Täschchen in Schachenmayr Brazilia - 5539A - Downloadable PDF

Täschchen in Schachenmayr Brazilia – Knitted Bag Pattern 5539A

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Schachenmayr provides instructions for knitting a charming small handbag or pouch, known in German as a Täschchen. The finished bag measures approximately 24 x 13 cm, making it an ideal compact accessory for everyday use or as a handmade gift project. The design is straightforward and well-suited to knitters with a basic level of experience, combining simple knitting with a neat crochet finishing detail.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a small rectangular knitted bag with a zippered closure. The bag features a two-tone striped body worked in Schachenmayr Brazilia yarn, finished with a decorative crocheted edging around the opening and an applied embellishment for a polished, boutique-style look. The construction is simple: a single flat piece is knitted, folded, and seamed at the sides, making this an accessible project that delivers a professional result.

Yarn and Materials

• Schachenmayr Brazilia – 50 g in Fb 22 mimose (a warm yellow-mimosa shade) and 50 g in Fb himbeerrosa (raspberry pink), used for the main body of the bag
• Schachenmayr Glanzperle – 50 g or a remainder ball in Fb 1351 mimose, used for the crochet edging around the bag opening; Glanzperle is a lustrous, pearlescent yarn that adds a subtle sheen to the finished edge
• Milward knitting needles in sizes 4.5 to 5.5 mm
• Milward crochet hook in sizes 2 to 3 mm
• Opti zip fastener S 40 (Art. 4801, colour 693, 22 cm length) for the bag closure
• Goldzack appliqué (Art. 926 143) for decorative embellishment, available from specialist retailers

Yarn Weight and Gauge

Schachenmayr Brazilia is classified as an aran weight yarn, offering good stitch definition and a satisfying knit on mid-range needle sizes. The pattern specifies a tension gauge of 18 stitches and 28 rows to 10 x 10 cm worked in stocking stitch (stockinette). Achieving this gauge is important to ensure the finished bag matches the stated dimensions of 24 x 13 cm.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch (glatt rechts) – the entire body of the bag is worked in stocking stitch, with right-side rows knitted and wrong-side rows purled. This creates a smooth, flat fabric ideal for showcasing the colour stripe sequence.
• Colour striping – the bag is worked in three distinct colour sections: 5 cm in Brazilia mimose, followed by 16 cm in Brazilia himbeerrosa, and a final 5 cm in Brazilia mimose, totalling 26 cm of knitting before folding.
• Cast-on and cast-off – 45 stitches are cast on to begin, and all stitches are cast off at the end of the knitted length.
• Seaming – the cast-on and cast-off edges are placed together and the side edges are sewn up to form the bag shape.
• Single crochet edging (feste Maschen) – the bag opening is neatened by working a round of single crochet (double crochet in UK terms) using Schachenmayr Glanzperle, adding both structure and a decorative pearlescent trim around the zip opening.
• Zip insertion – the Opti zip fastener is hand-sewn into the bag opening after the crochet edging is complete.
• Appliqué attachment – the