Hello Kitty Purse

Project: Hello Millie
Pattern: Kit Kat Purse by Melinda Miller (free Ravelry download)
Yarn: Sirdar Bonus DK in white, yellow, black and pink
Hook: 3.5mm

Mods: I did a few modifications to get the purse I wanted. To start with, I've used DK weight yarn instead of the recommended worsted/aran weight, so I dropped the hook from a 4mm to a 3.5mm. Otherwise, I followed the pattern exactly for the head. Instead of the bow/flower suggested by the pattern, I used the Pin Up Girl Bow by Heather Pierce, another free Ravelry download, as I thought it was better.

For the strap, I did foundation double crochet (US) rather than chaining to the right length and doing sc into the chain all the way back. The row of fdc is neater, I think, more symmetrical. And should be sturdy enough to deal with anything a four year old can throw at it!

I sewed the handle to the bag using my yarn ends, being careful not to let the pink show through on the right side. I attached one side to each face, to try and make it hang straight.

The lining material was a bargainous 60p, and I have plenty left should I want to make another purse like this one! The pattern suggests you sew lining to each face individually, before crocheting the two halves together. I didn't fancy that, as that meant there would be no lining on the bottom of the bag, and stuff might get out of the crocheted seam. So I crocheted the two sides together, and lined the bag as a single piece.

I used the crocheted head as a template and drew the outline on my material, cut two rough squares that were about an inch or two bigger than the shape. I sewed them together along the outline, starting at the tip of one ear and working around the bottom to the other ear. I did it by hand, because I couldn't be bothered to get the machine out. I didn't have matching thread, either, so I just used white. Once I'd sewn the two sides together, I folded down the tops and tried to sew as neat a seam as I could by hand, so that when you looked inside the bag it wasn't a complete mess.

I attached the lining to the bag by turning the crocheted part inside out, and sliding the lining onto it with the wrong sides facing. I then very carefully (and as neatly as I could) sewed the top edge of the lining to the crocheted fabric. I had my fingers crossed (although not literally, because I had a sharp needle in my hands and that sort of thing could be dangerous!) but when I turned it back the right way around I knew that it had worked out just fine.

I have added a stud fastener in the middle of the bag to keep it shut, but didn't take another photo afterwards!

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out. It's a lot cuter than these photos would have you believe! I can't wait to see what Millie thinks of it! Will be putting it in the post next week.

For more Fiber Arts and Finished Objects, head on over to see who's linked up with Tami and Beth this week.