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.

Two flavors gives you two versatile little bags in one pattern: The small bag (little flavor) is the perfect change purse, or (as it is in my own bag) the perfect little tote for lip balm, a tiny vial of perfume, and my favorite lipstick. It is also the perfect tiny-going-to-a-party bag. Quick to knit and decorate, it is the perfect gift-knitting project for every woman on your list, from bridesmaids, to little lasses, to hostesses, to teachers who will love it.

The larger bag (big flavor) will not only fit even the largest smart phone like the Galaxy Note II!), but is roomy enough for pen, slim wallet, and keys.

Both bags are a waiting canvas for your creativity: the big bag is an heirloom keepsake decorated with slender i-cord vines with beaded leaves punctuated with diminutive cherry blossoms. Decorate your bright pink little bag with tiny spikes and you will be amazed at how girly spikes can be. Because both bags are so small, you can even cover them with a chaos of flowers from Noni Flowers.

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

Little Flavor

      3" (7.5cm) wide
      3.75" (9.5cm) tall

Big Flavor

     5" (12.5cm) wide
     7” (17.5cm) tall

Pattern Difficulty

Interpid 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

Yarn Requirements

Little Flavor: 60 yds (55m)
Big Flavor: 110 yds (100.5m)

Needles and Other Materials

2 Size 8 (5mm) 16" (40cm) circular needles
Size 8 (5mm) double-pointed needle
Stitch markers in 2 colors
Tapestry needle or metal double-pointed needle
Locktite Superglue Extra Time Control clear-drying glue to glue bag into frame
For the small flavor bag, use Noni Just the Change Hardware Kit (166-KT-H)

Kit includes:

3.5" (9cm) classic purse frame
10" (25cm) classic purse chain

Large Flavor hardware kit no longer available.

Cover Samples

Pictures Samples were made in Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool. Main picture is shown in Lime with Noni Sparkle Rivets in citron. Little flavors pictured in Raspberry, Lime with citron Sparkle Rivets, Fuschia, Antique Rose, and Hot Pink. Bags on end shown in Pink.

This flower is a tribute to all women who have struggled against breast cancer, those who have struggled and survived and those who have not. Forget-me-nots are delicate looking flowers, but this delicacy belies their strength and tenacity. They are beautiful in the wildest and most wasted of places. They survive. They endure. They come back. The specific tributes you see below (and which also appear in the background of this pattern) are from the family members of women who have fought breast cancer. If you would like your own tribute added to this pattern (and below), please write to me from the contact page.

In loving memory of Mary Larson who had an infections laugh and boy could she whistle: fancy trills, warbles, runs of sound. Virtuous. She endured so much and was gone too soon 1912 - 1971 **  My Mum: You are beautiful, and inspiration, you fought, you won, and you inspire everyone around you to be unafraid and fight for all they are worth. Even if you lose, your spirit is not lost . . . **  Karen Barbara Carey 1955 - 2004, a perfect mum and best friend who gave me so many wonderful qualities. I am proud to have know her. Love from your daughter Krystle. **  Elaine, the most kind and generous mother anyone could have wished for. 1962 - 2003. A short life, a short battle, a long memory. Love always from your children Nadia, Carlene, David, and the grandchildren you never knew: Kacy and Abbygail. **  Nadine, a wonderful mother and mother-in-law. From Sara  **  For Maria who set us the example to live life to the full. We miss you but are truly grateful to have know you. From Judith. **  A loving tribute to JULIE CLOUD of Colorado: She is a breast cancer survivor. Twice. My dearest sister JULIE has survived seven surgeries and after ten years has been declared cancer free by her doctors. Love from Wendy.

If you love forget-me-nots, look for another version of this beautiful flower and 39 more knitted flowers in my book, Noni Flowers.

Pattern Difficulty

Beginner to Advanced. Requires knowledge of knitting and purling, knitting on the round on double pointed needles.

Gauge

Gauge is not important for this pattern.

Yarn Requirements

Blue Forget-Me-Not

1 skein Buttercup yellow

Pink Forget Me Not

1 skein Buttercup yellow

Needles and Other Materials

Size 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles
1 package Locking stitch markers
Nylon Beading Thread (optional)
Pink and blue seed beads (optional)

Pictured Samples

The pictured samples were made in Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool (worsted weight; 100% merino wool; 250 yds [229m] per 3 1/2 oz [100g] skein) in Light Turquoise, Baby Blue, and Zinnia Pink with Buttercup centers.

The party you are attending is at the dancing after dinner stage and you've danced to all the good swing, waltz, and rhumba numbers. The band is playing something for the younger set who don't know the intricacies and beauties of partner dancing, so you're taking a break.

You sit down at your table, a sip of water, a sip of wine. You fetch your purse from its place on the table where it warns away interlopers and keeps your seat. You put it in your lap. A little click and you open your Grace Kelly's Overnight bag to reveal her black silk lining. And there is Spikopatomus, wonderful incongruity, spikes looking sharp enough to bite but soft to the touch. Fabulous sensation as you roll the little spikes across your palm, click open Spike for mirror and lipstick. Quck check before the next good dance number, this time tango. Perfect.

Finished Dimensions

5" (10cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
3.5" (8.75cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
4.5" (11.25cm) tall

 
Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Easy: Requires knowledge of knitting and purling, increasing, decreasing, knitting in the round on circular needles, 3-needle bind off, and some hand-sewing during the finishing process.

 
Gauge

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

 
Materials

Tiny purse frame

8" (20cm) purse chain
80 little spikes

Yarn Requirements

120 yds (110m) of worsted weight, feltable yarn

Needles and Other Materials

Size 8 (5mm) 16" (40cm) circular needles
Size 8 (5mm) double-pointed needle
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle or metal double-pointed needle
Fabric glue (clear drying but not quick-drying). I prefer Locktite Superglue Extra Time Control

 
Pictured Samples

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