Knitting

So I'm reading through Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop book (http://www.amazon.ca/dp/0942018001) and it's kind of a knit-a-long.  It asks you to knit a very large swatch for preparation for a sweater in the round.  I figured I'm knitting 5" in the round with 80 sts (stitches) so why not have some fun.  I need to wash the swatch so it's not like I can pull it out and reuse it for the sweater.  I thought, I need a new purse.  I love doing colour work and want to add it to the sweater.  A while back I found a chart for the Norwegian star pattern and added it to the 5" swatch.  Voila, a new purse after I line it and add a handle.