Horseshoe cables scattered with bobbles embellish the front
of this bag, which is easily worked in pieces and then joined.
Blocking along the way is important to help make it easier
to join the pieces, but be careful not to lose the cable definition.

Materials:
3 - 50 gr balls  Crystal Palace Yarn Party #202 Lilac (Color A)
3 - 50 gr balls CPY Party #414 Violets (Color B)
1 - 50 gr ball CPY Little Flowers #9556 Violets (Color C)
2 - 50 gr balls CPY Deco Ribbon #9147 Berry Parfait (Color D)
1 - CPY Bamboo or DAISY US Size Size 8 (5 mm) 26" or 29" circular needle
2 - CPY Bamboo or DAISY Size 8 (5 mm) double pointed needles or 1 pr short straight needles
Purchased handbag handles (Those shown are actually drapery tie-back cords.)
Tapestry needle, Stitch markers

Gauge: 3½" sts/inch in garter stitch using 2 strands Party and 1 strand Little Flowers

Dimensions: 11" square, 1½" deep

Technique: This bag is worked in several pieces, and then joined. Sections will be outlined in the instructions in the order in which they are worked. Different combinations of the yarns are used together to give the bag a sort of patchwork attitude. Just follow the simple steps and before you know it, you’ll have a lovely and unusual shoulder bag.

Abbreviations:
K - Knit, P - Purl
Sl wyif - Slip the next stitch purl-wise, having first brought the working yarn to the front
Sl wyib - Slip the next stitch knit-wise, with the yarn in back
6RC - Slip three stitches to a cable needle and hold to the back. K the next three stitches and then K the
stitches on the cable needle.
6LC - Slip three stitches to the cable needle and hold to the front. K the next three stitches and then K the
stitches on the cable needle.
SSK - Slip knit-wise, slip knit-wise, place the LH needle into the slipped stitches and knit together
K2tog - Knit two stitches together
P3tog - Purl three stitches together
BO - Bind off. CO - Cast on
RS - Right side, WS - Wrong side
RH - Right hand, LH - Left hand
PU - pick up
rep(ing) - repeat(ing)
rnd(s) - round(s)

Section 1 – Cable and Bobble square:
With the circular needle and 2 strands of Color A, CO 44 sts. Odd numbered rows are the RS. Even numbered rows are the WS. Row 5 of the st pattern is the one on which the cabled sts are made.
Row 1: Sl wyif, P1, *K12, P2*, reping between the asterisks to the end of the row.
Row 2: Sl wyib, K1, *P12, K2*, reping between the asterisks to the end of the row.
Row 3, 7, and 9: Rep Row 1
Row 4, 8, and 10: Rep Row 2
Row 5: Sl wyif, P1 *6RC, 6LC, P2* reping between the asterisks to the end of the row.
Work the 10 rows of the pattern four times, and then BO in pattern.

Bobbles – Usually, bobbles are worked right into the fabric as you knit. However, since we are using a contrasting color yarn, and since it’s just as easy to make them and sew them on with a tapestry needle, that’s what we’ll do. Make 6 bobbles using the following technique, and then sew them onto the cable panel as indicated in the photos using the yarn tails and a tapestry needle. Using 1 strand of Color B and 1 strand of Color C held together, CO one st. Work alternately into the front and back of that same st until you have created 5 sts on the RH needle out of that one CO st.
Row 1 & 3: K
Row 2 & 4: P
Row 5: SSK, K1, K2tog
Row 6: P3tog, cut yarn, pull the tail through the loop, and sew the bobble to the cable panel as indicated.

Section 2 (work 2):
Use the following instructions for working a garter st strip on both the right side and left side of the cable and bobble square. With RS facing, PU 20 sts along the side of the cable square using 2 strands of Color B. Work in garter st for 10 rows. BO. Rep for the other side. Block the panel to 8" x 11" before proceeding, being careful not to block out the cable definition in the center panel.

Section 3 (bottom of front, bottom gusset, and back of bag):
Front bottom strip – Using 2 strands of Color D and one strand of Color C, and RS of front facing you, begin at the bottom of the bag and PU 6 sts across the first garter st strip, then 27 sts across the cable panel (distributed as 9 sts per cable), and then 6 more sts across the other garter st panel. Total of 39 sts picked up. Work in garter st for 7 rows.
Bottom of bag – Cut both strands of Color D and add 2 strands of Color A to the remaining Color C and work in garter st for 8 more rows. (This segment is where the side gusset extensions will be picked up and knit in Section 4.)
Back of bag – Cut both strands of Color A and add 2 strands of Color B to the remaining Color C and work in garter st for an additional 9" to 9½". Cut the 2 strands of Color B. Leave Color C connected and all sts on the needle while the side gussets are worked.
Section 4 (side gusset extensions):
On each side of the bag bottom, work a gusset extension using two double pointed needles or two short straight needles. With 2 strands of Color A and 1 strand of Color C held together, PU 4 sts on the side of the bottom segment, and work garter st for 9½". BO. Rep for the other side.
Blocking:
At this time, take the opportunity to block your piece again to make it easier to seam together and also to facilitate a better finish for the top band of the bag to be knitted in the next section. Pin it out and block it as shown in the illustration at the right. Be careful not to block out the cable definition in the center front panel.
The piece should measure 9½" x 11" on either side of a 1" to 1½" bottom/side gusset. After blocking, seam the side seams to the gusset at the front and back using mattress st before proceeding with Section 5.
Section 5 (Top edging):
There are 39 live sts on the needle. With RS facing and with 1 strand of Color A, 1 strand of Color C, and 1 strand of Color D, use the circular needle to PU 4 sts across the side gusset, 6 sts across the garter st strip, 27 sts across the cable panel, 6 sts across the other garter st strip, and 4 sts across the other side gusset, then K across the remaining live sts on the needle and place a st marker. There are a total of 86 sts on the needle. Join to begin working in the rnd. Knit 8 rnds, beginning with a rnd of K and alternating with P rnds to produce a garter st pattern.BO.
Finishing: Sew on purse handles.

Pattern Copyright 2006 Crystal Palace Yarns/Straw Into Gold, Inc. - We are happy to share this pattern with knitters. The pattern may be used for non-commercial personal or knitting guild use. It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format without permission. Knitting shops carrying CPY Yarns Party Ribbon, Little Flowers & Deco-Ribbon are welcome to print and share this pattern with customers of our yarns.

Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns - email cpyinfo -at- straw.com

or write to:
Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
phone: 510-237-9988, fax: 510-237-9809