This fascinating and delicate bag is based on a pattern for an “Egg and Cracker Bag” found in Harper’s Bazar, 1868. It is a fun project that is representative of its era. The lace openwork design provides lots of stretch. Once complete, it could be used as a largehandbag or purse; a snack or picnic bag; as a produce, shopping, or market bag; a yarn or project bag; laundry bag; or even as a book bag.

Knit in the round from the bottom up, the design features three knitting motifs: a beautiful oversize sunflower shape for the bottom, an overlapping leaf figure for the center, and an openwork lace trellis for the top. It requires no seaming and is a fairly straightforward intermediate lace project.

Notions:: 24 Stitch markers, tapestry needle or crochet hook; Ribbons (25 inches/63.5 mm long each) to be used as drawstrings. Optional: 2 pieces of ¼ or ½ wide circular reed (two 8 or 10-inch embroidery hoops work in a pinch).

Adaptations to the original pattern
The original pattern provided little information on the type, size, color or amount of yarn to be used for this bag. Nor does it indicate how large the finished product should be. It only suggests “coarse knitting cotton and large knitting-needles.” It does suggest the use of red ribbon and red worsted yarn for trimmings but otherwise provides no mention of color.

A few errors in the original, both in math and in knitting techniques have been corrected and improved upon. Modern knitting terminology, abbreviations, and techniques have also been applied. It has been test-knitted by both beginner and intermediate knitters.

About the Author
Heather Vaughan Lee is an author and fashion historian whose work focuses on the study of dress in the late 19th through the 20th century. Covering a range of topics and perspectives in dress history, she is primarily known for her research in American fashion history, the history of knitting in America and the UK. Her research and patterns have been published by Piecework Magazine and Knitting Traditions Magazine since 2013. Her recent books include Artifacts from American Fashion (2019) and Clothing and Fashion: American Fashion From Head to Toe (2015).

Learn more at www.fashionhistorian.net