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.

See the Additional Details Tab below for more information about finished dimensions, gauge, yarn requirements, and other necessary materials to complete this project.

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 OR 4 - 8 Noni Gumdrop Bag Feet

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 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).

This cutie felted bag, like its predecessor, Lipstick and Change, conjures up memories for me of beloved little purses, change purses I used for years, fancy little impractical bags I couldn't live without and carried tucked away in bigger, less decadent bags, or carried alone to dances, parties, or just because.

Sparkle, simply put, loves shiny things: tinsel, bright lights, facetted stones in bright settings. She, rather than take one thing off before leaving the house, would probably put one more thing on . . . and then maybe one more. And it better be glittery or a little over the top. Other times, she is beautiful in blue jeans and a soft denim shirt, no make-up, tousled hair. Lipstick and Change Sparkle is her only jewelry.

This little bag is adorned with beautiful genuine crystal rhinestone Sparkle Rivets. Choose from a selection of lovely colors. The pattern is identical to the original Lipstick and Change pattern except that it also includes instructions about how to decorate the finished felted bag with sparkle rivets.

Click on the Additional Details tab for more information about dimensions, yarn amounts, materials, and bag kits that include everything you need to complete this project.

Finished Dimensions

Small Lipstick Sparkle

4" (10cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
3.5" (9cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
2" (5cm) deep
4" (10cm) tall from bottom to frame

Medium Lipstick Sparkle

4" (10cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
3.5" (9cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
2" (5cm) deep
5" (12.5cm) tall from bottom to frame

Large Lipstick Sparkle

4" (10cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
3.5" (9cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
2" (5cm) deep
6" (15cm) tall from bottom to frame

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Easy: Requires knowledge of knitting and purling, knitting in the round on circular needles, and some hand-sewing during the finishing process.

Gauge

Pre-felted gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rounds= 4" (10cm) in St st with a double-strand of worsted weight yarn.

Materials

Lipstick and Change Sparkle Hardware Kit is available and includes:

3.5" (9cm) purse frame
10" (25cm) purse chain
4 Noni 12mm bag feet
5 x 5 in sheet of stiffener 
Sparkle rivets 
Matching beads and nylon thread

A Hardware and Yarn Kit is Also Available to help with color matching. This kit adds:

1 skein of Shepherd's Wool in select colors

Yarn Requirements

Small Lipstick: 75 yds (69m)
Medium Lipstick: 95 yds (90m)
Large Lipstick: 110 yds (100m)

Needles and Other Materials

Size 8 (5mm) 16 (4cm) circular needles
Sharp sewing needle
Stitch marker to mark round
Awl or Size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needle
Locktite Superglue Extra Time Control clear-drying glue to glue bag into frame
Noni Special Rivet-setting kit (Optional)

Cover Samples

All pictured samples were made in Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool. Samples (from left to right) were made in Black, Pewter, Orange, Creamsicle, Hot Pink, Spring Green, Zinnia, and Lime