Alternating Clutch

This stylish clutch is a perfect match for my alternating bag pattern. It’s great for keeping your most needed items, such as your phone, keys and wallet, in one place; making them easier to find among all the other stuff you like to carry in your purse.

The clutch is also great on it’s own in times when you don’t need your big purse. It’s not the greatest for having to carry it, but you could easily attach a shoulder handle if you wanted to.

As for yarn, I’m not sure on the exact amount as I used leftovers from the bag pattern. Use any yarn, but a worsted cotton will make it stronger. And you can line it or leave it. I left mine and love it, but the choice is yours.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials:
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter in 2 colors, or any #4 worsted cotton.
Crochet Hooks: 4.50mm, & 4.00mm for bone ring button.
Other: A 1/2″ Bone Ring for Button or any 1″ Button.

Gauge: 2″ over 9 sts.

Finished Size: 7″ by 5″ not counting the flap.

Abbreviations:

CA = Color A
CB = Color B

Blslst = Back Loop Slip Stitch
Ch/Chs = Chain/Chains
Flhdc = Front Loop Half Double Crochet
FO = Fasten Off
Hk = Hook
Rep = Repeat
Sk = Skip
Sc = Single Crochet
Sl St = Slip Stitch
St/Sts = Stitch/Stitches
Stsc = Standing Single Crochet

Notes:

Use the tight slip stitch join to keep a straight seam, or whatever other method you may have.

All rounds are joined in both loops of first stitch in round.

Color changes are made after the joining slip stitch.

Carry the yarn up at each round.

If you experience difficulties making the first flhdc and blslst in each round, try wiggling the hook and keeping the stitches loose, but not too loose.

The stitches are alternated with the half double crochet worked into the front loop only of the slip stitch, and the slip stitch is worked into the back loop only of the half double crochet. Here is a tutorial.

Pattern Instructions:

With CA and 4.5mm hk, Ch 30

Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hk and in next 27 chs, 3 sc in last ch, working into free loops of beginning chs, sc in next 27 chs, 2 sc in last ch; join with sl st to first sc. (60 sts)

Rnd 2: With CB, ch 1, flhdc in same st as join, blslst in next st, *flhdc in next st, blslst in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in first flhdc. (60 sts)

Rnd 3: With CA, blslst in same st as join, flhdc in next st, *blslst in next st, flhdc in next st; rep from * around; join with sl st in first blslst.

Rnds 4-17: Rep rnds 2 & 3.

Begin working in rows:

Row 1: Continue with CA, ch 1, sk the st where join was made, sc in next 30 sts, sl st in next st. Turn, leaving remaining sts unworked. (30 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sk sl st, sc in next 30 sc. (30 sts) Turn.

Rows 3-4: Ch 1, sc in first st and in each st across. Turn.

Rows 5: Ch 1, sk first st, sc in next st and in each st across. Turn.

Rows 6-13: Rep row 5. (21 sts at last row)

Row 14: Ch 1, sk first st, sc in next 10 sts, ch 7, sc in last 10 sts. Do Not FO, Turn and continue with edging.

Edging:

Ch 1, sc in first st and into each st and ch across up to last st, work 3 sc into last st, continue to work along edge and sc evenly around, work another 2 sc into same st as where the first sc was made; join with sl st to first sc. FO.

Use and button you like, or get the pattern for the Bone Ring Button here.

Thank you so much to Betty Matthews and Fran Guardino for testing.

This pattern is also available in a printable PDF on Ravelry and Craftsy for a buck.

And last but not least, more clutch patterns can be found at Crochet Pattern Bonanza.