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Freeform Crochet Purse This innovative technique creates a purse that's a work of art. From "Uncommon Threads" episode DUCT-136

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When you have made a variety of flowers and leaves, move them around over one side of the bag until you're happy with their placement.

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Figure E

Finishing:

Pin and stitch into place. Neatly stitch up the sides of the bag, using a matching thread (figure E). Although you could add a lining if you wished, these small bags do not really require any additional lining since the textured yarns have helped to cover the inside of the bag as well as the outside. You may wish to add a press-stud or button and loop to hold the bag closed.

If you wanted to add a magnetic clip of the kind that needs to be pushed through the fabric, this would have to be attached to the canvas before you began any of the crochet.

	Figure F
	Figure G

Finish the bag by adding handles or straps (figure F).

For the cell-phone bag, Prudence Mapstone worked a few of the yarns together to produce a thick crochet chain for the strap; alternatively, you could add a length of cord.

For the small handbag, choose some ready-made handles in a size and color that suits the design.

You can further enhance your designs by adding beads, buttons, ribbon or anything else that takes your fancy.

Once you become confident at planning color schemes and mixing many different yarns, stitches and techniques together, the design possibilities are virtually endless.

Small patches can be created using crochet, knitting or a combination of both crafts together, and these patches can be assembled to produce truly original wearable art (figure G).

For a wealth of information on freeform crochet, including a list of her books, visit Prudence Mapstone's website (see Resources list, below).

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GUESTS :

Prudence Mapstone
E-mail: prudence@knotjustknitting.com
Website: www.knotjustknitting.com