Steampunk Reticule
Designed by Nancy Hay
The Steampunk Reticule is a fast, fun accessory for your steampunk outfit. At a convention you can keep some money, a room key, and small items handy and stylish. Use a fun yarn! The one I picked was some mystery yarn in fingering weight that sparkled with brassy metal. If a regular tassel doesn’t suit your character, take it up a notch with a chain fringe or other metal bits. Don’t limit yourself to ribbon for the drawstring. Be creative! Try a smooth chain, I-cord, rattail cord. For a more rustic look, make it in cotton yarn with a rope or cord drawstring.
Yarn – Fingering/sock weight, though heavier weights can work, too. A soft yarn works better.
Needles – US 3 circular for Magic Loop, a second US 3 circular for the Drawstring Casing Hem, or whatever needles give you the desired gauge.
Gauge – 6 sts/in, 8.5 rows/in, though not critical
Notions – 4 markers, all different if possible, including a contrasting one for the A marker
Special techniques – Provisional cast on, hem casing
Provisional cast on is using some waste yarn to get it started, then removing the waste yarn later so there are live stitches. A crochet chain is one common version.
A hem casing is done to create a hem. A facing is made, then a turning purl row, then the front of the project. Then the front and back are joined to form a hem or casing for the drawstrings.
Begin
On smaller needles, using a provisional cast on, CO 60 sts, join in the round, being careful not to twist, pm ‘A’ to mark the beginning of the round.
Hem facing
K 30, pm (“C”), k 30 to end of round
K 6 rounds
Turning row - p 27 sts, BO 2 sts, p 28 sts BO 2 sts. The loop remaining in the row has already been knit, sm
k 27 sts, CO 2 sts using backward loop method k 28 sts CO 2 sts, k1 (60 sts)
K 5 rounds
Drawstring casing hem
Carefully remove provisional cast on, transferring sts to other circular needle. Fold over on turning row. The purl sides will now be together. Hold the two needles together by the left points, with the CO edge in back. Insert the right needle into the 1st st on the front needle, then into the 1st st on the back needle. K these 2 sts together. Repeat until the end of the round. This will form a casing, or tube, that will be used later for the drawstrings. There are 2 holes to allow for the strings.
Body
P 1 round
Set up row – k15 sts, pm (“B”), k15 sm, k15, pm (“D”), k15 sts. These markers will help you keep the design centered.
Start design -
Round 1 *k12 k2tog, yo, k1, sm, k1, yo, ssk, k12* twice
Round 2 and all even-numbered rounds - K 1 round
Round 3 *k11, k2tog, yo, k2, sm, k2, yo, ssk, k11* twice
Round 5 *k10, k2tog, yo, k3, sm, k3, yo, ssk, k10* twice
Round 7 *k9, k2tog, yo, k4, sm, k4, yo, ssk, k9* twice
Round 9 *k8, k2tog, yo, k5, sm, k5, yo, ssk, k8* twice
Round 11 *k7, k2tog, yo, k6, sm, k6, yo, ssk, k7* twice
Round 13 *k6, k2tog, yo, k7, sm, k7, yo, ssk, k6* twice
Round 15 *k5, k2tog, yo, k8, sm, k8, yo, ssk, k5* twice
Round 17 *k4, k2tog, yo, k9, sm, k9, yo, ssk, k4* twice
Round 19 *k3, k2tog, yo, k10, sm, k10, yo, ssk, k3* twice
Round 21 *k2, k2tog, yo, k11, sm, k11, yo, ssk, k2* twice
Round 23 *k1, k2tog, yo, k12, sm, k12, yo, ssk, k1* twice
Round 25 * k2tog, yo, k13, sm, k13, yo, ssk* twice
Round 26 to 30 k 1 round
Begin point
Round 31 k 1 round
Round 32 *k2tog, k to marker B, sm, k to 2 sts before marker C, ssk*, repeat using markers D and A.
Repeat rounds 31 and 32 until there are 4 sts left.
Break yarn leaving a 12” tail. Using a yarn needle, run the tail through the last 4 sts twice, pull tight and fasten off. Use what is left of the tail to attach a tassel or other decoration to the bottom tip.
Finishing
Weave in CO end, hiding it in the casing.
Make a tassel by winding yarn around your hand until it looks full enough. Remove it, holding it securely. Using the tail, slip it through the hole and secure it to the bag. Wind a small length around the “neck” of the tassel and fasten off. Cut apart the far end of the loops and trim them evenly.
Cut 2 lengths of ribbon as long as the casing, plus 2”.
Insert a ribbon through one of the holes in the casing, run it all the way back to the beginning and tie it off. Repeat with the second ribbon, using the other hole. When you pull on the ribbons, the bag will close.
Abbreviations
k = knit
p = purl
pm = place marker
sm = slip marker
k2tog = knit 2 sts together. 1 decrease made
ssk = slip slip knit – slip 1 st as if to knit, slip another st as if to knit, insert the left needle through the front 2 loops on the right needle, knit them together. 1 decrease made
st(s) = stitch(es)
CO=cast on
yo =yarn over
2-24-2011
© by Nancy Hay
