Most of the bar-and-ring original purses that I’ve seen are netted, and are probably 1850’s or earlier. However, we do on occasion have the pleasure of seeing some that are worked in crochet. Almost all of the original crochet ones I have seen are sc with beads, so I was surprised to stumble on this pattern from, The Ladies’ Hand Book of Fancy and Ornamental Work, 1860.

This is a very easy pattern to make, and it works up fast! The downfall, is the materials are on the expensive side. The bars are actually 2” steel bar-bells for body piercings. This purse is about
four inches long and 2.5 inches wide when gathered up and closed.