The Clematis Shopping Bag is the stylish alternative to a reusable shopping bag. Perfect for the mall, groceries, or as a picnic/lunch tote for the whole family. The bag can be made striped and adorned with the Clematis flower for an eminently feminine look, or try rugby stripes or solids (without flower) for a great-looking but entirely unisex and utilitarian bag.

Felted bags are particularly well-suited as totes for groceries and picnics because they are naturally insulated, don't lose their shape or their immense carrying capabilities when wet, and withstand even harsh treatment, all the while looking fantastic.

This Clematis flower evolved out of a Spring Noni/Knitch Retreat in Atlanta, GA in 2008. The intense weekend workshop was called Designing with Flowers and the group chose the Clematis flower to design. We had a blast and the flower came out, as you can see, looking as though it was just plucked from the vine. My thanks and hat off to the ladies who participated in that workshop!

Finished Dimensions

Clematis Shopping Bag

12" (30cm) wide
7" (17.5cm) deep
16" (40cm) tall

Clematis Flower

10" (25cm) from petal tip to petal tip

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid beginner: Requires knowledge of basic crochet stitches, increasing and decreasing, working in the round, and some simple hand-sewing.

Gauge

Pre-felted gauge: 11 stitches and 13 rounds = 4" (10cm) with a double strand of worsted weight yarn.

Materials

Yarn Requirements 

Bags: 840 yds (768m) Spring Green (A)
         1050 yds (960m) Mint (B)
Flowers
         100 yds (91.5m) Lime (C)
         210 yds (192m) Violet (D)
         40 yds (36.5) white Fizz (E)

Needles and Other Materials

Size L (8mm) hook for bag
Size H (5mm) hook for flowers
Locking stitch markers
Sewing needle
Nylon sewing thread
13.5 x 22.5 in sheet of stiffener
4-6 Noni 24mm bag feet
'A Noni Design' label

Pictured Samples

The sample pictured was created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool in Spring Green and Mint with Violet and Lime flowers and white Fizz in the center.

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

Clematis is a genus that contains hundreds of species. What is surprising is that it in the buttercup family. Once you know this, perhaps you can see it: some Clematis, such as Armandi with five petals or Rooguchi with only 4, have a simplicity that makes them a resting place for the eye. 

The Clematis here is a bit more floriferous and bold, with larger blossoms that present themselves more forcefully. The bi-colored clematis was inspired by the blossoms of Clematis Barbara Jackman, dark veins down their centers with lighter outlines. 

With this pattern, you can make your own Clematis vine. Wrap them around a sculptural branch in the center of a Spring table. Decorate the Clematis Shopping Bag as pictured here. Peruse images of the variety of Clematis flowers and let your own creativity dictate a new color combination.

If you can't get enough of the Clematis, look for yet another Clematis flower pattern in my book, Noni Flowers.

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Beginner to intermediate knitters: requires knitting, purling, increasing, and decreasing

Gauge

Gauge is not important for this pattern. Nevertheless, work each felted flower with a single strand of worsted weight, feltable yarn held throughout. To make the flowers in the size pictured, use the recommended needle size(s). For smaller or larger flowers, change your gauge by going down in yarn and needle size, or up, respectively.

Materials

Size 5, 6, or 7 double pointed needles (smaller needles create a smaller flower)
1 skein green
1 skein clematis flower color (210 yards makes 4 single-color flowers)
1 skein darker or lighter clematis flower color
1 ball or 10 yds (9m) of Cyrstal Palace Fizz, white, for flower center
Lock Stitch Markers in two colors to use as holders

Pictured Samples

The flowers were made in Shepherd's Wool by Stonehedge Fiber Mill. The solid-colored flowers were made in purple with white Fizz centers. The bi-colored flowers were made in purple with pansy edges. 

This cowl design was inspired by a scarf I saw in a shop window in New York. I have taken liberties with the design I saw, of course, and Nonified it. I offer it as a cowl that, when wrapped around your neck twice, snuggles close to you and keeps out the brisk winds.

Difficulty Level

Beginner Skill Builder: Requires provisional cast on, knitting and purling, and joining the scarf to form a cowl using either a 3-needle bind off or grafting the two ends together. 

Dimensions

72" (180cm) long before joined x 14" (35cm) wide

Gauge  

5 sts and 6 rows = 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch

Yarn & Materials

1 Noni Complete Kit:

1 pdf of the pattern
2 skeins of Noni Luxurious Bulky yarn
1 Noni label
1 Velvet project bag

Size 50 straight or circular needles with an additional needle to work a 3-needle bind off (the additional needle is not needed if you want to graft the two ends together).

Tapestry needle to weave in ends and/or to graft the two ends of the cowl together (if preferred over a 3-needle bind off).