Freee Pattern - 1945 Shell Stitch Clutch Bag #420

Here is your free pattern...happy crafting!

Please share my blog with friends & family to assist in the animal rescue effort.
You can follow me on Facebook at Miss Julia's Vintage Patterns.

Vintage 1945 Shell Stitch Clutch Bag #420

Quick & easy to create in a feminine shell stitch, this becoming handbag will become a favorite!

MATERIALS: 

J & P Coats or Clark’s ONT Pearl Cotton, Size 5, 14 balls

#4 Bone Crochet Hook

Bone Ring, 1 ½” diameter

2 -- 10” Whale Bones

Felt Lining Material

Use double thread throughout.

FRONT: 

Make ch 16” long [4 ½ ch = 1”].

1^ST ROW:  Sc in 2^nd ch from hook & in each ch across until there are 127 sc in row.  Cut off rem ch.  Ch 1, turn. 

2^ND ROW:  Sc in 1^st sc, * sk 2 sc, 5 dc in next sc [shell], sk 2 sc, sc in next sc.  Rep from * across.  Ch 1, turn.

3^RD, 4^TH & 5^TH ROWS:  Sc in each st across [127 sc].  Ch 1, turn at end of 3^rd &

4^th rows.  At end of 5^th row, ch 3 to turn.

6^TH ROW:  2 Dc in 1^st sc [half shell], * sk 2 sc, sc in next sc, sk 2 sc, shell in next sc.  Rep from * across, end with 3 dc in last sc [another half shell].  Ch 1, turn.

7^TH, 8^TH & 9^TH ROWS:  Rep 3^rd, 4^th & 5^th rows. 

Rep 2^nd thru 9^th rows until piece meas 9”, end with 2 rows of sc.  Break off.

BACK: 

Attach thread to opposite side of starting ch & work to correspond with Front. 

GUSSET:  [MAKE 2]: 

Ch 21 to meas 4 ½”.

1^ST RND:  3 Sc in 2^nd ch from hook [this is top of Gusset], sc in each ch across, 3 sc in last ch; work along other side of starting ch, make sc in each ch across. 

2^ND RND:  Sc in next sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in each sc around, make 2 sc in each sc of next 3-sc group.

3^RD RND:  Sc in each sc around, make 3 sc in center sc at top of Gusset & 2 sc in each of 6 sc at bottom.

4^TH RND:  Work as for 3^rd rnd, make 2 sc in each of 12 sc at bottom.

4^TH THRU 10^TH RNDS:  Sc in each sc around, make 3 sc in center sc at top only. 

At end of last rnd, sl st in next sc.  Break off.

Join Gussets to Front & Back, work row of sc thru both thicknesses. 

Pleat top of Front & Back to meas 10” & sew.

TOP BAND: 

Make 10 rnds of sc around top of bag, work thru all thicknesses at pleats. 

At end of last rnd, sl st in next sc.  Break off.

HANDLE: 

Make ch 17” long. 

Join, be careful do not twist sts & work 8 rnds of sc.  Break off. 

Sew Handle to center pleat at Back.

RING TAB: 

Ch 8 & work 4 rows of sc.  Break off.

Pass Ring thru tab & sew ends of Tab to pleat at Front. 

Line bag with felt, excluding top Band. 

Cover whale bones with felt, insert on wrong side of top Band. 

Fold Band over & sew in place. 

Pass Handle thru bone ring.

ENJOY!