Birdies Crochet and Craft: Burple Felted E-reader Pocketbook

E-reader Pocketbook
(A felted carrier for an E-reader with an eyeglass/cell phone pocket)

By Berta Gilholm ©

Materials: Lion Brand 100 % Wool, #4 worsted weight

(A) 1 skein Lion Wool - 3 oz./85g, 158 yd./144m, 147 Purple

(B) 1 skein Lion Wool Print – 2 ¼ oz./78g, 143 yd./131m, 204 Majestic Mountain

Crochet Hook:

I-9/5.5mm

Yarn Needle

Washing Machine, detergent, tennis balls, pillow case, (for felting)

Size: Pocketbook is approx. 9” x 12” after sewing and before felting and 6” x 9” after felting; the strap is approx. 44” long before felting and 38” long after sewing in and felting.

Stitches: Ch = chain, Sc = single crochet,

Dc = double crochet, Sl st = slip stitch
Other Abbreviations: Rnd = Rnd, St = Stitch

Note: Chain 3 at beginning of each round counts as first dc. Weave in ends as you work.

Pattern: The basic pocketbook piece laying flat is 9” wide x 24” long before sewing and felting.

Basic Square: (Make 1) Working in rnds.

With (C) Ch 3, slst in 3rd ch from hook to make a ring, do not fasten off,

Rnd 1: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, *ch 3, 3 dcin ring, repeat from * 2 more times, ch 3, join with slst to top of beginning ch 3, fasten off (C)

Rnd 2: Join (B) in any ch 3 corner, Ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner, *dc in next 3 dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in next corner), repeat from * 2 more times, dc in next 3 dc, join with slst to top of ch 3, Slst in next dc,

Rnd 3: Ch 3 in corner, 1 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner, *dc in next 7 dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner), repeat from * 2 more times, Dc in next 7 dc, join with slst to top of ch 3, fasten off (B)

Rnd 4: Join (A) in ch 3 corner, Ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner, *dc in next 11 dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner), repeat from * 2 more times, dc in next 11 dc, join with slst to top of ch 3, fasten off (A)

Rnd 5: Join (C) in ch 3 corner, Ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner, *dc in next 15 dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner), repeat from * 2 more times, Dc in next 15 dc, join with slst to top of ch 3, fasten off (C)

Rnd 6: Join (B) in ch 3 corner, Ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner, *dc in next 19 dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner), repeat from * 2 more times, Dc in next 19 dc, join with slst to top of ch 3, fasten off (B)

Rnd 7: Join (A) in ch 3 corner, Ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner, *dc in next 23 dc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner), repeat from * 2 more times, Dc in next 23 dc, join with slst to top of ch 3, Sl st in next dc, sl st in ch 3 corner, Do not fasten off, turn

Basic Purse Area: From this point on work in rows from right to left until piece is complete.

Row 1: Ch 3 in corner ch 3 (counts as first dc on first row), Dc in next 28 dc, turn

Row 2: Ch 3, (counts as dc), Dc in next 28 dc, turn

Row 3: Repeat Row 2, Fasten off, weave in ends

Go to opposite side of basic square and join (A) in right corner chain 3.

Row 1: Ch 3 in corner ch 3 (counts as first dc on first row), Dc in next 28 dc, turn

Row 2: Ch 3, (counts as dc), Dc in next 28 dc, turn

Row 3 - 24: Repeat Row 2, Do Not fasten off,

Working around corner and down side of piece, sc in last st, sc in first row end, *2 sc in next row end, 1 sc in next row end, repeat from * 10 times, 2 sc in next row end, 1 sc in ch 3 space, 1 sc in each of next 26 dc, 1 sc in next sc space, 2 sc in next row end, 1 sc in next row end, 2 sc in next row end, turn corner, 2 sc in first dc, 1 sc in each of next 28 dc, turn corner, 2 sc in first row end, 1 sc in next row end, 2 sc in next row end, 1 sc in ch 3 space, 1 sc in each of next 26 dc, 1 sc in next sc space, *2 sc in next row end, 1 sc in next row end, repeat from * 11 times, turn corner, 2 sc in first dc, 1 sc in each of next 27 dc, join with a slst to first sc, Fasten off and weave in ends.

Eyeglass/Cell Square: (Make 1) Approx. size: unfelted 6” wide x 9” high / felted 4” wide x 6” high.

With (C) Ch 3, slst in 3rd ch from hook to make a ring, do not fasten off,

Rnd 1 - 2 - 3: Repeat rounds 1, 2, 3 of Basic Square

Rnd 4: Join (A) in ch 3 corner, (Ch 2, 1 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in corner, *sc in next 11 dc, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc in corner), repeat from * 2 more times, Sc in next 11 dc, join with slst to top of ch 2, fasten off (A)

Rnd 5: Join (C) in ch 2 corner, Ch 3, 1 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner, *dc in next 15 sc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in corner), repeat from * 2 more times, dc in next 15 sc, join with slst to top of ch 3, fasten off (C)

Rnd 6: Join (A) in ch 3 corner, (Ch 2, 1 sc, ch 2, 2 sc in corner), *sc in next 19 dc, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc in corner), repeat from * 2 more times, Sc in next 19 dc, join with slst to top of ch 2, Sl st in next sc, sl st in ch 2 corner, turn.

Do Not fasten off from this point on you will be working in rows until piece is complete for remainder of eyeglass/cell square.

Row 1: Ch 3 in corner ch 2 (counts as first dc on first row), Dc in next 24 dc, turn

Row 2: Ch 3, (counts as dc), Dc in next 24 dc, turn

Row 3 - 5: Repeat Row 2, Fasten off, weave in ends

Strap: (make 1)

With (A) Ch 158

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, Sc in each ch across, turn

Row 2: Ch 4, Skip next sc, *Dc in next sc, Ch 1, skip next sc, Repeat from * to last sc, Dc in last sc, turn

Row 3: Ch 1 (counts as first sc), Sc in each dc and each ch 1 space across, turn

Row 4: Ch 1, Sc in each sc across, fasten off, weave in ends

Chains: (Make 3 Chains, one of color (B) & two of color (C). Leave an 8 inch tail on each end of chain for tying. Chain 174 for each chain. Tie one end of the 3 chain tails together, hold or tie to a door, braid snuggly, tie the other ends of chain tails together. Weave chains in and out of chain stitches between dc stitches on the strap. Tie tails to first and last dc of strap to anchor. Trim tails close to strap ends.

Finishing: Using (A) yarn fold the basic square in half from top to bottom, center the eyeglass/cell square on top of the back (rsf) of the basic square with the granny square area near the top and sew sides and bottom of the eyeglass/cell square to the basic square. Sew the sides of the basic square together. Turn the pocket book inside-out and sew the straps to each side of the pocketbook about 1 ½” down sides from the top. Weave in and trim ends. Turn right side out and put the whole piece in a pillow case and tie closed with a piece of yarn. Place the pillow case, tennis balls or other articles of wash and detergent into washer. Wash on hot for a small load until just before spin cycle. Remove piece from case and flatten and stretch out piece and strap area on a towel to check shrinkage. Rewash the same way until your purse measures 6 ” x 9” with a 38” strap. Stretch to shape, lay flat on a towel or pin to non=traffic rug area or tack to a board and let dry for 24 hours in a dry warm spot. Shave bag lightly with razor to remove fuzz.