I like carrying large bags and purses . . . but I don't like digging around in my purse to find my keys, or my credit card at the grocery store.  I came up with a solution: The On The Run! purses:

Welcome, Change! 

Pictured here in "Denim" grey and Sun Yellow stripes, this tiny purse is too small for a credit card, but it is perfect for change or other small things: knitting notions, favorite jewelry, a day's medication.

3" (7.6cm) wide at hinge x 3 - 3.5" (7.6 - 8.8cm) tall 

Ready, Set, Go! 

Pictured here in Black, this purse is ideal for holding a credit card and some folded bills and change comfortably. You can make this your on the go wallet.

3" (7.6cm) wide at hinge x 5 - 5.5" (12.7 - 13.9cm) tall

Clip it! 

And this tiny purse, seen here in Zinnia Pink, is the tallest of the On The Go!tiny purses. It is perfect for your glasses, or an epi-pen, or a combination of essentials.)

3" (7.6cm) wide at hinge x 6.5 - 7" (16.5 - 17.7cm) tall

If you prefer, you can also purchase this pattern through Ravelry.

See the Additional Details tab below for information about Pattern Difficulty, Dimensions, Gauge, Materials, and the Pictured Samples.

Pattern Difficulty 

Requires knowledge of casting on, knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, knitting in the round on double-pointed needles, 3-needle bind off, and some hand-sewing to complete the finishing process and to make the purse linings (if desired).

Finished Dimensions

Welcome Change!

3" (7.6cm) wide at hinge

3 - 3.5" (7.6 - 8.8cm) tall 

Ready, Set, Go!

3" (7.6cm) wide at hinge

5 - 5.5" (12.7 - 13.9cm) tall

Clip it! 

3" (7.6cm) wide at hinge

6.5 - 7" (16.5 - 17.7cm) tall

Pre-Felted Gauge 

20 sts and 28 rounds = 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch using a single strand of yarn 

Materials

Yarn Requirements

All three On The Run! purses are made with worsted-weight, feltable wool. Pictured bags are made with Stonehedge Fiber Mill’s Shepherd’s Wool

40 (45, 50) yds [36.5 (41, 46m) 

Other Materials

US 7 (4.5mm) set of 5 double-pointed needles 

2 locking stitch markers in different colors to mark sided/round to clip to work

Sewing needle for finishing work

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Locktite Super Glue “Extra Time Control”

1 Noni On The Run! Hardware Kit

• 1 Flirt purse frame
• 1 handle loop and 1 split ring or spring gate ring - see the pictured samples and the Noni website for kit options and choices
• 1 package of seed beads and color-matched nylon beading thread - there is an option that does not include seed beads and thread so that you can choose your own color combination

1/8 yd (.11m) lining fabric if desired (optional) If you are using scrap fabric, you will need 2 pieces that measure 5" (12.75cm)

wide and 4" (6", 8") [10 (15.25, 20.25)cm] tall.

ON SAAAALE $13.25 per skein for in-stock yarn from now until Noni closes. The price for colors I have to order is $13.95. I will be ordering out-of-stock colors on May 30 and shipping as soon as it comes in.

IMPORTANT: If the color you want is sold out, get in touch. I can special order it for you but the discount for special orders will only be 10% - I cannot extend additional discounts to special orders.

Shepherd's Wool by Stonehedge Fiber Mill is a 3-ply worsted weight yarn made and milled in Michigan by a family-owned and run company. The yarn is fabulously soft, made from fine Merino top. There are 17 saturated solids from which the all the heathers and marls are created for a complete palette of delicious colors.

The yarn is perfect for felting, making it my first choice for felted bags and flowers. Because the colors are so vibrant and alive, Shepherd's Wool worsted and fingering was also my pick for many of the flowers in Noni Flowers - the Shepherd's Wool flowers always look at the peak of floral perfection, rather than garish and overly bright or too muted for flowers at their best.

But it is much more than a great felter: we feel this yarn rivals some top brand Cashmeres, making it wonderful to knit with and a pleasure to wear, even next to bare skin. Once you knit with this yarn, you will find an excuse to make mittens, sweaters, gauntlets, Ella Coats, and hats out of it. You'll find yourself saving even tiny bits so you can make crazy ski beanies out of it. You might not want to knit with anything else . . .

Each 4 oz skein contains 250 yds (228.5m) and knits at about 5 sts/inch on US size 6 - 8 needles.

Many of the newest designer handbags are decorated with cabochon rivets, and the newest releases almost always sport them. Now, the home-knitter and crafter can use these same top-quality rivets to make similar cutting edge designs on the flaps and bodies of felted, fabric, or leather bags. 

Now available in Gunmetal, and Antique Brass so you can match your bag hardware with each, our package of 20 9mm Cabochon rivets add interest to felted and finished bags, knitted and ready-to-wear garments, coats, boots, sandal straps . . . Both rivet head and shank have smooth caps so they are pretty on front and back.

Picture a grid work of cabochons on the front of a purse, a row of them around a purse flap. Decorate the centers of our Bling Flowers. Embellish the outside seam of a pair of jeans. Or the ruffles of your Ella coats. Of the top of some soft leather boots. As soon as you start designing embellishments with Cabochon Rivets, you will start to think of countless places you could put one, or two . . . or more.

Click on the Additional Details tab for Cabochon Rivet dimensions and rivet application instructions.

Dimensions of a Single Cabochon Rivet

Rivet top width: 3/4" (10mm)
Rivet top height: 2/16" (4mm)
Rivet shank length: 5/16" (8mm)
Rivet back width: 5/16" (9mm)

Rivet Application Instructions

Not only do Cab Rivets add a glint and sparkle to projects, but they are also easy to apply.

To pierce fabric or leather, use an awl or leather punch, respectively.

To pierce felt, simply use the sharp point of size 6 or smaller double-pointed needle. Next, arrange the rivets as desired, press the rivet back through the fabric from back to front (from wrong side through to right side), and snap the rivet front on.

Cabochon Rivets can be set with a custom fancy rivet setter (an expensive tool that I didn't think worked very well when I tried it with my super useful concave anvil). Consequently, I devised another way to set these rivets that is not only more economical but also easy and just as effective: once all of the rivets have been placed, twist off the rivet top and put a little Locktite Superglue (I prefer "extra time control") in the receptacle on the back of the rivet front or on the top of the rivet back and a little on the bag itself just around the hole where the rivet resides; then snap the rivet together. Hold in place for a few seconds and the rivet is set.

Let's just say you didn't use enough glue the first time. . . to make sure all your rivets will stay put, give them all a bit of a nudge. If you ascertain that the rivet is not secure, remove the top again and repeat the instruction again. Hold until the glue is set (about 15 seconds with the above-recommended glue).

Using Shepherd's Wool yarn colors as the organizing principle, I have created color-matched packages that include a 1 gram package of no. 8 seed beads, and an 80yd (73m) bobbin of nylon beading thread. Each beads and thread combination is packaged in a re-useable, screw-top tin.

There are enough beads in this combination package to finish any tiny - medium-sized purse that requires a purse frame and still have some beads left over for embellishment.

The Classic Purse Chain has a timeless quality that makes it the perfect choice to use with Noni purse frames that have built-in loops. To turn clutches into handbags, or handbags into shoulder bags, use the lobster claw ends to clip onto built-in or our screw-in Handle Loops.

Our 10" (25cm) and 12" (30cm) chains are perfect for tiny bags or to convert most any bag into a hand bag that can slip over your arm. The 8" (20cm) chain is perfect for small handbags. With our tiniest bags (Little Gems, Water Melon Bites, Tiny City, Small Flavor and Just the Change) the chain slips over the hand so a purse can be worn as a bangle or bracelet.

Look at Additional Details for a purse chain styling idea.

"CHANEL" the Classic Chain with leather cord, ribbon, or make a 2-stitch I-cord that is longer than what you think you will need by about 12" (30cm). Finish off your cord and place in a small lingerie bag to felt. Felt to a good density. Next, thread through the chain.  In all of these cases, the end should be wrapped around the bottom of the last chain link, folded back onto itself, and sewn in place with sewing thread.

These lockets really lock, so make sure you keep the key in a good place . . .

Each locket makes a charming, lovely ornament for a tiny bag. Or it can be used to lock that little box of treasures. Or a secret chest. Or the two zippers of a suitcase or bag. 

Collect them all as charms. Maybe a girl might like a little locket locked to the front belt loop of a pair of jeans. Lock some rubber band bracelets together in a bunch. Lock the front of your Ella Coat closed and wear the key on a chain around your neck. Lock the french cuffs of a blouse closed. . . Lock through the eyelet on the top of a pair of lace-up boots. 

Click on Additional Details for Locket Dimensions.

Locket Dimensions

Curvy Heart

1" (2.5cm) wide x 1/4" (7mm) deep x 1 1/2" (3.8cm) tall 

Big Heart

1 1/2" (3.8cm) wide x 1/4" (7mm) deep x 1 1/2" (3.8cm) tall

Tiny Heart

3/4" (2cm) wide x 1/4" (7mm) deep x 1" (2.5cm) tall

Big Locket

1" (2.5cm) wide x 1/4" (7mm) deep x 1 1/2" (3.8cm) tall

Bling Locket

1" (2.5cm) wide x 1/2" (1.3cm) deep x 1 1/2" (3.8cm) tall

Sleek Locket (out of stock)

3/4" (2cm) wide x 3/8" (9mm) deep x 1 1/2" (3.8cm) tall

Train Locket

7/8" (2.3cm) wide x 1/4" (7mm) deep x 1 1/4" (3.2) tall

Wee Locket

3/4" (2cm) wide x 1/4" (7mm) deep x 1 1/2" (3.8cm) tall