Try your hand at free-form knitting and create this one-of-a-kind handbag!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Finished Size: Approx 12 x 9 1/2 inches

Materials for Handbag Free-Form Knitting Pattern:

• Bulky weight novelty yarn* (71 yds/50g per ball): 1 ball each #138 (A), #89 (B)
• Bulky weight novelty yarn* (71 yds/50g per ball): 1 ball #14 (C) Light weight yarn* (125 yds/50g  per ball): 1 ball each #207 (D), #208 (E)
• Worsted weight novelty yarn* (165 yds/50g per ball): 1 ball #2020 (F)
• Size 6 (4mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry needle
• 1/4 yd washable felt for inner lining
• 1/4 yd silky lining fabric (optional)
• Sewing needle and matching thread
• 1 button

*Handbag shown in this free-form knitting pattern was completed with Stars (50 percent rayon/50 percent nylon), Wild Thing (85 percent  polyester/15 percent metal), Indiecita Baby Alpaca DK (100 percent superfine baby alpaca) and Eros (100 percent nylon) from Plymouth Yarn Co.

Gauge Approx 10 sts = 2 inches/5cm in St st with 1 strand of D. Exact gauge is not critical to this project.

Pattern Note: Sl all sts purlwise with yarn on WS  of fabric.

Handbag Free-Form Knitting Pattern:

Cut washable felt into 2 (9 x 12-inch) pieces to be used for back and front of bag. Referring to photos A, B and, sew knitted pieces together as you work, using tapestry needle and yarn. When pieces are completed, sew to felt, using sewing needle and thread.

Mitered Kite Free-Form Knitting Pattern – Make 2

Use A, D and E (except for A, carry colors up sides). With A, cast on 23 sts and knit 4 rows. Cut A, continue with mitered piece as follows:

Row 1: With E, knit across.

Row 2: With E, purl across.

Row 3: With E, knit across.

Row 4: With E, p10, p3tog, p10. (21 sts)

Row 5: With D, knit across.

Row 6: With D, k9, k3tog, k9. (19 sts)

Row 7: With D, knit across.

Row 8: With D, k8, k3tog, k8. (17 sts)

Row 9: With E, knit across.

Row 10: With E, p7, p3tog, p7. (15 sts)

Row 11: With E, knit across.

Row 12: With E, p6, p3tog, p6. (13 sts)

Row 13: With D, knit across.

Row 14: With D, k5, k3tog, k5. (11 sts)

Row 15: With D, knit across.

Row 16: With D, k4, k3tog, k4. (9 sts)

Row 17: With E, knit across.

Row 18: With E, p3, p3tog, p3. (7 sts)

Row 19: With E, knit across.

Row 20: With E, p2, p3tog, p2. (5 sts)

Row 21: With D, knit across.

Row 22: With D, k1, k3tog, k1. (3 sts)

Row 23: With D, k3tog, fasten off.

Large Shells Free-Form Knitting Pattern

Large Shell A Free-Form Knitting Pattern: Make 2 shells using 2 strands F as Color 1, beg with Row 1, and E as Color 2.

Large Shell B Free-Form Knitting Pattern: Make 2 shells by casting on and working Rows 1 and 2 with B,  knit 2 rows, then follow shell pat beg with Row 3, using D as Color 1, and E as Color 2.

Large Shell C Free-Form Knitting Pattern:

Make 2 shells by casting on and working Rows 1 and 2 with B, then follow shell pat beg with Row 3, using 2 strands F as Color 1, and D  as Color 2. Cast on 39 sts.

Rows 1 and 2: Knit.

Row 3 (RS): With Color 2, k1, *sl 1, k3; rep from * to last 2 sts, end sl 1, k1.

Row 4: With Color 2, k1, *sl 1, k3; rep from * to last 2 sts, end sl 1, k1.

Row 5: With Color 2, p1, *sl 1, p3; rep from * to last 2 sts, sl 1, p1.

Row 6: With Color 2, rep Row 4.

Row 7: With Color 1, knit across.

Row 8 (dec row): With Color 1, *k2, k2tog; rep from * to last 3 sts, end k3. (30 sts)

Row 9: With Color 2, k1, *sl 1, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, end sl 1, k1.

Row 10: With Color 2, k1 *sl 1, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, end sl 1, k1.

Row 11: With Color 2, p1, *sl 1, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, end sl 1, p1.

Row 12: With Color 2, rep Row 10.

Row 13: With Color 1, knit across.

Row 14 (dec row): With Color 1, k2, *k2tog, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, end k2tog, k2. (21 sts)

Row 15: With Color 2, *k1, sl 1; rep from * to last st, end k1.

Row 16: With Color 2, k1, *sl 1, k1; rep from * across.

Row 17: With Color 2, p1, *sl 1, p1; rep from * across.

Row 18: With Color 2, rep Row 16.

Row 19: With Color 1, knit across.

Row 20 (dec row): With Color 1, k2 *k2tog; rep from * to last 3 sts, end k3. (13 sts)

Row 21: With Color 2, *k1, sl 1; rep from * to last st, end k1.

Row 22: With Color 2, k1 *sl 1, k1; rep from * across.

Row 23: With Color 2, rep Row 17.

Row 24: With Color 2, rep Row 22. Fasten off Color 2.

Row 25: With Color 1, knit across.

Row 26: With Color 1, k2 *k2tog; rep from * to last st, end k1. (8 sts)

Row 27: With Color 1, knit across.

Row 28: With Color 1, k2tog across.  (4 sts)

Row 29: With Color 1, [k2tog] twice.  Bind off rem sts.

Pyramid Piece Free-Form Knitting Pattern Make 2:

Note: Use 1 strand E and 2 strands F. With E, cast on 32 sts and knit 1 row, change to F.

Row 1 (RS): With F, k1, sl 1 *k4, sl 2; rep from * to last 6 sts, end k4, sl 1, k1.

Row 2: With F, p1, sl 1,*p4, sl 2; rep from * to last 6 sts, end p4, sl 1, p1.

Row 3: With E, rep Row 1.

Row 4: With E, k1, sl 1, *k4, sl 2; rep from * to last 6 sts, end k4, sl 1, k1.

Row 5: With F, k3, *sl 2, k4; rep from * to last 5 sts, end sl 2, k3.

Row 6: With F, p3, *sl 2, p4; rep from * to last 5 sts, end sl 2, p3.

Row 7: With E, rep Row 5.

Row 8: With E, k3, *sl 2, k4; rep from * to last 5 sts, end sl 2, k3.

Rows 9–16: [Rep Rows 1–8] once, cut F, continue with E.

Work in St st, dec 1 st at each side [every RS row] until 26 sts rem, then  dec [every row] until 3 sts rem. K3tog, fasten off.

Knitted Leaf Free-Form Knitting Pattern:

Make 6 with D, 4 with E Cast on 5 sts.

Row 1 (RS): K2, yo, k1, yo, k2. (7 sts)

Row 2 and all even rows: Purl across.

Row 3: K3, yo, k1, yo, k3. (9 sts)

Row 5: K4, yo, k1, yo, k4. (11 sts)

Row 7: K5 yo, k1, yo, k5. (13 sts)

Row 9: K6, yo, k1, yo, k6. (15 sts)

Row 11: Ssk, k11, k2tog. (13 sts)

Row 13: Ssk, k9, k2tog. (11 sts)

Row 15: Ssk, k7, k2tog. (9 sts)

Row 17: Ssk, k5, k2tog. (7 sts)

Row 19: Ssk, k3, k2tog. (5 sts)

Row 21: Ssk, k1, k2. (3 sts)

Row 23: Sl 1, k2tog, psso. (1 st)  Fasten off.

First Fill-in Piece for this Free-Form Knitting Pattern:

Make 2 With C, cast on 8 sts.

Rows 1–15: Knit every row.

Row 16: K2tog, knit across.

Row 17: Knit across. Rep Rows 16 and 17 until 2 sts rem.  Bind off rem sts.

Second Fill-in Piece for this Free-Form Knitting Pattern: Make 2 With D and F held tog, cast on 15 sts. Knit 4 rows, then dec 1 st at each side every other row until 3 sts rem. Knit 1 row, k3tog, fasten off.

Third Fill-in Piece for this Free-Form Knitting Pattern: Make 2 With D and F held tog, cast on 21 sts, work same as 2nd fill-in piece.

Fourth Fill-in Piece:

Make 2 With D, cast on 10 sts.

Rows 1 and 2: Knit across.

Row 3: Inc 1 st, knit across. (11 sts)

Row 4: Knit across, inc 1 in last st.  (12 sts)

Row 5: Join E, rep Row 3. (13 sts)

Row 6: With E, rep Row 4. (14 sts)

Rows 7 and 8: With E, knit across.

Row 9: With D, dec 1 st, knit across.  (13 sts)

Row 10: With D, knit to last 2 sts, dec 1, cut D and E, join A. (12 sts)

Rows 11–31: Knit across.  Bind off all sts.

Gusset Note for the Chic Handbag Free-Form Knitting Pattern: Gusset is made using all leftover yarns; use 2 strands each of D, E and F, 1 strand each of A, B and C. Cast on 8 sts, knit every row, changing color every 4–5 inches, until piece measures 56 inches. Bind off all sts.

Button Tab for this Free-Form Knitting Pattern: Using 1 strand each D and F held tog, cast on 7 sts. Knit every row until tab measures 4 inches. Make buttonhole: K2, bind off next 3 sts, knit to end. Next row: Cast on 3 sts over bound- off sts.  Knit 2 more rows, cut D and F, join C and knit 2 more rows. Bind off.

Assembly for the Handbag Free-Form Knitting Pattern:

Being careful not to twist, sew caston and bound-off ends of gusset tog. Marking seam as bottom of bag, sew felt pieces to gusset along bottom and sides of bag only, leave rem for strap. Using C, with RS facing, pick up and knit 50 sts along top edge of bag, bind off. Rep for other side. If silky lining is desired, sew in fabric before assembling bag. Cut lining fabric to shape, leaving at least a 1/2-inch seam allowance all around for turning under, sew in place. (Photo C) Placing seam at center bottom of bag, pin gusset into place on 1 side of bag, using tapestry needle and C, sew gusset to bag. Rep for other side. Sew button tab and button in place.