Are there sweaters in your closets that you never wear anymore but can’t get yourself to get rid of either? Or did your first knitting project turn out many sizes too big? Heck, you can even find wool items at garage sales and second hand stores and turn them into lovely accessories. Just felt and sew, and with a little creativity, you’ll have one of a kind felted bags and purses.

 

Felting:

 

You will need to use garments made of 100% untreated wool. If they’ve been specially treated so they can be safely machine washed without shrinking, they will not felt.

Place wool item in a mesh sweater bag or zippered pillowcase and close. Using the hottest possible water and approximately 2 tablespoons (one capful) of liquid hand soap, fill washer 1/3 full. (Option: 1 tablespoon of baking soda in the wash may speed the felting process.)

 

Place piece in washer with an old pair of jeans (for agitation). Agitate for 6 minutes. Check the felting progress every couple of minutes after 6 minutes; depending on your washer to felt the desired amount.

When you're pleased with the amount of felting, remove the wool item and drain wash water from machine. Gently squeeze water from piece. Fill washer to the same water level with cold water. Place piece into washer and rinse/agitate for another minute – the cold water will make the purse felt just a bit more. Set machine to drain, then run spin cycle for approximately 30 seconds - creases caused by over spinning are difficult to remove from the finished piece.

 

Remove felted piece and gently stretch flat on a bath towel. Roll towel with felted piece inside and then step along it to help squeeze water out. Never wring your felted piece. Lay felted piece on another clean, dry towel and let air dry. Drying may take 1-3 days, depending on
humidity in the air.

Felting will cause a certain amount of pilling which is easily removed by brushing briskly with a hard nylon brush or shaving, using a disposable razor.

 

Now you’re ready to make your purse!

 

Design and then cut the shape of the purse out of the felted material. You can use the front and back sides of the sweater as the front and back sides of the purse.

 

Hand sew the two pieces of purse together along the outside edge using a tapestry needle and button hole embroidery stitch (Bring needle up at the edge of the piece and work from left to right). For the purse pictured here, I used a combination of yarn and embroidery floss in colors that accented the felt.

You can also cut one side of the purse longer, fold over and use as a flap or keep the front and back pieces the same size and fasten with a zipper or snap.

 

For the purse pictured here, I used the same yarn and embroidery floss to make a crocheted button (you can find instructions for how to make crocheted buttons and many other hip crocheted projects in the fantastic book: Stitch ‘N Bitch Crochet, The Happy Hooker, http://www.amazon.com/Stitch-Bitch-Crochet-Happy-Hooker/dp/0761139850), to stitch around the button hole, and to make the straps.

 

Using scissors, cut a hole in the flap of the bag slightly smaller than the large button you will be using. Using a coordinating color of thread, sew around the button hole with an overcast stitch to prevent tearing. Fold down the flap to see where the button should be sewn, then securely attach the button onto the front of the purse.

 

To crochet the straps, I made a chain the desired length and then did one row of single crochet. Repeat procedure to make two straps. I also felted the straps to get a funky texture that matches the purse. Hand sew straps on to purse using yarn and/or thread.

 

You could also make a braided handle. After felting sweater, cut a wide strip into three equal pieces, sew across one end and braid. Secure the end and then sew onto purse.

 

For lining, cut two pieces of coordinating fabric just a bit smaller than the purse. On one or both pieces, you can add a pocket for your keys or lipstick by cutting out a square piece of the fabric and sewing along three sides, leaving top open.

 

With right sides together, stitch side seams of lining and baste top edge. Turn inside out and place inside bag folding over top edge so that it sits nicely below purse opening.

 

To attach lining to purse, stitch along top of lining with a slip stitch and thread in a color that will not show.

 

You can put a couple of stitches through base corners to hold lining down.

 

Fill with all your favorite things and go out and parade your new felted purse around town!

 

 

Follow the instructions above except instead of cutting out two pieces of the felt, just cut one long, rectangular piece.

 

Cut a piece of coordinating fabric for the lining and pin inside.

 

To make flap, fold the felted piece and lining over about 2/3 of the way up and pin closed.

 

Using the yarn and embroidery floss again, hand sew around the edges of the purse and lining all at once to secure lining and close purse. Sew around flap for a uniform look and to keep felted edges from fraying.

 

Fold flap over and add button or snap. For the little purse pictured here, I pinned on a costume jewelry broach to the front and then concealed a magnetic closure under flap and just below opening of purse for a pretty and distinctive touch!