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How-to: Knit Puffball Clutch

November 26, 2012 Leave a Comment

The holidays are upon us, and it’s officially handmade gift crunch time. If you want a super cute and relatively easy gift for a friend, I’ve got a knitting project for you. This clutch is going to be my new go-to accessory for wintry outings, and it dresses up or down with a lot of my wardrobe staples like a little black dress or a cute outfit with jeans and boots. Read on, even if you don’t knit, because I’ve also got a non-knitting variation on this project for those who aren’t confident knitters!

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

Supplies

1 skein 100% wool yarn

1 magnetic purse closure

small amount of felt

yarn needle

knitting needles

scissors

fabric punch (I used a crop-a-dile.)

Directions

I used some yarn from my stash at home called Debbie Bliss Donegal Chunky Tweed for this project. I used the recommended size needles, US 10.5.

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

Knitting Pattern

Cast on 32 sts

Rows 1, 3, 5, 7: P across

Rows 2 & 6: K across

Row 4: K2, (K4, turn, P4, turn) twice, K12, (K4, turn, P4, turn) twice, K12, (K4, turn, P4, turn) twice, K6

Row 8: K8, (K4, turn, P4, turn) twice, K12, (K4, turn, P4, turn) twice, K12

Repeat the above pattern until your work is 16 inches long. Cast off. My finished rectangle measured 9 inches wide by 16 inches long. Set aside at least two yards of extra yarn for sewing later on.

This pattern was inspired by the Puffball Pattern found in The Step-by-Step Needlecraft Encyclopedia by Judy Brittain. You can also do a simple stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row, etc.) if you’re not comfortable with knitting the puffballs or don’t like the look. 

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

Non-knitting alternative

Hit up the thrift store. Buy a chunky dude sweater, shrink it in the washer, and cut out a rectangle that’s 9×16 inches. Ta da! (But really, remember to shrink it. Otherwise it will unravel everywhere.)

Moving on…

Once your hand knit or faux knit piece is ready, cut a rectangle of felt that’s 1/4 inch shorter on all sides than the knit piece. Mine was 8.75 x 15.75 inches.

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

Using a fabric punch or very fine scissors, punch holes all the way around your piece of felt.

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

If you’re using the same kind of magnetic purse closure as I did, you’ll want to use your fabric punch one more time to punch holes where you’d like your closure to be on the felt. Attach closure as shown.

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

Thread some of your extra yarn onto your yarn needle. Align your felt over the wrong side/back of your knit piece. Sew the felt to your knit piece using the punched holes and natural gaps in your yarn, all the way around the whole rectangle. Since the yarn you’re sewing with is the same color as the knit piece, the sewing doesn’t have to be seamstress quality.

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

When you’ve finished sewing and woven in all of your yarn ends, fold your clutch in half, letting the magnetic closure click into place. If you’re using some other kind of closure, now is the time to button it, snap it, etc.

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

Sew straight down the left and right sides of the clutch to complete it.

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

Sew over the last inch a couple times before tying off to reinforce near the folded end. This is a good idea since most of your bag’s contents will find its way to the bottom as you use it.

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

I love my knit clutch so far – it’s cute and it holds a ton despite its compact size. I’m also working on a cowl that uses a variation on this puffball knitting pattern that I’ll share with you soon.

How-to: Knit Bauble Clutch | HandsOccupied.com

PS: You can easily add a handle or strap to this bag if clutches aren’t your thing.

Filed Under: DIY Style, Free Patterns, How-to, Knitting, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: accessories, bauble, clutch, Knitting, purse, wool

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
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