE
Width: 6 in. (15 cm); length: 4 in. (10 cm).
YOU WILL NEED
• 1 x 25 g ball (approx. 1 oz.) of Coats Anchor Arista in shade 300
• a strand of 1,000 ½-in. (12-mm) sequins or 361 loose ½-in. (12-mm) sequins
• pair of size US 2 (3 mm) knitting needles
• 6 x 8 in. (15 x 20 cm) heavyweight iron-on interlining
• 6¾ x 8¾ in. (17 x 22 cm) lining fabric
• matching sewing thread and sewing needle
• 6-in. (15-cm) lightweight “invisible” concealed zipper
• approximately 50 gold beads
GAUGE
26 sts and 39 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over sequin patt on size US 2 (2¾ mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain this gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit; patt = pattern; p = purl; RS = right side; S1 = bring a sequin up close to back of work, then knit next stitch through back of loop, slipping sequin through stitch to lie on the front of the work; [ ] = work instructions in square brackets as directed.
NOTES
• Thread the sequins onto the yarn before starting to knit.
• Even though you don’t need 1,000 sequins, it is worth buying a whole strand if you can, because they all face the same way on the strand, making it easier to thread them onto the yarn.
• The second side begins with the 3rd pattern row, so that the sequin pattern matches when you sew the side seams.
Just pop your evening essentials into this little bag, and you’re ready to party.
BAG
1st side Cast on 39 sts. K 1 row. P 1 row. Work in sequin patt.
Row 1 (RS) K1, [S1, k3] to last 2 sts, S1, k1.
Row 2 P.
Row 3 K3, [S1, k3] to end.
Row 4 P.
These 4 rows form sequin patt.
Patt 33 more rows, ending with Row 1. Bind off knitwise.
2nd side Work as given for first side, but begin and end with Row 3.
TO FINISH
Leaving ⅜ in. (1 cm) of lining free around each edge for seam allowances, fuse iron-on interlining to the wrong side of lining. With interlining facing, fold lining in half and join side seams. Join cast-on edges and side seams of bag. Set zipper into bound-off edges of bag, stitching as closely as possible to zipper teeth to hide zipper. Insert lining into bag, fold lining-fabric seam allowance down, and slip-stitch edges of lining close to zipper. For the handle, thread the beads onto a triple strand of yarn, knot ends, and sew on bag. Weave in yarn ends.
TIPS
• To thread sequins onto the yarn, thread a slim needle with a short length of sewing thread, knot the ends to form a loop, and slide the knot to one side. Pass the end of the yarn through the loop. Thread sequins, a few at a time, down the needle, over the loop, and onto the yarn.
• Sequins are very slightly cupped. They should be threaded onto the yarn with the convex side uppermost. If you thread them facing in different ways, they will reflect the light differently. If using a strand of sequins, simply check which way they face, carefully undo the knot in the strand, and slide a few at a time to the end of the strand and onto the needle. If working with loose sequins, check that they are facing the same way when you thread them.
• Do not press sequins, they will curl.
• If you can’t find a 6-in. (15-cm) zipper, buy the nearest larger size and hide the end of the zipper between the bag and the lining.
• If you prefer, you could use a length of gold-colored chain instead of beads for the handle.
