Knitted Bead Purses

My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was eleven. That is one of my favorite memories. After I made sweaters for Barbie, Midge, Ken and Skipper I moved on to human size pieces. I have been knitting ever since.

Seven years ago, a client for whom I was doing a business logo, came to my studio wearing the most charming necklace made of seed beads. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to touch it. It reminded me of a tiny evening bag, that I felt as a child, made of teensy little metal interlocking parts that smoothly and sensuously draped over the fingers.

She said, "Can you believe it is knitted?" I was very excited and dropped everything to write down the name and phone number of the person she bought it from. That person actually taught classes at a bead store in Sacramento, California and I invited her to come teach this knitted purse at my studio. I have been making them ever since.

As it turns out. It is a very old pattern. While visiting Washington D.C., I noticed an evening bag, in the First Ladies Exhibit, in the Smithsonian, made of the same pattern, only much larger, but with the same size beads and the same count, on the rows. I don't remember the first lady's name, but it was from the late 1800's.

I use silk thread because it is stronger than cotton. I have to special order it.

Some people call them medicine or amulet bags. I make many of them on special order for color and size. Especially when it needs to be long enough to carry a lipstick or wide enough for dollar bills and credit card.