This classically-shaped Carpet Bag combines practicality and beauty. It makes a bold statement as a briefcase embellished with luscious camellia flowers (flower instructions included in the pattern), a great weekender bag, or a knitting bag that will be the envy of all but those who have already made their own.

The Rather huge carpet bag really is rather huge. If the finished measurements seem rather abstract to you, get out that tape measure and make it in the air. It is BIG. And it is traffic-stopping gorgeous, with big, sexy camellias on one (or both) sides.

The medium carpet bag is the perfect size to carry anywhere. It works as a purse to carry everyday, as a tote for those smallish knitting projects, or as a look-at-me-and-my-awesome-bag fashion statement.

When you don't want a big carpet bag, it's nice to have a small one. It looks terrific embellished or decorated with a single camellia flower or any one of the many Noni flowers available in singlet patterns or in the Noni Flowers book.

Look at Additional Details below for information about dimensions, gauge, and materials.

Finished Dimensions

Smallish Carpet Baguette

11" (28cm) wide
3" (7.6cm) deep across bag bottom
1" (2.5cm) deep across bag top
6" (15.25cm) tall

Medium-Sized Carpet Bag

12" (30.5cm) wide
4" (10.15cm) deep
10" (25.5cm) tall

Rather Huge Carpet Bag

19" (48.25cm) wide
6" (15.25cm) deep
13" (33cm) tall

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Easy: Requires knowledge of casting on, knitting and purling, picking up stitches in knitted fabric, increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round on circular needles, and some hand-sewing during the finishing process.

Gauge

Pre-felted gauge: 12 stitches and 16 rounds = 4" (10cm) in St st with a double-strand of worsted weight yarn.

Materials

Yarn Requirements

Smallish Carpet Baguette

Solid Colored Bag: 450 yds (412m)
Striped Bag: 225 yds (206m) Pewter
225 yds (206m) White

Medium-Sized Carpet Bag

Solid Colored Bag: 900 yds (823m)
Striped Bag: 450 yds (412m) Christmas Red
450 yds (412m) Garnet

Rather Huge Carpet Bag

Solid Colored Bag: 1800 yds (1646m)
Striped Bag: 900 yds (823m) Black
900 yds (823m) Granite

Camellia Flower

(makes 1 large flower and 1-2 medium flowers): 600 yds (549m) in Christmas Red

Needles and Other Materials

Size 11 (8mm) 24" (60cm) circular needles
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Sewing needle
Nylon beading thread
Noni Amazing Magnetic Snap Closure
6 - 12 Noni 24mm bag feet
11.25 x 13.5 in sheet of stiffener for the bag bottom. We recommend mat board to stiffen the bottom of your bag
Zipper with 2 bottom stops (optional-pictured on the small bag)
2 acrylic purse handles (pictured)

OR 1 pair of JUL Flat-strap, Forager handles (recommended) See my blog entry about dressing the Carpet Bags.

Camellia Flowers
Size 11 (8mm) set of double-pointed needles

Pictured Samples

All of the bags pictured were created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill's Shepherd's Wool. Smallish Baguette pictured in White and Pewter. Medium-Sized bag pictured in Christmas Red and Garnet. Rather Huge bag pictured in Black and Granite with Christmas Red camellias.

This sophisticated bag is decorated with five small camellia flowers on the front. Understated. . . it has a subtle dazzle. Line it with an unexpected silk brocade and you'll delight in searching for your keys.

Camellia flower instructions included.

The colors and undulating I-cord embellishment evoke the waves of the ocean, while the flash of the paillettes recalls the dash and dazzle of tiny fish swimming in unison. A great little bag in green. And just picture it in grey and black for Fall 2006!

A variation of Fish Scales, this bag, knitted in cream with pastel iridescent paillettes turning this way and that over a pastel mohair ruff, is a bit more understated. It is the perfect companion in Spring, on a hot Summer night with a pretty pastel dress, or with that white outfit you're saving for a frigid winter day.

Finished Dimensions

9 to 9 to 9

7 1/2" (19cm) wide
3" (7.6cm) deep
7 1/2" (19cm) tall

Green Fish Scales & White Coral Bag

5 1/2" (14cm) wide
3" (7.6cm) deep
7" (17.8cm) tall

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Easy: Requires knowledge of casting on, knitting and purling, picking up stitches in knitted fabric, increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round on circular needles, and some hand-sewing during the finishing process.

Guage

Pre-felted gauge: 12 stitches and 16 rounds = 4" (10cm) in St st with a double-strand of worsted weight yarn.

Materials

Yarn Requirements

9 to 9 to 9

450 yds (412m) Black

Purple Camellias

225 yds (205.75m) Raspberry

Maribou Feathers

120 yds (109.75m) novelty fur type yarn, Black

Green Fish Scale

450 yds (412m) Lime
225 yds (205.75m) Spring Green

White Coral

450 yds (412m) White
225 yds thin gauge mohair Pale Pink, Seafoam, or Cream

Needles and Other Materials

Size 11 (8mm) 24" (60cm) circular needle
Size 8 (5mm) needles
Stitch Markers
2 acrylic purse handles
600 20 mm "mermaid green" paillettes for Fish Scales
200 2mm iridescent white paillettes for Coral
Noni Best Sew in Closure for Evening Bag
11 1/4 x 13 1/2 in sheet of stiffener
4-6 Noni 24mm Bag feet

Pictured Samples

All bags were created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool. 9 to 9 to 9 is pictured in Black. The purple Camellias are done in Raspberry. Green Fish Scales is pictured in Lime and Spring Green. Coral bag pictured in White.

Let us put a custom hardware kit together for you. Contact us for details and pricing.

I was inspired by the fanny pack when I made this purse, but I wanted something that was softer and that could be worn like a shoulder bag, or a traditional fanny pack, and could also be worn as a soft, squashy cross body bag. 

I love the versatility of this little pouch. Rivet the handle onto the purse end for a lighter, entirely different look. 

Attach a JUL Flat Strap forager with chicago screws and you have yet another silhoette. Make a shorter handle out of a sleek, glossy fabric, sew it on with beaded stitches, decorate the purse with fabric roses, and all of a sudden you have a unique evening purse. 

Finished Dimensions

11” (27.5cm) wide across the front/back
16” (40cm) circumference on the sides

Pattern Difficulty

Easy: Requires knowledge of knitting and purling, knitting in the round and double-pointed needles.

Gauge

Pre-felted gauge: 20 stitches and 22 rounds = 4" (10cm) using a single-strand of worsted weight yarn.

Materials

Yarn Requirements 

Small Baguette

500 yds (457m)

Large Baguette

750 yds (686m)

Needles and Other Materials

Size 9 (5.5mm) 24" (60cm) circular needles
Size 9 (5.5mm) double-pointed needles
knitted strap
zipper with 2 bottom stops
2 buckles in gold-tone or nickel
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Sewing needle
Nylon beading thread

Pictured Samples

Both of the bags pictured were created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool. The bag on the front is pictured in Christmas Red. The bag on the back is pictured in Red.