Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Zippered Crochet Change Purse DIY


When I first started this project, I thought I would need to sew a blanket stitch around the zipper to crochet into. Imagine my excitement when I realized I could actually slide my hook through the zipper fabric and crochet directly into it! I know, I know - sometimes I take the crochet geek levels to a brand new high. Anyway, this project is a wonderful way to use up your yarn scraps, and zippers are so cheap! Pick up a few and make a bunch of these cute little change purses to give as gifts.

You will need:
4" zipper of your color choice
Worsted weight yarn in two (or three, or four) colors 
Size 3 cotton thread
1.9mm crochet hook
G/4.25 mm crochet hook

How to make:

Take your 1.9mm hook and size 3 thread and single crochet 28 stitches around the zipper, working two single crochets in each end. This might take a few tries, figuring out where to yarn over, but it's easier than you think! The step-by-step photos below should help. Join with slip stitch in first single crochet.


Change to larger hook and first desired color. Chain 1, work a single crochet in same stitch as last slip stitch and in each single crochet around, join with a slip stitch to first single crochet.

Chain 1, work a single crochet in same stitch as last slip stitch, *chain 1, single crochet in next single crochet, repeat from * around, end with a chain 1 and slip stitch in first single crochet, changing to next color as you pull through the slip stitch.

Slip stitch into next chain-1 space, chain 1, single crochet in same space, *chain 1, single crochet in next chain-1 space, repeat from * around, ending chain 1, slip stitch in first single crochet. Repeat this round, changing colors as desired, until you have 8 rounds altogether (not counting the size 3 thread round). 

Now we're going to decrease. Chain 1, single crochet in same stitch as last slip stitch, *chain 1, single crochet in next chain 1 space*, repeat between * and * until you reach the side of the change purse (exact stitch count doesn't really matter, as long as you're on the side), single crochet two together (decrease stitch) over next 2 chain spaces, repeat between * and * until you reach the other side of the purse, single crochet two together over next 2 chains spaces, repeat between * and * until you reach the first single crochet, chain 1, slip stitch to first single crochet. Repeat this last row, working the decrease stitch over the 2 chain spaces on either side of the decrease stitch below.

[Work two even rounds (no decreasing), then two more decrease rounds] twice. Fasten off.


Unzipper the purse, flip it inside out, and crochet the bottom edges together with a row of single crochet.



Weave in all those ends and you're done!



You can make a simple lining for these purses or leave them as is - the stitch pattern is solid enough that it won't let coins or other objects slip though, yet pliable enough to have some give. Have fun!

2 comments :

  1. How do you crochet the thread into the zippers fabric?

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    1. Hi! If you check out the collage near the beginning of the tutorial, you can see in more detail what my process was. The zipper fabric is actually mesh, which allows the steel hook to go through and make the first round of single crochet stitches. Hope I helped!

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