Inspired by Victorian coin purses, but with a modern twist, these key chains work up quickly using simple bead crochet stitches, making them an ideal introduction to the bead crochet technique. With star charms, festive metallic accents and a complete alphabet of monograms to choose from, they would make a thoughtful, personalized gift for her.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Flap size: 1.5” x 2.25”; Purse Size: 2.25” x 2.25”; Star Charm:  1” x 1”

Gauge:  20 sts and 22 rnds = 2” [5 cm] in sc

Materials

Yarn:

DMC Pearl Cotton, Size 5 (100% Cotton; 27.3 yards [25 meters/5 grams]): color #823 (2 skeins) for Navy Coin Purse; color #554 (2 skeins) for Lavender Coin Purse

DMC Diamant Metallic Thread (100% Polyester; 38.2 yards [35 meters]): color #D316 Pink Amethyst (1 spool) for Star Charms

Hook: US Steel Size 9 (1.25mm)

Notions: TOHO PermaFinish opaque galvanized rocailles (round) seed beads in rose gold, size 11/0 (also written size #11), key chain finding, small snap, tapestry needle, thin wire beading needle with collapsible eye, sewing needle, matching sewing or embroidery thread, 8mm jump ring, thin cardboard, pins for blocking.

Abbreviations

sc2tog – single crochet 2 together

Special Stitches

Beaded single crochet (bsc): Worked in the round. Insert hook into st, pull up a lp, and slide a bead all the way down the working thread until it is flush against your current st. Yo, pull through the 2 lps on the hook, locking the bead in place on the WS of the work.

Beaded half double crochet (bhdc): Worked flat. With the RS of the work facing you, slide a bead all the way down the working thread so that it is flush against the current st, yo, insert the hook into st of the previous row, pull up a lp. There will now be 3 lps on the hook, including one in the middle with the bead. Slide the bead so it is on the RS of the work, yo, pull through all 3 lps, locking bead in place.

Beaded single crochet – variation (bscV): Worked flat. With WS of the work facing you, slide a bead all the way down the working thread. Insert hook into st, pull up a lp, yo, draw through both lps, locking the bead in place on the RS of work.

Crocheting in the round: The purse body is worked in rnds with the WS of the work facing outwards. At the beginning of each rnd, ch 1 and sc into the first sc of the previous row. Do not count the ch 1 as the first st. At the end of the row, sl st into the first sc of the row to join. This forms a narrow seam of stacked joins, instead of a seam that spirals as the work progresses.

Pattern Notes

If using pearl cotton, wind your skeins of thread onto two separate spools or small pieces of cardboard to prevent tangling.

For the Purse Body: Select your chosen monogram and use a pencil to transfer its graph into one of the 16 x 16 square blocks with a black border on the general graph template. Each row of the graph is always read from right to left (left to right if left-handed), starting at the bottom right corner. Because the bead crochet is worked on the wrong side of the work, the monogram charts are a mirror image of the finished design.

Count the number of beads on the graph, with each dark square equaling one bsc (104 beads for borders + beads for monogram + 10 extra). Using a beading needle, pre-string the beads onto one skein of thread before starting to crochet.

See Downloads for Monogram Alphabet Graphs

Coin Purse

Body

Ch 45, sl st into first ch to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in same sp as the sl st, cont working 44 sc around the ring, sl st into the first sc to join rnd. (45 sc).

Note: This is Row 1 of the purse graph. To help track your progress, lightly cross off each row of graph with a pencil as you complete it.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in the first sc of previous row, sc in next 44 sts around, sl st in first sc to join.

While continuing to start and join the remaining rnds the same way as described above:

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, bsc in next 18 sts, sc in next 5 sts, bsc in next 18 sts, sc in next 2 sts, sl st into first sc.

Rnds 4-19: Ch 1, work rnd in alternating sc and bsc, following the pattern of your monogram graph.

Rnd 20: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, bsc in next 18 sts, sc in next 5 sts, bsc in next 18 sts, sc in next 2 sts, sl st to first sc.

Rnds 21-22: Ch 1, sc in next 45 sts, sl st to first sc.

Fasten off.

Flap

Note: Thread on 41 beads onto second skein of pearl cotton.

Ch 25.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each st to end. (24 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 2 sts, bsc in next 20 sts, sc in next 2 sts.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bhdc in next st, sc in next 18 sts, bhdc in next st, sc2tog. (22 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bscV in next st, sc in next 16 sts, bscV in next st, sc2tog. (20 sts)

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bhdc in next st, sc in next 14 sts, bhdc in next st, sc2tog. (18 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bscV in next st, sc in next 12 sts, bscV in next st, sc2tog. (16 sts)

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bhdc in next st, sc in next 10 sts, bhdc in next st, sc2tog. (14 sts)

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bscV in next st, sc in next 8 sts, bscV in next st, sc2tog. (12 sts)

Row 9: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bhdc in next st, sc in next 6 sts, bhdc in next st, sc2tog. (10 sts)

Row 10: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bscV in next st, sc in next 4 sts, bscV in next st, sc2tog. (8 sts)

Row 11: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bhdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, bhdc in next st, sc2tog. (6 sts)

Row 12: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bscV in next 2 sts, sc2tog. (4 sts)

Row 13: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, bhc in next st, sc in next st. (3 sts)

Row 14: Ch 1, turn, sc3tog, ch 1.

Fasten off.

Star Charm (make 2)

With two strands held together, string 10 beads onto DMC Diamant thread.

Ch 2.

Rnd 1: Work 10 sc in 2nd ch from hook, pull tail to tighten lp, sl st into first sc to form a rnd.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, in first sc *[dc, beaded tr (yo twice, insert hook into stitch, pull up lp, yo, pull through 2 lps, slide down a bead, yo, pull through 2 lps, yo, pull through last 2 lps), ch 3, sc in sp between dc and tr (picot made), dc], sc in next st; rep from * 4 times to form the 5 points of the star. Fasten off.

Loop for Key Chain

Ch 12, slip tail end of ch through hole of key chain, sl st to first st to join into ring.

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next ch, sl st to first sc.

Fasten off.

Finishing

Coin purse

Weave in ends of Coin Purse Body and Flap using tapestry needle. Align sts of bottom edge of Purse so that the column of stacked joins is on the one side fold of the Purse and the monogram is centered on one side.

Using sewing thread, back stitch across bottom edge of Purse.

Cut a square of cardboard measuring 2” x 2”. Insert it into Purse and spray the Purse with water on both sides to block. Spray block the Flap using pins.

When dry, position a snap .25” from point of Flap and st in place with sewing thread. Attach other half of snap to the front of Coin Purse Body. Align the long edge of Flap against top edge of the monogram side of Coin Purse with RS together. Whip stitch the Flap to the Coin Purse using sewing thread. Insert the cardboard and with Flap fastened, spray block the top of Coin Purse along the seam.

Stitch the crocheted key chain loop to the upper left edge of the monogram side of Coin Purse along the side fold and just below the Coin Purse opening. Weave in ends.

Star Charm

St a seed bead into the centers of each Star Charm.

With WS together, align the points of stars and whip stitch all around the star to join. Weave in ends.

St a jump ring to the top point of the star and attach the jump ring to the key chain.