These great-looking, slouchy bags in the Hobo genre are easy to knit, felt, and finish. With three imminently practical sizes, they are also easy to wear and use. The hardware, available from JUL is interesting and gives the finished bag a fresh look that is comfortable on the shoulder or in the hand. I attached the handle rings to the bag with the handle tabs using four rivets, which makes the finishing quick as well as giving the bag a polished appearance. However, sewing the tabs is also a great option. The built-in zipper tabs make putting in a zipper easy and trouble-free.

Use the small size for wallet and keys (or a great-looking lunch sack) and the medium for everyday use. The larger bag is perfect for women who find themselves gravitating toward those larger totes that allow them to carry all the essentials in one bag. A great pattern sure to become a Noni Classic.

Pattern Difficulty: Intrepid beginner. Requires knowledge of knitting and purling, increasing and decreasing, picking up stitches, and working in the round on circular needles.

Felted Bags

Gauge: Unfelted gauge: 12-13 sts and 16 rows over 4"/10 cm.
Felted/finished gauge:16 sts and 24 rows over 4"/10 cm using a double-strand of worsted-weight, felting yarn on US 11/8 mm needles. There will be some variation in finished size if gauge differs due to different needle size, yarn type, or fiber content.

Yarn Requirements:
Small Hobo Bag 500 yds
Medium Hobo Bag 1,000 yds
Large Hobo Bag 1,600 yds

Needles & Other Materials
US 11/8 mm 24"/60 cm circular needles
US 11/8 mm set of double-pointed needles
Tapestry needle, sewing needle, & like-color sewing thread
Stitch markers
Equestrian Bag handle (several styles available at your LYS through JUL)
Small Bag: 9"/23 cm zipper
Medium Bag: 12"/30 cm zipper
Large Bag: 16"/41 cm zipper

Un-Felted Bags

Gauge  16 sts and 24 rows over 4"/10 cm using a double-strand of DK-weight OR a single-strand of worsted-weight, non-felting fiber on a needle size to obtain gauge. There will be some variation in finished size if gauge differs due to different needle size, yarn type, or fiber content.

Yarn Requirements  Using a double strand
Small Hobo Bag 500 yds
Medium Hobo Bag 1,000 yds
Large Hobo Bag 1,600 yds

Using a single strand
Small Hobo Bag 340 yds
Medium Hobo Bag 670 yds
Large Hobo Bag 1070 yds

Needles & Other Materials
US10/6 mm 24"/60 cm circular needles
US10/6 mm set of double-pointed needles
Tapestry needle, sewing needle, & like-color sewing thread
Stitch markers
Equestrian Bag handle (several styles available at your LYS through JUL)
Small Bag: 9"/23 cm zipper
Medium Bag: 12"/30 cm zipper
Large Bag: 16"/41 cm zipper