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Andean Cell Phone Case
Design by Donna Druchunas

Ever since I read Andean Folk Knits by Marcia Lewandowsky, I've been in love with the little colorful change purses that the women of the Andes knit. This is my version, using a little wave pattern, adapted as a cell phone case.

Skill Level
Intermediate

Finished Measurements
One size -- approx. 7" (18 cm) circumference by 5 ½" (14 cm) tall

Materials
Color A: 1 ball of Plymouth Baby Alpaca D.K. (100% Baby Alpaca, 125 yds/50g ball), color 4818 (fuchsia)

Color B: 1 ball of Plymouth Suri Merino (55% Suri Alpaca, 45% Extra Fine Merino, 109 Yards/ 50g ball), color 5192 (pink)
1 ball of each color will make several bags.

Set of 4 or 5 size 7 (4.5 mm) double-pointed needles, or size to obtain gauge
Tapestry needle

Gauge
5 sts and 7 rows = 1" over stockinette stitch

Instructions
Bag
With B, cast on 36 sts. Distribute evenly on 3 or 4 dpns and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts.

Knit 1 round. Change to A.

Knit 1 round, then purl 1 round.

Eyelet round: (YO, k2tog) around.

Purl 1 round, then knit 2 rounds.

*Join B and work 6 rows of wave chart (see below). With A, knit 3 rounds. Rep from * another 2 times.

Andean Cell Phone Wave Chart

Cut A. With B, knit 1 round.

Arrange sts so there are 18 sts on each of 2 dpns. With WS tog, working on the outside of the bag, close bottom with three-needle bind off.

Weave in ends.

Finishing
With color B, make a 16"-long (41 cm) twisted cord or crochet chain. Weave it in and out at the eyelets at the top of the bag to form a drawstring.

If desired, with color B make 2 small tassels and attach them to the bottom corners of the bag.

Tassel
To make tassels, cut a piece of cardboard approx ½" (1.5 cm) longer than the finished tassel. Wrap yarn around the cardboard 12 times or until it’s as full as you like. Thread a piece of yarn 6" (15 cm) between the cardboard and the yarn loops and tie a knot. Use these tails to sew the tassel to the bag. Slip the loops off the cardboard. Bind the tassel near the top, just below the hanging loop as follows: Wrap a 10" (25 cm) piece of yarn around the top of the tassel several times about ½" (1.5 cm) from the top. Thread both tails in a needle and hide them in the center of the tassel. Cut open the bottom loops and trim the ends evenly.

Donna Druchunas learned to knit before she could read. After working for 12 years as a technical writer, she decided to combine her interest in knitting with her skill at writing easy-to-follow instructions. She is the author of The Knitted Rug: 21 Fantastic Designs (Lark Books, 2004) and Arctic Lace: Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska's Native Knitters. Her designs and articles have been featured in Family Circle Easy Knitting, Knitters, Interweave Knits, Creative Knitting, and INKnitters magazines. Visit her website at www.sheeptoshawl.com

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