Craft a Modern, Woven Purse with the Penelope Bag Kit

Are you ready to create a new project tote or everyday bag? I’m so excited to introduce the Penelope Bag, a woven purse that stands out with its modern shape and gorgeous texture! What’s there to love about this bag? First of all, the size is perfect for stashing a few project supplies to take with you for crafting on the go! The woven purse measures 12" x 12" when sitting flat, and is just 14" long when hanging. Therefore, it’s not too big or bulky and just the right size to sling over your shoulder.

Secondly, the woven panel comes together in a beautiful way that echoes origami or a fortune cookie — but you won’t need any special powers to make it. My daughter calls it the dumpling! Along with your kit, I’m including step-by-step video instructions to walk you through every step of weaving and assembling your own Penelope Bag. I’m also including my 1-hour Weaving Basics course which will teach you everything you need to know to get comfortable with working on a frame loom!

Thirdly, this project offers a great way to learn how to weave in pattern. The herringbone woven pattern looks complex, but it’s really just four different rows repeated over and over. My first time weaving the herringbone was when I made my Weaving Pattern Linen Coasters on my little loom. The herringbone pattern absolutely entranced me. It is simple to create yet has a visual complexity that thrilled me.

To make your own Penelope Bag, you’ll just choose your favorite color of Flax & Twine Daytime Linen. Your options include Stone (pictured in the sample), Blush (pictured in the skein), Ivory, Fawn, Ruse, Spruce, or Onyx. These are all gorgeous colors in their own right, and I just know you’ll find one that sings to you. You’ll need a loom that gets 5 EPI (or 5 warp threads per inch). When ordering a kit, you can easily include the BEKA 20" Standing Loom if you’d don’t already have one.

If you already have a loom, no worries. Most looms can be adapted to increase their EPI by double warping notches and then weaving a header at the top and bottom of the loom to space your warp threads evenly. Then, just make sure you keep your warp threads in the interval indicated in the pattern and weave a square and you should be all set!

Because of its unique construction, the Penelope Bag sits flat, making it a functional project bag, lunch sack, or convenient carry-all when you’re running to and from the office.

Did I mention that the luxurious texture just begs to be touched? Everyone will ask you where you bought your bag, but they’ll be so surprised when you get to say, “I made it!”

Buy the Penelope Bag Kit

Buy the Penelope Bag Pattern & Video

Check out the Penelope Bag Kit in my shop! The kit includes:
: 3 x Flax & Twine Daytime Linen DK Weight, 123 yd (112m), 3.5oz (100g)
: 1 x Flax & Twine Daytime Linen DK Weight, 30 yd (27m), (25g)
: One pair of 16" Coco Knits Leather Handles
: 4 stitch markers
: Clippers
: Weaving needle and Darning needle
: Penelope Bag Pattern and STEP BY STEP VIDEO!

Optional:
: BEKA 20" Standing Loom or other loom that gets 5 EPI (2 ends per cm) with shed stick and shuttle. Weaving area 20" x 24"

This project kit is a long time in the making. I cannot wait for you to finally get your hands on it. Make a new project bag for yourself or a gorgeous woven purse for a friend. I know this project will teach you some new tricks and give you the confidence that weaving in pattern is totally doable and, most of all, fun!