Using Shepherd's Wool yarn colors as the organizing principle, we have created color-matched packages that include a 250yd (228m) skein of Shepherd's Wool premium merino yarn, a 1 gram package of no. 8 seed beads, and 80yd (73m) bobbin of nylon beading thread. Choose from our color suggestions, or, for unconventional yarn with thread and bead combinations, shop our seed beads and thread combinations and pair with your favorite shade of Shepherd's Wool. Try Citron beads and thread with Misty Blue yarn. Or choose Milk Chocolate Shepherd's Wool with Pink beads and thread. Or pick your own wonderful combination!

There are enough beads in this combination package to finish most any tiny bag in the Noni line and still have some beads left over for embellishment

This yarn is increasingly hard-to-find! If you love it, best to buy it now. All yarn sales are final.

Here's why: We have recently learned that Stonehedge Fiber Mill will no longer be wholesaling their yarn as they lost their dye house. While they will continue to produce beautiful merino yarn for your enjoyment, they will begin to dye their own yarn. What this means, is that what is in stock now is all that we will be able to get. If you love this yarn, now is the time to stock up!

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 Nora's first choice for felted bags and flowers. Because the colors are so vibrant and alive, Shepherd's Wool worsted and fingering was also Nora's 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.

Peonies beguile us every Spring: their round buds glisten and require the assistance of small ants to open. Alas, they are gone too quickly as Summer approaches.

Now you can carry the lushness of peonies with you all year: they look complex to make, but this pattern is deceptively easy to knit. Use them to embellish your lattice bag, your carpet bag, or put pins on them and switch between bags, coats, denim jackets, and hats. A beautiful flower for any occasion.

Difficulty Level

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

Finished Dimensions

Medium Peony

Pre-felted size: 7.5" across
Felted size: 5.5" across

Large Peonies

Pre-felted size: 10" across
Felted size: 7" across

Gauge

Gauge is not important for this project

Yarn Requirements

For Flowers

2 skeins White (A) Makes one large or several medium flowers.
1 skein Fuchsia (B)
1 skein Hot Pink (C)
1 ball Crystal Palace Fizz, 7301 & 7308 (Tangerine & Candy Apple)

For Sepals and Stems

1 skein Hunter green (D)

Needles & Other Materials

Size 11 (8mm) 12" circular needles (medium flower)
Size 11 (8mm) double-pointed needles (set, for I-cord and sepals)
Size 13 (9mm) circular needles (large flower)

Pictured Samples

The pictured peonies were made in White and Fuchsia with Crystal Palace Fizz centers in Tangerine and Candy Apple.

This beautiful knitted and then felted bag, available in two different styles - circular and rectangular - was inspired by the trellis that supports the climbing hydrangea in my garden. Woven through that hydrangea is a purple clematis with blossoms as big as dessert plates. The stunning pattern is created by a cable pattern that is worked in two different colors, fair-isle style.

Both sizes of this felted bag are perfect for a dramatic every day purse or knitting bag. 

Add sweetheart roses with long stems from the Noni Flowers book to twine their way up the cables. Work the long stems in and around the cables before felting, tack in place, and then felt altogether for stunning results.

Conclude the bag with stiffener in the bottom, 6 24mm bag feet (one in the center and 5 around) and a JUL rolled leather handle. Consider the Prague handle attached with medium-sized handle brackets. Close with the beautiful Amazing Magnetic Snap.

Spectacular.

See the Additional Details Tab below for information about knitting techniques used in this pattern, Approximate Felted Dimensions, Yarn Requirements, and Other Required Materials.

Difficulty Level

Intrepid Intermediate to Advanced: Requires knowledge of casting on, knitting in the round on circular needles, increasing, cable-work with two colors, and hand-sewing during the finishing process.

Pattern Notes

Each felted bag is worked with two strands of worsted weight, feltable yarn throughout. I suggest pulling from the inside and outside of the same ball for maximum economy and efficiency.

• Circular Lattice: The body of the bag is worked from bottom to top. Then, stitches are picked up on the inside of the bag body in order to work the bottom.

• Rectangular Lattice: The bottom of the bag is worked first, then stitches are picked up around the bottom and the bag is worked in the round from the bottom up.

• A note about long carries involved in the color and cable-work: they can sometimes make it difficult to maintain an even tension and introduce a pucker into your work; however, do not wrap your strands to reduce the carry distance—this changes the appearance of the pattern on the front. Keep your work as flat as possible by keeping the carried yarn loose and by stretching your work out on the circular needles as you knit.

Approximate Finished Dimensions

Circular Lattice Bag 14" (35.5cm) tall 36" (91.5cm) top circumference 29" (73.5cm) bottom circumference

Square Lattice Bag 10" (25.5cm) tall 12" (30.5cm) wide across front/back face 7" (17.75cm) deep

Pre-felted Gauge

12 stitches and 16 rounds = 4" (10cm) in St st with a double-strand of yarn on size 11 (8mm) needles or needle size to obtain gauge

Yarn Requirements

Circular Lattice: 3 skeins or 630 yds (580m) A; 3 skeins or 630 yds (580m) B

Square Lattice: 3 skeins or 630 yds (580m) A; 3 skeins or 630 yds (580m) B

Other Necessary Materials

Size 11 (8mm) 32" (81cm) circular needle

Size 13 (9mm) 32" (81cm) circular needle

Size 13 (9mm) double pointed needles (at least 3)

Cable needle or hook

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

JUL 26" (66cm) Flat Strap Forager Handles, pair

1 Rivet-in or Sew-in Snap Closure

Circular Lattice: 5 Fancy Screw-in Bag Feet 

Square Lattice: 6 Fancy Screw-in Bag Feet