Counterpane Clutch
One of my sort-of resolutions this year was to finish-or-frog my lingering projects (let’s not even discuss another resolution to blog more frequently, which I’m clearly failing at). How did I do? Well, the Socks for Veronik were project number 1 out of 6, and here’s number two:
Pattern: Counterpane Clutch from Handknit Holidays
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Silk, less than one skein!
What seemed like a simple project at the time became a monster. I first knit this when I bought Handknit Holidays, out of some Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk. I remember being pretty frustrated that it took a little over one skein to make the bag, and the hairiness of the bag was not the look I was going for. So the bag sat in a corner for the longest time. I would root around in my yarn stash and uncover one of the halves, then guiltily stuff it back into its deep, dark corner to hibernate.
Then, last April, I bought a couple of skeins of Pure Silk from Yarntopia’s anniversary sale. The clutch looks much better in a smoother yarn, so the Alpaca Silk got frogged (and subsequently became Center Square). Then I proceeded to stuff the reknit bag into a deep, dark corner to hibernate.
Why all the procrastination? Ugh, the finishing details! I had originally planned to buy a metal claspy purse frame for the bag, which would have cost more than the yarn used to knit it! The clasp ended up being backordered, then gone forever, and I finally just went with a boring old zipper.
I made one small modification to the knitting portion of the bag - I provisionally cast on both sides, then kitchenered the bottom together. No seams! I don’t remember why I didn’t just knit the bag in the round, maybe because of the clasp details? If you’re installing a zipper, you might as well just knit it in the round and make it seamless.
The knitting part of this bag was quick and easy. You can easily get one bag out of a skein of Pure Silk. I even had enough extra yarn that I knit a wrist strap with (but the strap looked crappy and was removed).
I chose the invisible zipper purely because it’s such a close color match, but I’m pleased with the choice now.
The next step was the lining. You should definitely block the bag before figuring out the lining. I drafted a pattern for the lining (scallops and all), which was too small. Then I drafted another one. I actually made two linings - an outer lining that you can see through the lace pattern, and an inner lining that’s a teeny bit smaller. I interfaced both linings, but did not sew them together. The inner lining also has a pocket on each side that’s credit card / money sized. I’m always worried that I’m going to lose money when taking things in and out of pocketless clutches.
Last step - zipper installation. This part is No Fun. I wedged the zipper between the two lining layers, which looks very tidy. There was lots of basting and swearing and rebasting involved with zipper installation. Then there were a few attempts to find a stitch that will look pretty on the inside. I think I succeeded, but seriously, between the Tangled Yoke ribbon facing and this zipper, I was handstitching for a solid week.
My final verdict? Meh. I probably won’t use it much. First off, the yarn is extremely fuzzy and the bag looks quite worn already.
It’s like little sunspots erupting from the surface of the bag. From what? The abuse of being ignored for all this time? The most wear that the bag endured was living in a desk drawer for a few months (as an attempt to get me to finish the damn thing). I now realize that this fuzziness and wear is common with single-ply silk yarns. Boo. The other issue is completely my fault - I didn’t interface the lining enough. I used a fusible interfacing, likely lightweight. The bag is pretty floppy and looks pretty silly. I haven’t tried loading it with my cellphone and lipgloss yet, but it doesn’t look good.
And what about the other four finish-in-January projects?
- Tangled Yoke - needs a single ribbon facing for the buttonhole side. I need to figure out buttonholes on my sewing machine - there’s no way that I’m hand stitching them.
- Petal - No longer looks hacked apart. I need to figure out the sleeve caps, which don’t fit the sleeves terribly well.
- Intricate Stag Hat - no progress.
- Mr. Roboto - Almost done! I think he’s going to become a valentine’s day gift for rob (rather than a graduation gift, an event which occurred almost two years ago).
Now we’re striving for finish-by-Spring. Hopefully!
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sunspots! Am laughing out loud because that is a perfect description. You are brave for tackling zippers and lining in one projecct.
I like the bag, actually! Despite the sunspots.
The bag does look nice even though you are not happy. Doesn’t sewing just seem to take so long? I have just spent 2 days seaming a sweater!
I think it looks great. It’s a wonderful color and your zipper looks fabulous. Sewing a zipper onto a handknit intimidates me.
Well, it looks really great to me. And your photos are perfect, I love them!
Oh no, after all that work–the lining, the beautifully matched zipper–only to have the yarn fuzz on you. Drat. I hope you had a nice glass of wine (or a shot) afterwards.
I have had this pattern on my “list” for the longest time. Choosing the right yarn is one of the things that has held me up. Yours looks really nice, I love the color and the lining. I guess you could leave it sitting on a dresser filled with jewelry and rarely touch it to avoid further “fuzzing”. It is too pretty to be cast aside.
I was worried about the fuzziness of it and then I saw your sunspot photo. that sucks. Such a beautiful yarn should hold up better. It’s a shame. The purse is still gorgeous though.
It is very pretty - even if you won’t use it much, it’s off your WIP list and complete! I had this on my list for a while but took it off because I knew I’d never do all the fussy finishing. Good for you for persevering!
Well, it looks extremely pretty in that first picture at least. I wonder if it’s the kind of bag that needs, like, template plastic inside or something to give it shape? Not that I’m advocating re-doing it, because, guh.
It’s really gorgeous - I was reading the entry and thinking, wow, I need to make this - until I got to your description of the zipper installation and the pilling yarn. I still love it, but am now thinking, hmmm, maybe not. :) But kudos to you for finishing it! And hopefully you will surprise yourself and use it more than you think you will.
Can’t wait to see Tangled Yoke!
Great job on finishing the bag!
You did a beautiful job of finishing!!
I think the bag looks great, I am super impressed with all the time taken to finish it. Two linings and a zipper, geez!.
Uber-cute! And the invisible zipper works fine - you take your color matches where you can find them - sometimes you have to be flexible. I love it!
That always makes me sad about single ply silks - the colors are vibrant yet soft, the hand is too die for, but it pills by looking at it!
It’s a lovely color, and the finishing is just fantastic. Great job!
Fuzzies schmuzzies. I hate when that happens. It is pretty nonetheless. How cute would it be out on a date in the summertime?
Too bad it didn’t quite work out like you wanted, but you did a great job with the lining and zipper (good color choice too!). My Debbie Bliss Pure Silk yarn did the fuzzy thing too. Boo!
i’m sorry you don’t like it, but i really do think it looks great! i love the color, and even though it was a pain in the ass to install the lining and zipper, you did a fantastic job!
and hey! that’s 2 down out of 6! great job!
I know you listed some cons of this project, but it seriously looks great; I’d buy that in a store if I saw it! (aqua blue is absolutely my weakness). I love your blog in general, I just stumbled upon it somehow and yeah, good stuff! You go detail about your projects which I love. I hope you get to use your beautiful new bag at some point, but if you decide it makes you sad looking at it, you could always send it to Wisconsin…. :)
It’s gorgeous gorgeous just sitting there–sorry to hear it doesn’t “wear” well.
For what it’s worth, I knit a shawl out of the same yarn (in the same color!) and after the initial fuzzing it’s not too bad. It doesn’t get exponentially worse, is what I’m saying.
Wow - great job on the hand stitching especially! It’s definitely looks machined. I hand sewed button bands for my bunny yoke sweater and would definitely recommend machine sewing the buttonholes - they look so tidy!
Gorgeous! I’m sorry you’re not super excited about it - but the bag is really pretty.
That blue is unbelievable…
I want to make this, at least I did. Now I am not sure if I want to mess about with a lining AND a zipper. As much trouble as this clutch was, it’s a pretty cute little bag.
I really like it! I especially like the way the lining looks…that color looks so nice with the bright blue. I actually have a skein of that yarn, in that color, that I’ve been wondering what to do with…maybe I could use a cute little clutch (even if it’s a bit fuzzy).
this is one great clutch!!
i love it, congratulations!!
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I like it! It’s a really pretty pattern, and looks like it would be a fun quick knit.
Even though you might not use it much (or at all), it’s still a lovely little piece.
As always, the deails are perfect. Maybe you’ll learn to love it.
Sunspots, or not, the bag looks fabulous to me. You did a remarkable job in the finishing. Had I finished this project, I would use it as an excuse to get a new dress or skirt to coordinate.
Good luck with your other projects! I’m so intimidated by my machine’s buttonholing function (so different than on my mom’s old machine on which I learned), that I have seriously contemplated doing hand-sewn buttonholes. But in the end, I never did finish a couple of blouses that by now would be hopelessly out of style. I hope you fare much better!
I’m going to echo pretty much everyone else and say that even with the sunspots, the bag is absolutely lovely. It’s a pity the silk isn’t cooperating to making the clutch perfect. Well, it will at least make for a pretty decorative touch laying about…very 1920’s elegant dressing table-esque.
Too bad about the yarn - that’s such a pretty clutch!
you should stop taking such beautiful photos, because the notsogreat aspects? not translating. love the color. love the pattern. good gravy, but i’m going to have to find the yarn of awesome and knit it. i tried petting it through the screen, but it didn’t work.
All the hard work paid off. I love it!