Victorian Princess

The Victorian Princess purse is delicate work made with fine thread,
but it is a small project than can be completed in a short time without
any worries of strain on the hands from intense crocheting for hours
and hours. As regal and refined as the royal reticule of a Victorian
princess, this purse, embellished with lustrous bead and button trims,
is a stunning accent for today's high-fashion formal wear.
As regal and refined as the royal reticule of a Victorian princess, this
dainty thread purse, embellished with lustrous bead and button trims,
is a stunning accent for todays high-fashion formal wear.
Design by Brenda Stratton
Skill Level
Intermediate
Finished Size
4 x 5 inches
Materials
Aunt Lydia's Classic crochet cotton size 10: 2 balls wood
violet #495
Size D/3/3.25mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain
gauge
Size 5/1.90mm steel crochet hook
1/4 yd 1/4-inch-wide lavender ribbon
1/2 yd lavender bead trim
Size 3/0 snap fastener
Straight pins
Craft glue
Matching sewing thread
Sewing needle
5/8-inch lavender shank button
1 1/4-inch silver filigree craft backing
Tapestry needle
Gauge
4 rows = 1 inch; 6 sts = 1 inch
Check gauge to save time.
Pattern Notes

Weave in loose ends as work progresses.
Join rnds with a sl st unless otherwise stated.
Beg ch-2 counts as a hdc except when working hdc dec.
Pattern Stitches
Hdc dec: Yo, [insert hook in next st, yo, draw up a lp] twice, yo, draw through all 4 lps on hook.
Shell: 7 dc in indicated st.
Front
Row 1: Beg at bottom with 2 strands of wood violet held tog and size D hook, ch 22, sc in 2nd ch from
hook, [dc in next ch, sc in next ch] rep across, turn. (21 sts)
Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), sc in next st, [dc in next st, sc in next st] rep across, ending with hdc in
last st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, [dc in next st, sc in next st] rep across, turn.
Rep Rows 2 and 3 until piece measures 5 inches.
Row 4 (RS): Ch 1, sc in each st across, fasten off.
Back
Row 1: Rep Row 1 of front. (21 sts)
Rep Rows 2 and 3 of front until piece measures 6 inches. Do not work Row 4.
Flap
Row 1: Ch 2, hdc dec over next 2 sts, sc in each dc, dc in each sc across to last 2 sts, hdc dec over last 2
sts, turn. (19 sts)
Rep Row 1 until 3 sts rem.
Row 2: Ch 2, yo, draw up a lp in each of next 2 sts, yo, draw through all lps on hook, fasten off.
Edging
Note: Pin both pieces tog with RS of front facing.
Rnd 1: With hook size 5, attach 1 strand of wood violet in lower right corner and working through both
thicknesses, ch 1, sc evenly to top of front, continue working through back piece only around flap, sc
evenly sp to point of flap, 3 sc in point, sc evenly down opposite side of flap and to top edge of opposite
side of front, working through both thicknesses, sc evenly down side of front to bottom edge, do not
fasten off.
Rnd 2: Sl st to front lp of foundation ch, working in front lps of front only, ch 1, sc in first st, [sk 1 st, shell
in next st, sk 1 st, sc in next st] rep across front, turn and work across opposite side of foundation ch of
back to beg st of front, sl st to join in beg sc, leaving a length of cotton, fasten off. Cut a piece of bead trim
5 inches long and place inside bottom opening of purse. Thread rem strand onto tapestry needle and sew
opening closed with strand through BL of foundation ch. Lightly tack the bottom centers of the shell sts
tog.
Flap Trim
With size 5 steel hook, attach 1 strand of crochet cotton with a sl st at top left edge of purse in next st
above where front piece ends, sc in each of next 4 sc, sk 1 sc, *shell in next sc, sk next sc, sc in next sc,
shell in next sc, sk next sc, rep from * until 11 shells are completed, adjusting as necessary to allow 6th
shell to fall at center point of flap, ending with sc in each of next 4 sc, sl st in last sc, fasten off. (11 shells)
Cut bead trim to fit underside of flap, sew in place, mitering at point.
Handle
With hook size D and 2 strands of wood violet held tog, ch 3, dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2, dc between
last ch-3 and dc worked, [ch 2, dc bet last ch-2 and dc worked] rep until handle measures 20 inches long,
fasten off.
Taking care not to twist handle, tack each end of handle at side seam on inside of purse.
Cut rem of beaded trim apart as needed to obtain 10 matching beads. Sew 9 beads evenly sp across
handle.
Jeweled Front Trim
Remove shank from lavender button and glue to silver backing and let dry. Glue rem bead left from those
removed for handle to center of button and let dry.
Finishing
Sew snap to flap and corresponding position on front of bag.
Tie ribbon into a bow and tack to front of flap slightly above snap.
Sew jeweled front trim in place over bow.