Some of you who love the 6-8-10 and W felted bags have asked for a bigger version with that same sense of style. My answer: This Bag!

As I was designing, I thought of Hitchcock's Rear Window . . . I won't reveal the story, except to say that when the Grace Kelly character insists on staying over at Jimmy Stewart's place so she can look after him, she brings over a tiny overnight bag for a woman with such lovely outfits (you'd imagine she'd have a trunk delivered). But she is as practical as she is fashionable and pulls everything she needs out of the tiny overnight bag: stunning floor length shimmery sleeping gown, tooth brush, etc. . . . This is, of course, in the days of separate bedrooms or one foot on the floor fully clothed.

This bag is my version of Grace Kelly's Overnight bag: elegant, roomy enough for a gossamer night gown, toothbrush, cosmetics, wallet.

The classic lines make it ideal for special events: art openings, the literary reading at the independent bookstore followed by the wine and cheese mixer. It will go beautifully to any wedding, whether with the bride, her mother, or the groom's. It is dazzling unadorned, beaded, or bedecked with flowers: the perfect gift for yourself or for the most elegant woman in your life.

Please peruse the Additional Details tab below for information about dimensions, gauge, materials, hardware components, and hardware kits.

Finished Dimensions

12" (30cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
6.5" (16.25cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
3" (7.5cm) deep
9.5" (24cm) tall from bottom to frame

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Easy: Requires knowledge of casting on, knitting and purling, picking up stitches in knitted fabric, decreasing, 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 single strand of yarn.

Materials

Suggested Hardware:

Empire frame - Because the Empire Frame is now sold out, an excellent hardware substitute is the Elegant Frame with Bag Feet kit available in 3 finishes
27" (68cm) purse chain
6 Noni Big 24mm bag feet
11.25 x 13.5 in sheet of stiffener
Seed beads and Nylon thread
'A Noni Designs' Label

Yarn Requirements

315 yds (288m) of worsted weight, feltable yarn

Needles and Other Materials

Size 8 (5mm) 24" (60cm) circular needle
Tapestry Needle
Sewing needles
Nylon beading thread
Stitch markers
Fabric glue (clear drying)
Awl or double-pointed needle
Paper hole punch

Pictured Samples

The pictured bag was created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool in Pewter.

Who is W? Winsome. Wise. Worldly. We don't know her name, which makes her decidedly mysterious. Or perhaps insecure? No, impossible, with such a lovely frame.

She's the perfect size to keep a big secret (or two little ones). Somehow she crosses the boundaries of class distinctions and attracts attention of the highest sort. At home in a Monte Carlo casino or an English manse, she is just as likely to be found at a bonfire or strolling the beach. What is her secret? She won't tell.

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

Finished Dimensions

Small W

7 1/2" (19cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
6 1/2" (16.25cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
3" (7.5cm) deep
7 1/4" (18cm) tall from bottom to frame

Large W

8" (20cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
6 1/2" (24.25cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
3" (7.5cm) deep
8 1/4" (20.5cm) tall from bottom to frame

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

Materials

Suggested Hardware

Empire frame - Because the Empire Frame is now sold out, an excellent hardware substitute is the Elegant Frame with Bag Feet kit available in 3 finishes
'A Noni Design' label
Stiffener for the bag bottom
Silver-lined clear beads and white beading thread

Yarn Requirements

Small W: 160 yds (146 m)  
Large W: Large W: 190 yds (174 m)

Needles and Other Materials

Size 8 (5mm) 24" (60cm) circular needle
Tapestry & sewing needles
Stitch markers
Fabric glue (clear drying)

Pictured Samples 

Both of the bags pictured were created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool. Small W is pictured in Pewter. Large W is pictured in Granite.

6 - 8 - 10 is a sleek, slim handbag perfect for the woman who travels light. This bag is elegant, understated, and stands on her own or is beautiful embellished with a cluster of small flowers or with one large life-like Hibiscus.

In other words, this bag is the perfect special occasion bag: make a 6 for the bride and 8s for each of her attendants. Take a 10 to the wedding you are going to later this year. Make an 8 for your Mother-in-Law's birthday, and another for yourself for the birthday party in her honor. Bead a little red 6 with a grid of black beads for your Valentine's Day date. Make an 8 dazzling with Sparkle Rivets. Make a very interesting statement with a row of small Alien Skull Ornaments across the top, just under the line of sparkly beads that hold the frame in place . . .  

These slender purses are the blank canvas for your creative musings. We can't wait to see what you will do.

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

6 Bag

7 1/2" (19cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
6 1/2" (16.25cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
5 1/2" (14cm) tall from bottom to frame

8 Bag

7 1/2" (19cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
6 1/2" (16.25cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
6 1/2" (16cm) tall from bottom to frame

10 Bag

7 1/2" (19cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
6 1/2" (16.25cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
8" (20cm) tall from bottom to frame

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Beginner: A great first knitting or first felted bag project as it requires knowledge of casting on, knitting and purling, knitting in the round on circular needles, 3-needle bind off, and some hand-sewing during the finishing process.

Gauge

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

Materials

Suggested Hardware

Empire frame - Because the Empire Frame is now sold out, an excellent hardware substitute is the Elegant Frame available in 3 finishes
'A Noni Design' label

Yarn Requirements

6: 110 yds (100m)
8: 140 yds (130m)
10: 175 yds (160m)

Needles and Other Materials

Two Size 8 (5mm) 16" (40cm) circular needles
Spare size 8 (5mm) needle for 3-needle bind off
Stitch markers
Tapestry & sewing needles
Fabric glue (clear drying)

Pictured Samples

The pictured bags were created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool: 6 is made in White, 8 in Pewter, and 10 in Granite.