Wednesday 25 September 2013

Dice Pattern Pence-Purse in Knitting and Crochet


This pattern comes from Weldon’s Practical Knitter, Number 125, Thirty-First Series (1896). It is also published in Weldon’s Practical Needlework, Volume 11, Interweave Press, 2004




The original pattern called for “coral or Andalusian wool” and needles, No. 16, whose modern equivalent is 1.75mm/US 00. The edges are crocheted with a 19th century sized “bone crochet hook, No. 12.”
As with most 19th century patterns, there is no gauge/tension stated in the pattern. There are also no stated finished dimensions. The pattern is written entirely in text and there are no charts. There is, however, an illustration.
The original instructions for the crocheted edge are much more detailed than the single crochet stitch I worked around the purse.
The interior is stranded and, according to the original pattern, should be treated with a “very weak paste” and left to dry so as to create an inside surface. I lined this purse with imitation silk.
The finished purse measures 3” tall and 1 ½” wide (body only, not counting the crocheted edge.) It was knit on 1.75/US 00 needles with Knit Picks Palette in Bison and Whirlpool. Its diminutive size was useful for carrying a few small coins although not too many pennies from this era would have fit in the purse. I do have various coins from the 19th century, and had wanted to feature them with this purse but I have hidden them away so well, I cannot, at the moment, find them.



All quotations are from Weldon’s Practical Needlework, Volume 11, Interweave Press, 2004

1 comment:

=Tamar said...

I think that "a few pennies" of that era had the buying power of about five dollars now. Not a lot, but enough to carry around for casual spending.