The elegant frame is attractive, practical, and versatile with a distinctly vintage appeal. It is an ideal frame for felted, fabric, and leather bags, because it is a sew-in frame with sew holes that are invisible on the outside when the bag is finished.

Used in many Noni designs, including Amazing Grace, Three Nights in a Row, Petit Four, Fancy Party, and others, the frame converts from a handbag to a clutch when you squeeze the bottom of the little handle. The handle comes easily out of its attractive housing, making it clutch.

This purse frame also easily converts to a shoulder bag: the handle loops that swing to the inside can swing to the outside whenever you want them to. Attach the Renaissance (Antique Brass) Purse Chain to change the look and wearability of the frame to suit your outfit, mood, and lifestyle. Two chains can be clipped together to make a cross body bag.

See Additional Details below for precise frame dimensions and instructions for sewing bags into the frame.

Dimensions

6" (15cm) wide across top of frame

6 3/4" (17cm) wide at frame base/hinge

7 1/2" (18.75cm) tall from hinge to handle apex

How to Sew A Purse Into the Elegant Frame

Using a sharp needle and nylon thread, sew bag flaps (one side at a time) to the purse frame through the holes in the purse frame. Make stitches invisible on front side and move from one hole to next on inside. Both an exterior bag flap and a same-size lining can be sewn to the frame simultaneously. For a paraticularly pretty look, use beads on the inside of the frame to disguise your stitching: come out of a single hole, thread a bead on your needle, and then go back into the hole your needle just came out of. Repeat this procedure until the purse is completely sewn into the frame. To travel from one hole to the next, angle the needle toward the next empty hole with every pass of the needle through the bag fabric.

If felted purse flaps are a bit too wide, use the restriction of the purse frame to squeeze the flaps into place - Shorten or “ease” the felted bag flap top to 6” (15.25cm). it is possible to ease the bag flap as much as 2 inches (5cm).

I am delighted to let you know that Stonehedge Fiber Mill will continue to sell their gorgeous 100% USA-Made Merino to Noni! We began our businesses at almost the same time and became connected way back in 2008. Nonibags are best made with this yarn. I am excited about the ways that Stonehedge Fiber Mill is evolving and moving toward hand-dyeing. It's so exciting! More to come as they introduce new future colors and products!

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.

Maybe it's New Year's Eve and there is a dinner dance celebration. The Fancy Party felted handbag will look beautiful as a complement to any outfit with her understated, vintage vibe. She looks amazing accompanying a tailored suit, a flippy skirt for those fast turns, a fashion-forward frock, a pair of flared pants and a tuxedo blouse. Dress her up with a few sparkles, or make her dazzling with a lot. Cabochon rivets or spikes give her a more industrial edge that is an interesting contrast to her classic styling.

Not to be overlooked is the versatility that the Elegant frame gives this bag: the little handbag handle need only be squeezed gently at its base to come out of its housing and you've got a clutch. Turn the little purse chain loops to the outside of the bag and the frame is a shoulder bag with the addition of a 27" (67.5cm) Classic Purse Chain. Clip on a shorter chain and her personality changes again to match your mood.

Paired with Little Gems or Just the Change felted purses in matching attire and you've got a lovely ensemble.

Use the Elegant frame with bag feet hardware kit to complete this project. For more information about dimensions, gauge, and a materials list, see Additional Details below.

Finished Dimensions

6" (15cm) tall from base to frame
6" (15cm) width at frame top
8.25" (20.5cm) wide across front
3" (7.5cm) deep at bag bottom

Pattern Difficulty Level

Requires knowledge of knitting, purling, decreasing, knitting in the round on circular needles, some hand-sewing and easy beading during the finishing process.

Gauge

Pre-Felted: 20 sts and 28 rounds = 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch

Materials

Elegant Hardware Kit is available for this pattern and includes:

1 Elegant purse frame
1 27" (67.5cm) Classic purse chain
6 24mm Classic bag feet
Noni Label
Stiffener for the bag bottom

You may want to also purchase a 40-pk of sparkle rivets in a color to match your yarn.

Yarn

190 yds (175m) worsted weight feltable yarn

Needles and Other Materials

Size 8 (5mm) 16" (40cm) circular needles
4 stitch markers to mark corners, 1 in a different color to mark round beginning
Sewing needle
Tapestry needle