La Manche Reticule is my first pattern designed to marry my two loves - beading and knitting. A great pattern for a beginner to beaded knitting, it knits up quickly in any color combination you could imagination. Looks great in monochrome, too!If you’ve never tried knitting with beads, this simple little purse is a great way to get started.

La Manche Reticule - diminutive at 5” wide by 6” tall - is ideal for tucking away cosmetics, jewelry, or keepsakes. It will fit readily into a handbag or make a charming evening purse all on its own.

The beading method and stitch placement used in this design resemble the “channel set” technique in fine jewelry manufacture, in which gemstones are encased within a “channel” or groove formed by the precious metal in which they are set. In 1995, our family visited the Strait of Dover, which lies between England and France and forms the narrowest part of the English Channel, called in French “La Manche”. The two ideas seem so beautifully conjoined that I developed this design to capture my recollections of a memorable visit. I have chosen a color palette reminiscent of our Channel journey on that bright December day - golden sunshine in an azure sky, and of course, the famous “White Cliffs of Dover.” The pattern includes a materials list to reproduce the reticule as pictured. But what fun to experiment with a color palette all your own!

The pattern is knit from three colors of 2-ply fingering wool, lavishly beaded with lustrous 6/o Japanese seed beads. A monk’s cord tie provides closure. La Manche Reticule would make a wonderful gift for a special friend, your bridesmaids or just a treat for yourself!