Available in three popular finishes, this 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 Three Nights in a Row, Petit Four, Fancy Party, and others, the frame converts from handbag when you squeeze the bottom of the little built-in handle. The handle comes easily out of its attractive housing, making it clutch. The handle loops that swing to the inside, can swing to the outside whenever you want them to. Attach our Classic Purse Chain in your desired length to change the look and wearability of the frame to suit your outfit, mood, and lifestyle: a 10" (25cm) or 12" (30cm) makes a lovely vintage-style bag that can go with you to parties or be given as a gift. The 27" (67.5cm) Classic Chain makes it a shoulder bag. Two 27" chains [54" (135cm)] 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 have recently started to wear glasses . . . I can't read much of anything without them. This is a problem when I go out to dinner and want to carry a small bag rather than a large one. There is just no space for my glasses . . . so I designed this little felted handbag that converts to a clutch of shoulder bag. It's a quick knit, adorable, perfect to make as a gift or for yourself, and economical: it is the perfect marriage of aesthetics and practicality. 

Best of all: now I don't have to beg other people to read me the menu when we go out to dinner.

This little purse is the perfect dinner companion.

Click on the Additional Details tab below for more information about this little felted bag.

Finished Dimensions

Width at top of flap: 6" (15cm)
Bottom dimensions: 6 - 7.5" (15 -19cm)
Height 3.5 (4 - 4.5)" [9 (10 - 11.25)]cm

Difficulty Level  

Requires knowledge of knitting, purling,decreasing, knitting in the round on circular needles.

Pre-Felted Gauge  

20 sts and 28 rounds = 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch

Materials

Yarn

Short Party Glasses: 55 yds (50m) worsted weight feltable yarn
Long Party Glasses: 70 yds (65m) worsted weight feltable yarn

Needles and Other Materials

Size 8 (5mm) 16" (40cm) circular needles and 1 size 8 (5mm) dpn for 3-needle BO.
2 stitch markers to mark sides, 1 in a different color to mark round beginning
Sewing needle
Tapestry needle
Optional embellishments: beads, sparkle rivets, silk ribbon, broaches, buttons, or other lovelies

1 Noni hardware kit:
1 Elegant purse frame (with removable handle available in silver, antique brass, and gunmetal finishes)
1 Noni label
1 27" (30.5cm) Classic Purse Chain

To turn your bag into a handbag with a chain handle, purchase separately the 12" (30.5cm) classic purse chains available in nickel and gunmetal finishes a

Ella wears clothes with no pockets to weigh her down and the Going Out Bag has the same sort of mentality. She loves to dance. She is all ruffles and flourishes.

In white, she could get married or lead the attendants to their places. In bright mossy green she'd draw every eye on the streets of New York. In mint with blushing petals, she looks good enough to nibble. In Lilac with beaded edges, she is sweet as Spring flowers. Add blue sparkle rivets to a white bag with white ruffles and she would be a bouquet for the bride. Add spikes or cabochon rivets and she gets a little more daring . . .

However you dress her, she is, in short, delicious, flexible, and can go anywhere, from gay frolic through the botanical garden, to the garden party, to cinema, to night club. She is even the best friend of girly little girls.

Take her out. She loves an adventure . . .

Click on the Additional Details tab below for more information about dimensions, yarn amounts, materials, and bag kits that include everything you need to complete this project.

Finished Dimensions

6 3/4" (17cm) across the top
3" (7.5cm) deep at bottom
7" (17.5cm) wide across the bottom
8" (20cm) tall from bottom to frame

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Easy/Intermediate: Requires knowledge of knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, picking up stitches within fabric, some hand-sewing to attach the bag to the snap purse frame.

Gauge

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

Materials

An Elegant Hardware Kit with Feet is available for this pattern and includes:

1 Elegant Bag Frame 
27" (68cm) purse chain
Stiffener for the bag bottom
6 Noni Big 24mm bag feet
1 Noni Design label

Yarn Requirements

Solid Bag: 750 yds (685m)
Solid Bag with Beaded Ruffle Edge: 550 yds (503m) solid color and 70 yds (64m) of feltable beaded yarn

Needles and Other Materials

Size 8 (5mm) 24" (60cm) circular needle
Tapestry needle
Sewing Needle
Stitch markers

Pictured Samples

The white bag was made with Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool in White. The green bag was made with Tilli Tomas Merino in Moss with Moss Flurries just at the ruffle bind off. Unfortunately, both of these yarns are no longer available.

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

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.

A one-skein project, this little vintage-style, romantic bag is fun to make and looks as sweet as the little cakes for which it was named. Embellish your little sweet with one or several of the sweetheart roses, romantic as sugar flowers (pattern included), and your little bag is a vintage-style companion for a wedding or an evening out. The perfect bag for for you to take to the wedding in a color that matches or compliments your outfit. It is also the perfect bag for bride and bridesmaids. 

Dot with cabochon rivets in nickel, antique brass, or gunmetal finishes (pick the finish that matches your frame!) in an all-over design and your little purse has the feeling of a little harlequin pastry.

Style with a bouquet of pansies from Noni Flowers and it is the ideal companion for a Spring-time frock. 

This bag is big enough for wallet, keys, and phone, but small enough for all your gift-knitting projects. 

The Petit Four bags requires The Elegant Frame with Bag Feet Hardware Kit to complete as pictured. 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” (15cm) wide across the front/back at bag top
8” (20cm) wide across the front/back at bag bottom
3” (7.5cm) deep
5 1/2 - 6” (13.75 - 15cm) tall

Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Beginner: Requires knowledge of knitting, purling, decreasing, knitting in the round on circular needles.

Gauge

Pre-felted gauge: 12 stitches and 16 rounds = 4" (10cm) in St st with a double-strand of worsted weight yarn.

Materials

Yarn Requirements

Bag

190 yds (173.75m)

Bright Roses

75- 215 yds (69- 196.5m) each: Sage, Red, Christmas Rd, Hot Pink, Antique Rose

Pastel Roses

75- 215 yds (69- 196.5m) each:Green or Sage, Hot Pink, Christmas Red,Baby Pink, Antique Rose

Needles and Other Requirements

Size 8 (5mm) 16" (40cm) circular needles
Tapestry needle
Sewing needle
Nylon sewing thread
Stitch markers
Elegant snap frame
4 - 6 Noni 24mm bag feet
7 1/2 x 9 in sheet of stiffener
'A Noni Design' label

Pictured Samples

The samples pictured were made with Stoenehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool and with Tilli Tomas. The flowers on the bags were made with embellished yarn that is no longer available. The chocolate bag with a single rose was made with Shepherd's Wool in Midnight Lake with embellised yarn rose in Moss and Ruby. The red bag was made with in Shepherd's Wool Garnet and then hand-beaded. The white and pale pink bags on the back cover were made in Tilli Tomas's Whistler in Natural and Dusty Pink respectively. We are sorry to say that this yarn is no longer available.