MY VALENTINE PURSE

MATERIALS:
Worsted Weight Yarn (2.5 ounces of main color and small amount of contrasting color)
Sample is Red Heart Super Saver soft white and cherry.
G hook (4.25mm) or hook needed to get a firm gauge of about 15 sc = 4 inches
3/4 yard of ¼ inch ribbon to match contrasting yarn [optional]
One ¾-1 inch button
6 inches of 1/8 inch ribbon to match contrasting yarn [optional]
Yarn needle for sewing and weaving ends
Needle and thread for sewing on button

SIZE: 6.5 inches X 7.5 inches excluding strap
Size is easily adjusted. For a deeper purse repeat round 21 until an inch less than desired depth. Then proceed with round 22. For wider purse start with a longer chain.

Ch 28

ROUND 1: Make 2 sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in each chain (25) to last chain, working over yarn tail for remainder of this round, 3 sc in last ch, work in opposite side of starting chain and sc in each of 26 chain stitches. DO NOT join rounds. [56 sc]
ROUND 2: Slipstitch in first sc of round 1 (counts as first sc), sc in each sc around. [56 sc]
ROUNDS 3-21: Sc in each sc around. [56 sc]

Lay purse flat and mark center two stitches on on upper edge.

ROUND 22: Sc in each sc until first of marked stitches, ch 2, skip two stitches [buttonhole], continue to sc around. [56 sc]

ROUND 23: Sc in each sc around, working sc over the two chain stitches. Ending the last round at the side fold with a slipstitch in that sc. [56 sts]


ROUND 24: Ch 1, sc in same st as slipstitch. *Skip 1 st, 5 dc (shell) in next st* repeat around. Join with slipstitch in first sc. [14 shells]

ROUND 25: Join red yarn with a sc in round 24 join. Sc in each st around, and join in first sc with a slipstitch.

HEART MOTIF

ROUND 1: With red, ch 4, make all stitches in the first chain. 3 trc, 3 dc, ch 1, 1 trc, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 trc, ch 2, slipstitch to join. Fasten off.

ROUND 2: Leaving an 8 inch tail, join soft white yarn with a slipstitch in round 1 join. Ch 3, in first trc make sc and hdc, in next stitch 3 hdc, in next stitch 2 hdc, 1 sc in next four stitches, chain1 dc in trc chain 1, sc in next four stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch, 3 hdc in next stitch, hdc and sc in next stitch, chain 3 and slip stitch in beginning slipstitch. Fasten off leaving an 8 inch tail for sewing heart to purse.

ROUND 3: Join red yarn with a slipstitch in the first ch. *Ch 2, slipstitch in next stitch* repeat around until trc at point. Work slipstitch ch 2, slipstitch in trc. *Ch 2, slipstitch in next stitch* repeat around, ending with slipstitch in final ch, DO NOT join. Fasten off and turn heart over and tie the two red tails together in a tight knot.

Sew heart centered on side of purse opposite the buttonhole.

STRAP:

ROW 1: Leaving an 8 inch tail for sewing, ch 4, dc in first ch, ch 2, 2 dc in same ch. DO NOT chain turn.
ROWS 2-36: Slipstitch in 2 dc, and ch 2 space, ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc in same space. DO NOT chain turn. Fasten off leaving an 8 inch tail for sewing to purse.

OPTIONAL RIBBON: Weave ribbon in and out of strap. Sew ends of ribbon to ends of strap.
Sew strap to inside of purse.

Sew button to inside opposite the buttonhole.
OPTIONAL RIBBON: Thread 1/8 inch ribbon through button and under yarn of a sc, tie in a knot and trim ends at an angle.