I bought this yarn on sale and was planning to make a top. I’m glad I didn’t, because it is not soft at all. I plan to felt the bag. I cast on 100 stitches instead of 80 to end up with a larger bag. I am not going to put the decorative stitches on the flap, since it will be felted. I need a purse with no zippers, because I get my handknit clothing caught in the ones on my present purse.

I knit the purse to a tube of about 24” in length, then made a flap of about 10”. I sewed it together into three wide compartments per the pattern. Then I hand felted it and let it dry.

While it was drying, I crocheted and felted a little pocket for my phone, with a handle on it. The purse strap is stockinette tube of 12 stitches, felted and sewen on to the inside ends of the purse’s middle section.

When I loaded it up with my usual stuff, it was jam packed, and I couldn’t find anything in it.

I sewed the center pocket into two halves, added a button on the front, and crocheted a loop for the inside of the flap, with which to keep it closed. I stopped carrying my “indoor” sunglasses and ordered a smaller wallet.

After many experiments, I ended up sewing the cell phone pocket onto the front of the right center pocket and cutting off the useless strap. Then I made a drawstring bag to carry my big wraparound outdoor sunglasses, sine I access them more often than any other item. I repurposed the phone pocket strap and just looped it through the purse handle for hanging. A key ring snap is sewn in the inside by the purse strap.

Once I had attached the button loop to the flap, I was not happy with the way it made the flap pucker when closed. I tried to make something resembling a big brown button and needle felted it, but it was ridiculous. Finally, I strung 24 wooden beads into a circle to surround the non-button, and I sewed a large oblong bead that looks like it is made of stone into the center.

If I ever do this again, the purse will be larger, and I will create custom pockets inside for everything. As it is, I’m finally satisfied with it, and I’m glad it used up all that yarn.