Felted Handbag Workshop

Welcome to the Workshop!

2009-10-01T14:58:00.001-07:00

Knitted/felted handbag, purse, tote and messenger bag patterns, designed to let you choose your own yarns to make YOUR bag YOUR way. Please scroll down to view our current patterns, and click for more details.

All patterns are available for immediate PDF download to get you on your knitting way. All you need is a Paypal account or credit card. Once your payment is complete, an email will be sent to your PAYPAL EMAIL ADDRESS with download instructions. Or you may pay by check or money order -- email me for more information.

You can download a FREE Adobe Reader for PDF files for your computer here:
www.adobe.com

NEW! Felted Beaded Eyeglass Pouch and Evening Bag Pattern!
Just in time for summer vacation knitting, here are patterns for small projects to take with you on the road.

Each uses just one skein of Rowan's Tapestry yarn and size #5 beads. The subtle color changes are fun to watch unfold and the beads add that special bit of pizazz. (But you can substitute lighter weight worsted wool yarn, like Brown Sheep's Nature Spun and Paton's Classic Wool and use of leftovers and single balls from your stash!)
. . . more . . .

>
Short Row Felted Bag Pattern Collection!
The stitch design here first appeared in a Barbara Walker Treasury. Laura Aylor used this motif with color-changing Kureyon yarns in a block-at-a-time afghan with spectacular results. As a long-time fan of Kureyon, my first thought was to see what happens when this motif is felted, and the result is this collection of bags.
. . . more . . .

Modular Triangle Felted Bag Pattern Collection!
Instructions for large Flying Geese Tote, Prism Flap Bag (above) and two sizes of a patchwork-inspired shoulder bag. Planning templates included for color selection, but you supply the crayons! . . . more . . .

Mitered Squares Felted Tote and Flap Bag Pattern
Mitered square knitting is a modular motif, where individual squares are worked up one at a time, and connected with picked-up stitches, so there is minimal sewing. Turned on-point, they create a unique and dramatic felted accessory.
The pattern includes instructions for two styles (tote and flap) and two styles of mitered squares (garter and stockinette) to mix and match to make your bag your way. . . . more . . .

Zig Zag Felted Bags Pattern
Stripes are fun, but bending them at your whim is even better!
Pattern includes instructions for garter stitch tote, stockinette day bag and one incorporating entrelac squares and reverse image stripes.
. . . more . . .

Trellis Tote and Flap Felted Bags Pattern
Glorious colors peeking through a solid ground -- or maybe the other way around! You choose! Working with Noro's Kureyon or other space-dyed yarns assures each bag is uniquely yours. This pattern gives instructions for two shapes: a tote and a flap bag, both with options for straps and closures.

This pattern also provides guidance on how to design your own bag by varying the number of "windows" and the number of stitches. Make a little one for an evening out, or a big one to haul your laptop! . . . more . . .

Entrelac Ensemble Felted Bags Pattern
Entrelac is a modular pattern where each diamond unit is worked up one at a time, and they are attached to each other with picked-up and knit-2-together stitches so there is no sewing.

Use solid yarns for creating your bag, or let Noro's Kureyon or other space-yarns surprise you as the colors come into play on their own! . . . more . . .

Felted Beaded Eyeglass Pouch and Little Evening Bag Knitting Pattern!

2008-07-20T17:35:00.001-07:00

Just in time for summer vacation knitting, here are patterns for small projects to take with you on the road.

Each uses just one skein of Rowan's Tapestry yarn and size #5 beads. The subtle color changes are fun to watch unfold and the beads add that special bit of pizazz. (But you can substitute lighter weight worsted wool yarn, like Brown Sheep's Nature Spun and Paton's Classic Wool and use of leftovers and single balls from your stash!)

The eyeglass case is presented in three sizes (clip-ons/reading glasses, standard and Jackie O.) The Essentials Pouch was designed as a "personal articles" bag for your purse, but was so pretty it morphed into a little evening bag with the addition of a beaded strap.

Start now for holiday gifts, or treat yourself to a little treasure bag of your own.

Scroll down for links to suppliers with beads and purse frames.

11 page booklet, with lots of pictures.

This pattern is available for PDF download. When you click on the button below, you'll be directed to a site where you can pay for the pattern via Paypal or with a credit card. Then you are directed to a page with full instructions for downloading.

Felted Beaded Eyeglass Pouch and Evening Bag Knitting Pattern eBooklet
US $4.00

This downloadable pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not share or distribute this pattern or file to your friends, family or other knitting colleagues. Preserve the value of your purchase!

You can find 5/0 size beads at these on-line stores:

www.1stopbeadshop.com
Click on “seed beads”, and then “#5 triangles”

www.beadweaver.com/
Click on “Miyuki Delicas, Seed Beads & More” and then #5 triangles.

www.caravanbeads.net
Click on “seed beads” and then “5/0 seed beads”.

www.beadhaven.com/
Click on “seed beads” and then “Miyuki beads”, then 5/0 seed beads.

www.landofodds.com/
Click on “seed beads” and then “triangles 5/0”

www.firemountaingems.com/
Click on “seed & bugle beads” and then scroll down to "triangles beads”

You can find squeeze flex coin purse frames and 6" hex frames at these on-line stores:

www.tallpoppycraft.com
Click on “purse frames”.

www.joggles.com/
Click on “purse frames and hardware”.

www.pursenicketypatterns.com
Scroll down to see the eyeglass frames at the bottom of the page.

And new as of 8/11:
http://shop.bagisgood.com/511-inch-internal-flex-purse-frame-wholesale-supplier-p-332.html

If you find other sources, please let us know! The coin purse frames can be especially hard to find.

New! The Short Row Bag Collection!

2007-10-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

Adding extra “short rows” in the middle of a row allows knitters to add shape to a garment. You can use them to add fullness at the bustline of a sweater, or for heels and toes on socks. And they can also be used as a decorative motif!

The stitch design here first appeared in a Barbara Walker Treasury, and no doubt has been around since before then. Walker demonstrated using two solid colors, creating the impression of a cathedral window. Recently, Laura Aylor used this motif with color-changing Kureyon yarns in a block-at-a-time afghan with spectacular results. Her pattern is featured in Knitty.com.

As a long-time fan of Kureyon, my first thought was to see what happens when this motif is felted, and the result is this collection of bags. The stitch counts from the original have been modified to counteract the effect of felting so the size and scale of the units stays true. Two of the bags are worked in the round with the stripes horizontal, and two are worked flat, vertically. And place markers are used throughout to keep you on track, even when you have to put your work down in the middle of a row or round. Not much counting, in other words!

(Boy, this was a doozy! Would you like to see how many wrong bags I made before I got them right? Come to my basement!)

22 page booklet, with lots and lots of pictures and diagrams.

This pattern is available for PDF download. When you click on the button below, you'll be directed to a site where you can pay for the pattern via Paypal or with a credit card. Then you are directed to a page with full instructions for downloading.

Short Row Felted Bag Pattern Collection eBooklet
US $8.00

This downloadable pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not share or distribute this pattern or file to your friends, family or other knitting colleagues. Preserve the value of your purchase!

Errata:
on page five, the "clean-up" round should read: k4, kww four times, k8
on page nine, same correction

Welcome to the Workshop!

2007-09-26T06:56:00.001-07:00

Felted Milnery Workshop?

New! Modular Triangle Felted Bag Pattern Collection!
Instructions for large Flying Geese Tote, Prism Flap Bag (above) and two sizes of a patchwork-inspired shoulder bag. Planning templates included for color selection, but you supply the crayons! Click on the photo for more information.

Mitered Squares Felted Tote and Flap Bag Pattern
Mitered square knitting is a modular motif, where individual squares are worked up one at a time, and connected with picked-up stitches, so there is minimal sewing. Turned on-point, they create a unique and dramatic felted accessory.
The pattern includes instructions for two styles (tote and flap) and two styles of mitered squares (garter and stockinette) to mix and match to make your bag your way. . . . more . . .

Zig Zag Felted Bags Pattern
Stripes are fun, but bending them at your whim is even better!
Pattern includes instructions for garter stitch tote, stockinette day bag and one incorporating entrelac squares and reverse image stripes.
. . . more . . .

Trellis Tote and Flap Felted Bags Pattern
Glorious colors peeking through a solid ground -- or maybe the other way around! You choose! Working with Noro's Kureyon or other space-dyed yarns assures each bag is uniquely yours. This pattern gives instructions for two shapes: a tote and a flap bag, both with options for straps and closures.

This pattern also provides guidance on how to design your own bag by varying the number of "windows" and the number of stitches. Make a little one for an evening out, or a big one to haul your laptop! . . . more . . .

Entrelac Ensemble Felted Bags Pattern
Entrelac is a modular pattern where each diamond unit is worked up one at a time, and they are attached to each other with picked-up and knit-2-together stitches so there is no sewing.

Use solid yarns for creating your bag, or let Noro's Kureyon or other space-yarns surprise you as the colors come into play on their own! . . . more . . .

Protype Blowout!

2007-04-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

If you've had your eye on some of the handbags featured here in the Workshop, you are in luck!

Many of the design prototypes are available for sale at very reasonable prices. Shipping for each is $10.00 via priority mail.

To purchase, simply email me, and you can pay by either Paypal or a credit card.

Zig Zag Fiesta Bag, made with Lamb's Pride
9”w x 3”d x 8”h
$75.00

New! Modular Triangle Felted Bags!

2007-03-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

Working a patterned design based on individual units opens unlimited design possibilities. By assembling geometric shapes one at a time, you can build a bag of almost any dimension. And since the units themselves are small and rather simple, this process lends itself well to “found moment” knitting.

The bags in these patterns are worked with triangles. Units are joined together with k2tog and p2tog stitches and sewing is minimal. Special instructions are given to eliminate holes at the junctions. Inspiration is taken from traditional quilting patterns, and your choice of color makes your bag unique!

Often knitters vow to work from only yarns on hand – a worthy aspiration! These patterns allow for just that – using up bright bits from the stash just as a thrifty quilter would do. By varying the stitch counts you can create bags of any dimension in the colors of your dreams.

19 page booklet, with lots and lots of pictures and diagrams.

This pattern is available for PDF download. When you click on the button below, you'll be directed to a site where you can pay for the pattern via Paypal or with a credit card. Then you are directed to a page with full instructions for downloading.

Modular Triangle Bags Pattern eBooklet
US $8.00

This downloadable pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not share or distribute this pattern or file to your friends, family or other knitting colleagues. Preserve the value of your purchase!

NEW! Mitered Squares Felted Tote and Flap Bag Pattern

2006-11-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

Mitered square knitting is a modular motif, where individual squares are worked up one at a time, and connected with picked-up stitches, so there is minimal sewing. Turned on-point, they create a unique and dramatic felted accessory.

The pattern includes instructions for two styles (tote and flap) and two styles of mitered squares (garter and stockinette) to mix and match to make your bag your way.

Noro's Kureyon yarn creates dramatic color changes, or work in solid yarns for stripes and chevrons.

21 page booklet, loaded with photos and diagrams to keep you on track.

This pattern is available for PDF download. When you click on the button below, you'll be directed to a site where you can pay for the pattern via Paypal or with a credit card. Then you are directed to a page with full instructions for downloading.

Mitered Squares Tote and Flap Bag Pattern eBooklet
US $8.00

This downloadable pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not share or distribute this pattern or file to your friends, family or other knitting colleagues. Preserve the value of your purchase!

ERRATA:If you purchased this pattern before 11/21/06, I have contacted you by email about a new PDF file to replace the erroneous one. If I have overlooked you, or that email has gone astray, please send an email to me from your Paypal email address. Thank you to Mikki, who found the glaring error!

Zig Zag Felted Bags Pattern Collection

2006-09-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Stripes are fun, but bending them at your whim is even better!

Pattern includes instructions for garter stitch tote, stockinette day bag and one incorporating entrelac squares and reverse image stripes. 18 pages with lots of color pictures.

This pattern also gives tips on how to design your own bag by varying the number and size of the zigs and zags. (I have my eye on a zigs 'n' squares in brown and pink, but with smaller and more frequent zigs. Hmmm . . .)

The brown Kureyon bag, as pictured, requires:
a magnetic snap closure like this, and
two 1" brass rings like this.

18 page booklet, with lots of color pictures

This pattern is available for PDF download. When you click on the button below, you'll be directed to a site where you can pay for the pattern via Paypal or with a credit card. Then you are directed to a page with full instructions for downloading.

Zig Zag Felted Bags Pattern Collection eBooklet
US $8.00

This downloadable pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not share or distribute this pattern or file to your friends, family or other knitting colleagues. Preserve the value of your purchase!

ERRATA:Oopsie! A stitch count error! If you purchased this pattern before 11/27/06, I have contacted you by email about a new PDF file to replace the erroneous one. If I have overlooked you, or that email has gone astray, please send an email to me from your Paypal email address.

12/27/07:
Page 9: Slip stitch base should read:
Row 6-13: Repeat rows 2 -5 two times
Row 14: Repeat row 2.
Row 15: Repeat row 3.
Row 16: Repeat row 2.

Free Pattern -- A Little Slip of a Thing

2006-09-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Wow! I'm in Knitty.com!

This little bag uses slip stitch knitting to create a two-color design. By stranding the passive colors across the back of the work you get a stronger final fabric -- and a bag that can stand up on its own using only a single strand!

Click here for the free pattern!

Trellis Tote and Flap Felted Bags Pattern

2006-08-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

Glorious colors peeking through a solid ground -- or maybe the other way around! You choose! Working with Noro's Kureyon or other space-dyed yarns assures each bag is uniquely yours.

This pattern gives instructions for two shapes: a tote and a flap bag, both with options for straps and closures.

This pattern also provides guidance on how to design your own bag by varying the number of "windows" and the number of stitches. Make a little one for an evening out, or a big one to haul your laptop!

13 page pattern booklet with lots of color pictures

This pattern is available for PDF download. When you click on the button below, you'll be directed to a site where you can pay for the pattern via Paypal or with a credit card. Then you are directed to a page with full instructions for downloading.

Trellis Tote and Flap Felted Bags Pattern eBooklet
US $8.00

This downloadable pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not share or distribute this pattern or file to your friends, family or other knitting colleagues. Preserve the value of your purchase!

ERRATA: Flap Bag instructions, underlined words are corrections:

Page 9
Row 12: "...until FIVE stitches from the marker." (not six)
Rows 13-20: "...until FIVE stitches from the marker." (not six)
Second paragraph: " ... for a total of EIGHT bands of windows." (not nine) "Just be sure you always have an EVEN number of rows of windows."

Page 10
Band of Six Windows, Row 1: ... FIVE times, K6 . . . (not six)
Band of Five Windows, Row 1: ... FOUR times, K6 . . . (not five)
Band of Four Windows, Row 1: ... THREE times, K6 . . . (not four)
Band of Three Windows, Row 1: ... TWO times, K6 . . . (not three)
Band of Two Windows, Row 1: ... ONE time, K6 . . . (not two)

Entrelac Ensemble Felted Bags Pattern

2006-07-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

Entrelac is a modular pattern where each diamond unit is worked up one at a time, and they are attached to each other with picked-up and knit-2-together stitches so there is no sewing.

Use solid yarns for creating your bag, or let Noro's Kureyon or other space-yarns surprise you as the colors come into play on their own!

This pattern contains instructions to make two types of bags:
a tote (9”h x 10”w x 2.5”d) and a flapped messenger bag (either 9”w x 7.5”h x 2”d or 10” w x 9”h x 2.5”d).
There is also guidance on designing your own bag to match your size, style and strength specifications.

16 page booklet loaded with color photographs.

This pattern is available for PDF download. When you click on the button below, you'll be directed to a site where you can pay for the pattern via Paypal or with a credit card. Then you are directed to a page with full instructions for downloading.

Entrelac Ensemble Felted Bags Pattern eBooklet
US $8.00

This downloadable pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not share or distribute this pattern or file to your friends, family or other knitting colleagues. Preserve the value of your purchase!

ERRATA:

On page 11, top of page, Right Leaning Stockinette Stitch Square:
Row 1: (rs) k 9. Turn.
Row 2: (ws) Sl1p, p7, p2togtbl (you are knitting the last stitch of the new color, and one of the old color together.) Turn.

On page 12:
Left Margin Right-Leaning Half-Square:
Begin working on ws. All stitches are on the left needle. Make a slip knot and place it on right needle.
Pup 1 stitch at corner of cast-off triangle just below (in this case a green stitch – see it there?)
Slip ONE stitch back to left needle and p2tog. Turn.

Free Pattern -- The Balloon Bag

2006-03-01T15:03:00.000-08:00

A versatile shape for any yarn!

I had made this bag many, many times when I finally learned (from a colleague on Knitters Review Forum) the best way to block it was with a balloon. So now I face the arduous task of reblocking all with balloons before this year's art fair season.

The pattern is a collection of ideas from many sources, and a nice introduction to shaping if you have made mostly Booga Bags and want to try something more sculpted.

Finished size is about 9 inches across and 7-8 inches tall.

Kureyon Alert!
This bag can be made with three balls of Kureyon - thus continuing my love/hate relationship with this yarn! Select three balls that match fairly well. Use ball #1 double-stranding (working from the inside and outside of the ball) to make the base. The colors won't match up, but it won't matter as much. When you get to the body of the bag, switch to balls #2 and #3, which you have selected because the color runs match as closely as possible. Knit until they are all gone. Use #1 again for the I-cord cast off, but use 4 or 5 stitches single-strand instead of the 2 indicated in the pattern. Make a 4 or 5 stitch single-strand i-cord with what's left of #1. Felt the living daylights out of it, because Kureyon only felts after lots and lots of abuse.

Note: This is all conjecture on my part, having never done it myself, but Anniknits did one, and it looks really great. Click here to see a forum entry on the finished bag.

Click here to download this FREE pattern in PDF

If you are having trouble downloading this file, you might try updating to the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat here.

Or you can try the more streamlined, less boggy Foxit PDF reader (only for PC users) here.

The pattern for this handbag was created especially for:

Nina - a well-knit shop
1655 W. Division
Chicago, IL 60622
773/486-8996
www.ninachicago.com

Free Pattern -- The Coco Bag

2006-02-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

Something Tailored for Spring!

I designed this simple pattern for knitters who are looking for a crisper look in a rectangle, pleat-top handbag. The base is firmer, the transition from base to body is neater and the contrasting colors give a more tailored finish. It is a collection of tips and ideas from knitting/felting colleagues.

Finished size is about 10 inches across and 11 inches tall.

Click here to download this FREE pattern in PDF

If you are having trouble downloading this file, you might try updating to the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat here.

Or you can try the more streamlined, less boggy Foxit PDF reader (only for PC users) here.

The pattern for this handbag was created especially for:

Knit 1
3823 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613
773/244-1646
www.knit1chicago.com