Chanel inspired evening bag

Since I created an Etsy profile I have become semi-obsessed with designing and making purses to post. This week's project was inspired by the classic Coco Chanel clutch that has been mimicked countless times through the years.

For the body of the bag I decided to use a lattice stitch pattern which looks absolutely lovely but ended up being incredibly tedious. The yarn I chose is a peaches and cream color mercerized cotton that I received from a woman who had gotten it in Turkey years ago. After knitting the main piece I reinforced it with none other than a sheet of plastic canvas cut into the shape I wanted the bag to end up. Then I managed to design a triangle shaped end piece to make opening and closing the bag smoother. 

After I had sewn the sides and attached the shaping pieces I set out to find the perfect lining. When we were in NYC this past December I had found a wonderful piece of delicately striped, light green silk and decided it would be a nice lining. The muted peach and green colors play very well together I think.

When sewing the lining I contemplated including pockets for credit cards but ended up opting for an open interior because it was to be an evening bag not a wallet.  

Finishing the bag presented quite the dilemma. Did I want to add a button? A strap? A wrist loop? A clasp? Finally I decided to create a magnetic closure and no strap. I was looking through my buttons to find the perfect fit and found the perfect one! Actually it isn't a button at all. It was an old clip on earing. I was examining the back trying to figure out how to attach it and noticed that engraved in the metal it had the Chanel logo and " made in france". Doesn't get better than that!! Here is the finished product;

If you'd like to make it your own, click here to buy it at my Etsy shop!