I have always been intrigued by the scene in Jane Austen’s Emma in which Harriet brings her box of “most precious treasures” to Emma’s house. The footnote in my copy of the book said that Harriet had a Tunbridge ware box, which are beautiful wooden boxes with intricately inlaid designs.

Obviously I couldn’t knit a box, but I could knit a bag that looked like one of these gems. The back of the bag uses patterns similar to what I saw on the boxes. The front of the bag also has some of these designs along with the words Most Precious Treasures. It is just the right size to hold a few sacred items: love letters, a few pictures of one’s children, or—for me—my latest sock knitting project.

MATERIALS
Storied Yarns Superwash Sock (75% superwash merino, 25% nylon; 462 yds / 422m per 100g skein, 14 wpi)
MC Harriet Smith; 1 skein
CC Undyed; 1 skein

Substitutions:
MC Mountain Colors Bearfoot (60% superwash wool, 25% mohair, 15% nylon; 400 yds / 366m per 100g skein, 14 wpi), Sandstone; 1 skein
CC Dale Baby Ull (100% wool; 180 yds / 165m per 50g skein, 14 wpi), color #0020; 1 skein

US #3 / 3.25mm circular needle, 24” / 60cm long
1 set US #3 / 3.25mm double-point needles
US #2 / 2.75mm circular needle (optional—for knit lining)

Stitch markers
3 safety pins
Stitch holders