Pattern inspired by the Best Friend handbag from Knitty.

Additional materials needed:

• crochet hook (size not specified)
• 7” zipper
• 1/4 yard of lining fabric
• silver-lined crystal beads (about 80-100)

Description: This bag is for a dear friend of mine, I am naming the bag after her. I wanted to knit her something for this Christmas, but couldn’t decide on what to make for a long time. Scarf being the obvious choice, is the first option being ruled out. Ashley doesn’t like to wrap things around her neck, so much so that she doesn’t even wear turtlenecks. So, scarves are out. Gloves - well, one rarely needs to use gloves in the comparatively mild winters of San Francisco (and I don’t know how either… haha…) I thought about socks, but didn’t want her to be my first guinea pig as I have never made socks before. Maybe it’s time to start my sock adventure…. Anyway. So I decided on a cable clutch bag/purse, seeing that cables are on everything this winter. The cable patterns I picked are rather basic. They are from Barbara G. Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns. The bag itself is very simple, two identical rectangles sewed together. Add a lining, a zipper, some beads, done! Add more beads or sequins and you can use it as an evening bag.