This little purse was created as one of my first projects on the Knifty Knitter. I’d found some skeins of fabric strips on clearance at the local Jo-Ann store. They were 100% cotton with a beautiful batik print. I just knew they’d go to good use.

This bag requires one 50 yard ball of 1/2” fabric strip. You could make the strip yourself by either ripping some fabric into strips (if you like a little fraying) or cutting it on the bias and joining it with a few stitches. I took the easy way and just bought one roll.

It also requires some way of knitting a tube. I’ve been taught to knit with needles so many times and it has yet to become a relaxing pastime for me. Using a knitting loom, though, has. I own the Knifty Knitter long looms and have now completed many projects just using these. If you know and like needle knitting, I’m sure you can figure out how to make this bag. For good basic instructions on using a Knifty Knitter, check here. For other knitting loom options, check here.

Using the small Knifty Knitter long loom (26 pegs), I wrapped each peg, using an e-wrap, all the way around the loom twice, using it as a circular loom. I then knit off the row by hooking the bottom loop over the top loop and the peg. Since the cotton strip has very little stretch, be sure to keep your wrapping loose and start your knitting off with the last peg that you wrapped. Continue e-wrapping and knitting off until your purse is the size you like and then use a crochet hook and make a flat bind-off. To do this, move all loops from one side of the loom across to the other and knit off. Then, use the hook to gather the two loops furthest from the loose end and pull one through the other. Then grab the next loop onto the hook and pull that one through. Continue until the bag is off the loom and tie a slip knot to secure the loose end. Weave in the tail. The top of the bag naturally curls down because I only used knit stitches.

Attach a decorative button to the front and a loop of leather to go over the button onto the back of the bag.

Lay the bag on a piece of doubled-up lining fabric (I used a brown silk remnant) and cut out a piece that is about 1/2” bigger than the bag all the way around. Sew up the sides. Put the lining into the bag, folding the raw edge under, and stitch to the bag.

Finally, thread some lengths of leather through the sides of the bag for a strap.