Star Stitch Coin Purse

This is a pattern that is worked in the round (for the most part) because I love avoiding seams! The important thing to bear in mind when working through it, is to keep the stitches relaxed and not too tight. All stitches are in US terms. Yarn: Drops Paris 100% Cotton Hook: 4.5 mm Abbreviations: ch chain yo yarn over ss slip stitch st stitch hdc half double crochet sc single crochet sk - skip

Ch 21. Round 1 Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook, yo and pull up a loop. Do the same in the next 4 chains. Yo and pull through the 6 loops on hook, ch 1 to close the stitch. [1 half star formed] * Insert hook in ch 1 just made, yo and pull up loop, yo and pull up loop in base of last stitch worked (on foundation ch), yo and pull up loop in next 3 chains, yo and pull through 6 loops on hook, ch 1. **

Repeat from * to ** until end of foundation ch.

DO NOT TURN. This may seem a little tricky at first but the shape will soon form.

Insert hook in ch1 just made, yo and pull up loop, yo and pull up loop in base of last stitch worked (on foundation ch), yo and pull up loop in 1st ch of foundation but on the other side. Do the same for next 2 chains. Yo and pull through 6 loops on hook, ch 1, repeat from * to ** until end of foundation ch, hdc in same space as last stitch worked, hdc in next stitch, ss in top of st just before 1st ch 1.

Round 2 Ch 2, 3 hdc in each ch 1 all the way around, ss in top of 1st hdc of round. [Round of complete stars formed]

Round 3

Ch 3, insert hook in 2nd ch from hook, yo and pull up a loop. Do the same in the next ch and the next 3 hdc. Yo and pull through 6 loops on hook, ch 1, * insert hook in ch 1 just made, yo and pull up loop, yo and pull up loop in base of last stitch worked, yo and pull up loop in next 3 hdc, yo and pull through 6 loops on hook, ch 1, ** repeat from * to ** until end of round, hdc in same space as last st worked, hdc in next hdc, ss in top of st just before 1st ch 1. [Shape starts to form better here]

Repeat round 2 and 3 ending with round 2 until you reach the desired height.

You can always finish with a round of sc, line it (if you like) and add a zipper. Or continue on for a button flap.

Button flap Ss in next hdc, sc in next st, hdc in next st, (sk 1 hdc, hdc in next 2 hdc) 5 times, sk 1 hdc, hdc in next st, sc in next hdc, ss in next 15 hdc, ss in next 2 st, sc in next st, hdc in next 11 st, sc in next st, ss in next 2 st, TURN. Sk 1st st, sc in next 14 st, ss in next st, TURN. Ss in 1st st, sc in next 7 st, ch 5 for button loop (adjust for size of button) and sc in same sc, sc in next 6 st, ss in next st. Fasten off.

Weave in ends, sew on button, put coins or other little goodies in and use! Note: Using a 4.5mm hook with this yarn has given me a tight enough finish that a lining is not necessary. But for a sturdier purse or if using a larger hook, a lining would be recommended.

For the larger zippered purse, I crocheted an oval base of sc, ensuring that the number of stitches at the end were a multiple of 3.

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