Hi! I am Seray, a designer and artist who is in love with fibers! As a multidisciplinary artist, I draw, paint, make sculptures and work with ceramics in addition to knitting and crocheting.
I started knitting and crocheting for 14 years ago. Coming from a family of knitters and crocheters (my mom, all my aunts and my grandma) I grew up tangled in yarn. Initially, I was reluctant to get involved. That all changed when I saw a pair of knitted design socks that I fell in love with. I couldn’t resist the urge to knit a similar pair of socks for myself. Since then I haven’t stopped knitting and experimenting with different kinds of fibers. I feel like knitting and crocheting are my superpowers and that I can create anything with yarn!
I lived in different countries until I settled down in beautiful Granada in Spain. Wherever I lived, fibers were my favorite means of meditation. Nothing compares to the sense of the bliss of being present in my cosy home with sticks and yarn.
I usually draw and design the pieces first, then proceed to knit them. But, I equally love creating pieces without thinking about the final product and experimenting with fiber.
The Artsy Clutch draws its inspiration from the 1980's contemporary art movement. Nowadays I am deeply inspired by the bold colors and the contemporary creations of that period.
I tried to keep the Artsy clutch as simple as possible for everyone to be able to enjoy it. The herringbone stitch, although not the simplest of all, creates an adorable chunky and firm fabric. Once you get into the rhythm of it, you will love how the piece finds its shape in your hands. It is my favorite stitch of all times and it is addictive.
Since I love ecological, raw and natural fibers I used a type of 100% raw natural cotton. I am in awe of how rigid, thick and pretty the pieces come out with this thick cotton yarn :)
This clutch is perfect for both casual and chic outfits, both for the sunny days and the breezy summer nights. You can combine it with any style of your choosing. I also find it very playful and abstract and love the feeling of it as I hold it in my hand.
I am so blessed to be a part of the Hook Nook Maker Community. I love how everyone is so supportive in the Hook Nook Team and I am so happy to be here with you all! Thank you very much for the opportunity to be a part of this beautiful community.
Hope you enjoy the pattern. A big hug to all!
MATERIAL LIST:
- Color 1 (Cream): 250 gr. 100% Raw natural cotton string 3 mm. (I bought mine from a local ecological shop, but this type of cotton is really easy to find. It is sold also as macrame cotton rope. An example would be the one from Niroma Studio)
- Color 2 (Cobalt blue): 100 gr. 100% Raw cobalt blue cotton string 3 mm. (same material as above in color blue)
- Color 3 (Black): 20 gr. Black raffia yarn (mine is 100% recycled paper rope that I bought from a local recycled materials store)
- 4.00mm (US 6) straight or circular needles (I am using KnitPro Symfonie Interchangeable Circular Needles)
- 3.00mm (US 2.5) straight or circular needles (I am using KnitPro Karbonz Interchangeable Circular Needles)
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
KEY
st(s) = stitch(es)
HB st(s) = herringbone stitch(es)
HB st(s) WS = herringbone stitch(es) wrong side
GAUGE:
10 sts and 8 rows (with the 3 mm. cotton yarn) = 5 cm. x 5 cm.
14 sts and 10 rows (with the raffia yarn) = 5 cm. x 5 cm.
Finished dimensions: 25 cm. x 15 cm.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Herringbone stitch is worked right side and wrong side. Please refer to the resource to see how it is worked. The amount of the stitches are the total of the right side and the wrong side of the pattern.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
If you are new to the herringbone stitch please see the resource videos below to help you
(Bind off technique starts at 3:34)
ARTSY CLUTCH KNITTING PATTERN:
Piece 1 (Body of the Bag)
Part 1:
Cast on 60 sts with color 1 using the long tail cast on method with the 4.00mm (US 6) straight or circular needles.
Row 1 (right side): HB st(s) until the last stitch (60 sts)
Row 2 (wrong side): HB st(s) WS until the last stitch (60 sts)
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have 34 rows.
Skip to color 2 and continue the same
Row 35 (right side): HB st(s) until the last stitch (60 sts)
Row 36 (wrong side): HB st(s) WS until the last stitch (60 sts)
Repeat Rows 35 and 36 until you have 40 rows in total
HB st Bind off
Part 2:
Now we are going to change the direction of the pattern by continuing to knit on the side of the first piece that we knitted.
Pick up 40 stitches along one edge of your work with the 3.00mm (US 2.5) straight or circular needles (it is easier to pick up stitches with finer needles, so feel free to use 2.00 mm. needles for this process if you have them.)
Along the side piece:
Continuing with your 40 picked sts:
Row 1: HB st(s) until the last stitch (40 sts)
Row 2 (wrong side): HB st(s) WS until the last stitch (40 sts)
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have 10 rows in total.
HB st Bind off
Now you have the body of the bag
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Piece 2 (Black Patch)
Cast on 26 sts with Color 3 using the long tail cast on method with the 3.00mm (US 2.5) straight or circular needles.
Row 1 (right side): HB st(s) until the last stitch (26 sts)
Row 2 (wrong side): HB st(s) WS until the last stitch (26 sts)
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have 16 rows.
HB stitch bind off
Now you have your badge to sew onto the bag.
Fold the body of the bag leaving the part for the closure tongue and sew the sides together with Color 1 with the yarn needle.
Sew the patch on the left side of your bag, while keeping the tongue of the bag inside, as if you were making a sandwich.
FINISHING:
Weave in all loose ends. Ready to go! Add snaps or other similar details if you would like the bag to shut close safer. You can also put your patch on other parts of the bag, feel free to make it smaller, bigger according to your personal preference!
I hope you love this pattern as much as I do. I had a great time designing and knitting it. I would love to see your progress, so if you feel like sharing it please use #artsyclutch and tag me @atelier_seray_asker (I would love to see your individual takes on the pattern!) . Feel free to check out my other wearable art pieces. I am currently working on new jewelery patterns for the summer which will be made available for free on my account soon!
A big thanks to Jessica and the THN team for the opportunity to be a part of this beautiful community. I feel so blessed to be a part of this lovely and inspirational bunch.
