Penny Purse

Penny Purse by Marianna's Lazy Daisy Designs

Project Overview

The Penny Purse is a charming, compact knitted pocket purse designed by Marianna's Lazy Daisy Designs. This versatile small accessory is perfect for gifting or personal use, offering multiple practical applications beyond its name suggests. The finished purse provides an ideal container for small treasures such as chocolate coins, sweets, gift cards, earphones, jewelry, scented candles, flavored teabags, or other delicate small items.

What You'll Create

This project results in a sweet little pocket-sized purse with a structured, finished appearance. The design features a rectangular body with shaped decreases that create a subtle tapered effect toward the closure, and is finished with a cute button for fastening. The purse is small enough to slip into a pocket or bag while remaining spacious enough to hold a variety of small gifts and personal items.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Casting on: The pattern begins with a standard cast-on of 20 stitches
• Garter stitch: Knit rows create the textured, reversible fabric that forms the main body
• Stockinette stitch sections: Alternating knit and purl rows create subtle texture variation in designated areas
• Slip stitch edging: Slip stitches at the beginning of purl rows (S1) create neat, finished selvage edges
• Decreases: Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (s1, k1, psso) and knit two together (k2tog) techniques are used to shape the purse toward closure
• Stitch shaping: Strategic decreases reduce the stitch count from 20 to 14 stitches, creating a tapered finish

Stitches Featured

The Penny Purse utilizes fundamental knitting stitches suitable for an intermediate-level crafter. The primary stitch is garter stitch, created by knitting every row, which produces a dense, textured fabric with excellent drape and durability. Stockinette stitch sections—created by alternating knit and purl rows—add subtle visual interest and texture variation. Decreasing stitches using s1, k1, psso and k2tog techniques shape the purse and demonstrate essential shaping skills that transfer to more complex projects.

Materials Required

This efficient little project requires minimal materials, making it an excellent choice for stash-busting or gift-making. You'll need approximately 10 to 12 grams of DK weight yarn in any color of your choice. The pattern is compatible with any yarn that knits to a gauge of 22 stitches over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in DK weight. Pair your yarn with 4mm knitting needles to achieve the correct gauge. The pattern also calls for one cute little button to serve as the closure mechanism, adding a charming finishing touch to your completed purse.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate project, the Penny Purse is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to practice shaping and decreasing. The pattern introduces practical applications of decrease stitches in a small, manageable project that builds confidence in garment construction without requiring extensive time commitment.