Sion Relic-Purse IV by Richard Rutt

Sion Relic-Purse IV

Knitting
2-ply silk thread (S plied)
Thread ?
16 stitches and 19.5 rows = 1 inch
in stockinette in the round
One size
English

This bag, which Richard Rutt labels “Sion Pattern IV”, is one of five knitted purses from the 14th century in the treasury of the ancient cathedral at Sion (Sitten) in western Switzerland.

It is approximately 19cm wide and 21cm high (7.75 by 8.5 inches). It is knitted from the top down and closed at the bottom with a 3-needle bind-off. The drawstrings are run in and out through the stitches of the top band.

It has a pattern of beige-and-white stars between “branches,” each of which is a horizontal white line with green leaves on both sides. The whole purse has 6 rows of flowers alternating with 5 branches, and is about 10.5 flower repeats wide.

At top and bottom are narrow bands of diagonal stripes. The bottom has 11 tassels (about 14cm or 5.7 inches) which are later replacements.

No pattern in book. Chart only (Rutt 1987 edition p. 51). The chart is approximate and does not include the top and bottom bands.

This purse is also found in Brigitta Schmedding, Mittelalterliche Textilien in Kirchen und Klöstern der Schweiz where it is Catalog No. 272.