An intricately pieced purse in the shape of a rose bloom, Rosalia is attention grabbing and whimsical. This purse is knit in a light worsted weight yarn before piecing together and the rose itself is knit piecewise for a 3D appearance. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day date night – and as a conversation starter!
Time: Weekend Project
Skill Level: Advanced
Sizing: 10” diameter
Gauge:
32 rows / 18 st in 4”, stockinette stitch, lightly blocked. Do not stretch the fabric, you are blocking to even out stitch tension only.
Materials
Yarn: Ancient Arts Yarn 100% Superwash DK/light worsted (220 yards [201 meters]/100 grams) in Cypress (MC, 1 skein), Syrah (CC, 1 skein)
Needles: US4 (3.5mm) circular needle (or DPNs)
Notions:
- Small amount of poly stuffing, if desired, to fill in the large rose petals for a more 3D look
- 1-2 pieces of a 10” diameter felt matching MC to stiffen the purse if desired; sample used one piece to stiffen the back of the purse
- 7” zipper (sample used an invisible zipper matching CC for contrast)
- Sewing needle and thread matching MC
- Tapestry needle to weave in ends
- Two stitch markers or loops of waste yarn
- Crochet hook for cast on (pinhole method)
Pattern Notes
This purse is worked piecewise and sewn together. The front and back pieces are worked from the center out. The sample used Magic Loop; however, if you are more comfortable using DPNs, you may want to switch to those, making sure to use a stitch marker to mark your start of round.
Pattern
Purse Base – Back
CO 8 st using MC using pinhole cast on method.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Kfb to end (16)
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: Kfb to end (32)
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Knit
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: Kfb to end (64)
Row 11: yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog)x2, k2, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog)x2, k2, yo, k2tog, k1). Repeat from * to end.
Row 12: Knit
Row 13: yo, k3, yo, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, yo, k2tog, k1). Repeat from * to end.
Row 14: Knit
Row 15: yo, k5, yo, (k2tog)x2, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k5, yo, (k2tog)x2, yo, k2tog, k1). Repeat from * to end.
Row 16: Knit
Row 17: yo, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1). Repeat from * to end.
Row 18: Knit
Row 19: Kfb to end (128)
Row 20: (yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog)x2, k2, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog)x2, k2, yo, k2tog, k1) four times). Repeat from * to end.
Row 21: Knit
Row 22: yo, k3, yo, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, yo, k2tog, k1) four times. Repeat from * to end.
Row 23: Knit
Row 24: yo, k5, yo, (k2tog)x2, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k5, yo, (k2tog)x2, yo, k2tog, k1) four times. Repeat from * to end.
Row 25: Knit
Row 26: yo, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1) four times. Repeat from * to end.
Row 27: Knit
Row 28: (yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog)x2, k2, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog)x2, k2, yo, k2tog, k1) four times). Repeat from * to end.
Row 29: Knit
Row 30: yo, k3, yo, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, yo, k2tog, k1) four times. Repeat from * to end.
Row 31: Knit
Row 32: yo, k5, yo, (k2tog)x2, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k5, yo, (k2tog)x2, yo, k2tog, k1) four times. Repeat from * to end.
Row 33: Knit
Row 34: yo, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1) four times. Repeat from * to end.
Row 35: Knit
Row 36: Kfb to end (256)
Row 37: Knit
Row 38: Knit
Row 39: Knit
Row 40: Knit
Bind off in a 3st i-cord as follows:
Cast on 3st using a knitted cast on method, slipping all three cast on stitches to the LH needle.
*K2, k2tog, slip stitches back to the LH needle.
Repeat from * until three stitches remain. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail, and graft the live stitches to the cast on edge of the i-cord. Weave in ends, and block lightly to a 10” diameter as measured inside the i-cord edging.
Purse Base – Front
CO 8 st using CC using pinhole cast on method.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Kfb to end (16)
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: Kfb to end (32)
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Knit
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: Kfb to end (64)
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Knit
Row 13: Knit
Row 14: Knit
Row 15: Knit
Row 16: Knit
Row 17: Knit
Row 18: Knit
Row 19: Kfb to end (128)
Row 20: Knit
Row 21: Knit
Row 22: Knit
Row 23: Knit
Row 24: Knit
Row 25: Knit
Row 26: Knit; cut CC and change to MC.
Row 27: Knit
Row 28: (yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog)x2, k2, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog)x2, k2, yo, k2tog, k1) four times). Repeat from * to end.
Row 29: Knit
Row 30: yo, k3, yo, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, yo, k2tog, k1) four times. Repeat from * to end.
Row 31: Knit
Row 32: yo, k5, yo, (k2tog)x2, yo, k2tog, k1, *(k1, yo, k5, yo, (k2tog)x2, yo, k2tog, k1) four times. Repeat from * to end.
Row 33: Knit
Row 34: *yo, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1, (k1, yo, k3, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1) four times. Repeat from * to end.
Row 35: Knit
Row 36: Kfb to end (256)
Row 37: Knit
Row 38: Knit
Row 39: Knit
Row 40: Knit
Bind off in a 3st i-cord as follows:
Cast on 3st using a knitted cast on method, slipping all three cast on stitches to the LH needle.
*K2, k2tog, slip stitches back to the LH needle.
Repeat from * until three stitches remain. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail, and graft the live stitches to the cast on edge of the i-cord. Weave in ends, and block lightly to a 10” diameter as measured inside the i-cord edging.
Petals
You will make five each of Large, Medium, and Small petals to make the rose.
Large Petal
Cast on 11 stitches in CC.
Row 1: Purl across.
Row 2: Sl1, p1, k3, pm, k1, pm, k3, p1, k1.
Row 3: Sl1, purl across.
Row 4: Sl1, p1, k to 1 st before m, kfb, sm, k1, sm, kfb, k to last 2 st, p1, k1. Increase by 2 sts.
Row 5: Sl1, purl across.
Row 6: Sl1, p1, k to m, sm, k1, sm, k to last 2 st, p1, k1.
Row 7: Sl1, purl across.
Repeat rows 4-7 until there are 23 total stitches. You will now shape the curve of the top part of the petal.
Row 1: Sl1, p1, k to m, sm, k1, sm, k1, turn.
Row 2: P1, sm, p1, sm, p1, turn.
Row 3: K1, sm, k1, sm, k2, turn.
Row 4: P2, sm, p1, sm, p2.
Continue in this fashion until you have 3 stitches left unworked on each side, ending on a completed WS row (purl). Knit across, removing stitch markers, until the last 2 st, then p1, k1. Work two rows in st st, then bind off knitwise, leaving a long tail to sew on the petal later.
Medium Petal
Cast on 9 stitches in CC.
Row 1: Purl across.
Row 2: Sl1, p1, k2, pm, k1, pm, k2, p1, k1.
Row 3: Sl1, purl across.
Row 4: Sl1, p1, k to 1 st before m, kfb, sm, k1, sm, kfb, k to last 2 st, p1, k1. Increase by 2 sts.
Row 5: Sl1, purl across.
Row 6: Sl1, p1, k to m, sm, k1, sm, k to last 2 st, p1, k1.
Row 7: Sl1, purl across.
Repeat rows 4-7 until there are 19 total stitches. You will now shape the curve of the top part of the petal.
Row 1: Sl1, p1, k to m, sm, k1, sm, k1, turn.
Row 2: P1, sm, p1, sm, p1, turn.
Row 3: K1, sm, k1, sm, k2, turn.
Row 4: P2, sm, p1, sm, p2.
Continue in this fashion until you have 3 stitches left unworked on each side, ending on a completed WS row (purl). Knit across, removing stitch markers, until the last 2 st, then p1, k1. Work two rows in st st, then bind off knitwise, leaving a long tail to sew on the petal later.
Small Petal
Cast on 5 stitches in CC.
Row 1: Purl across.
Row 2: Sl1, p1, pm, k1, pm, p1, k1.
Row 3: Sl1, purl across.
Row 4: Sl1, p1, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, p1, k1.
Row 5: Sl1, purl across.
Row 6: Sl1, p1, k to 1 st before m, kfb, sm, k1, sm, kfb, k to last 2 st, p1, k1. Increase by 2 sts.
Row 7: Sl1, purl across.
Row 8: Sl1, p1, k to m, sm, k1, sm, k to last 2 st, p1, k1.
Row 9: Sl1, purl across.
Repeat rows 6-9 until there are 11 total stitches. You will now shape the curve of the top part of the petal.
Row 1: Sl1, p1, k to m, sm, k1, sm, k1, turn.
Row 2: P1, sm, p1, sm, p1, turn.
Row 3: K1, sm, k1, sm, k2, turn.
Row 4: P2, sm, p1, sm, p2.
Continue in this fashion until you have 3 stitches left unworked on each side, ending on a completed WS row (purl). Knit across, removing stitch markers, until the last 2 st, then p1, k1. Work two rows in st st, then bind off knitwise, leaving a long tail to sew on the petal later.
Center Strip
This section creates a long rectangle that will be rolled up as the center of the rose flower.
Cast on 33 stitches in CC. Work in st st for ¾”, ending on a completed knit row, then work 2 rows of garter st. Bind off knitwise, leaving a long tail to sew in this piece later.
Block all petals and the center strip lightly, using small pieces of fabric or paper towel to shape the rounded curve at the top of the petal.
Wristlet Strap
In MC, cast on 5 st. Work an i-cord for 10”, then bind off. You may gently block to smooth out stitch tension, but do not stretch the i-cord.
Sewing the Rose
The petals and center strip will be sewn to the front piece of the purse. See Figure 1 below for placement assistance.
Arrange the 5 large petals with the curve end at the edge of the MC circle in the front piece of the purse, and pin. Once the petals are arranged to your liking, sew 3 sides of each petal. Add a little bit of stuffing to the curved end if desired, then close the remaining side. Do not stuff the petals firmly – you want the stuffing to add a little bit of support to the petals for a 3D effect, not for cushioning.
Arrange the 5 medium petals slightly further in, overlapping the gaps between the large petals. Pin and sew the base plus each side “point”. Do not stuff.
Arrange the 5 small petals slightly further in, overlapping the gaps between the medium petals. Pin and sew the base plus each side “point”. Do not stuff.
Gently roll the center strip into a spiral with the garter st edge pointing upwards. Sew the cast on edge closed, being sure to catch all layers, then sew carefully to the gap in the center of the rose. This piece fluffs out better if the roll is sewn with the center layers rolled a little higher than the outside edging.
Making Up the Purse
Once the front piece is complete, layer the front piece over the two 10” circles of felt (if using) and the bottom piece, making sure the RS are facing outwards. Using a sharp tapestry needle (or sewing needle), sew carefully around the inside of the i-cord edging, making sure to catch the felt piece(s) while sewing, and leaving a 7” gap. Pin in each end of the wristlet strap at one end of the gap between the front/back piece and each felt piece. Carefully sew each felt piece to the back or front of the purse on each side, making sure to secure the wristlet ends, leaving the 7” hole open. Pin in your zipper, and, using a sharp needle & matching thread, sew in the zipper.