These bags were inspired by the magnificent floral displays the hydrangea presents each year. They are so beautiful that you will want to put on a pretty frock and go straight away to a garden party to drink tea, eat small sandwiches, and, perhaps, have a mint julep.

Like the hydrangeas we find in the garden, these bags are covered with a profusion of four-petal flowers. One of the things that make hydrangeas so beautiful is the way their petals change color as they are touched by the sun: a pale creamy petal turns pale blue and then dark blue as the days go by. I sought, with each of the four colorways found in this pattern, to represent the variation in petal color and size we find in our gardens.

Finished Dimensions
20” (51cm) circumference
6.6” (17cm) wide

Pattern Difficulty Level
Easy: requires knowledge of knitting and purling, picking up stitches, and knitting in the round on both circular and double-pointed needles.

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

Yarn Requirements for the 4 Different Colorways
Palette of Classic Blues Bag

500 yds (456m) Light Turquoise (A)
210 yds (192m) Baby Blue (B)
210 yds (192m) Misty blue (C)

All Pinks

500 yds (456m) Fuchsia (A)
210 yds (192m) Hot Pink (B)
210 yds (192m) Zinnia Pink (C)
210 yds (192m) Pink (D)

Wedding Palette

500 yds (456m) White (A)
210 yds (192m) Baby Pink (B)
210 yds (192m) Pink (C)
210 yds (192m) Spring Green (D)
210 yds (192m) Ivy or Sage (E)

All Purples

500 yds (456m) Violet (A)
210 yds (192m) Lilac (B)
210 yds (192m) Pansy (C)

Needles and Other Materials
Size 11 (8mm) 24” circular needle
Size 11 (8mm) double-pointed needles (se)t for large flowers
Size 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles (set) for smaller flowers210 yds (192m) Baby Pink (B)
Locking stitch markers
Darning needle
Sewing needle
Nylon beading thread
1 pair 6.25 - 6.5” (15.5 - 16cm) natural or plastic bamboo handles
4 Noni 25mm Big bag feet
1 large sheet of plastic embroidery canvas to stiffen the bag body

Pictured Samples
All of the bags pictured were created using Stonehedge Fiber Mill’s Shepherd’s Wool.