From Knitty:

When the winter cold is unbearable and the days short and devoid of color, I like to knit something colorful to remind myself that in a few short months the world will come to life again. As I knit I dream of melting snow, mud season, fiddlehead ferns, and the first blossoms of spring.

To pay homage to the coming spring, this bag is embellished on both sides with vines, leaves, and flower.

The muted texture of the felted wool makes a perfect canvas for the brilliant colors and unrefined texture of the recycled silk yarn.

The base of the bag allows it to sit open, making it ideal for a knitting bag, oversized handbag, or diaper bag.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width before felting: 23 inches across top, 13 inches across base

Height before felting: 15 inches from base

Width after felting: 20 inches across top, 12 inches across base

Height after felting: 12 inches from base

Finished measurements after felting may vary depending on yarn used, water temperature, and amount of agitation during felting.

GAUGE

Bag body: 10 sts/14 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch before felting, using largest needles and 2 strands MC held together

Straps: 12 sts/14 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using middle-sized needles and 2 strands CC held together

Leaves & Flowers: 18 sts/40 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch using smallest needles and one strand CC

The bag body is knit with two strands of MC held together. The body of the bag is felted, then later embellished. The vine and leaves require 2 skeins of recycled silk yarn, so I choose to use two shades to add depth to the color. The vine straps and flowers are knit with two strands held together, but the leaves are knit with a single strand.