My First Felted Bag – The Unflappable

FELTING

This project started a couple of months ago. What was supposed to be simple I ended up needing help with knitting in the round. See my post Fixing Knitting Mistakes. Today I am so happy with the finished product, from knitting to felting. Throwing it in the washing machine for the first time really is a leap of faith.

Here are the details:

Yarn: Mano’s Wool Classica
Pattern: Unflappable Handbag by Two Old Bags
Needles: Size 10

Once the bag was completed I had all this anx-ed about not having a top loader washing machine. From everyone I talked to that seemed to be the key to felting success.  I found out it really did not matter. The pattern has great directions and I threw it into my MayTag Front Loader on a Short Cycle. The complete cycle was 30 minutes from wash to spin, I put Woolite in each washing and washed it three times with hot water and a cold rinse. I am so happy with how it turned out. Felting is amazing or maybe it is the wool. The Mano’s Wool, really washed up nice and lost very little color if any.

Look at the pictures and see for yourself. Maybe it could be washed one more time. I am pretty happy with how it looks and the size after three washes.


The chart below indicates the bag measurements before washing and after washing. The first wash did not make much of a difference but after three washes there is a noticeable reduction in size and felting.

BAG
Before Wash
After First Wash
Third Wash

Top
17.5″
15.5
12.5

Bottom
19.5″
17.0
14.0

Base
17″ x 7″
12 x 6″

Length
12.5
9.25″

Handle
38″
23″

I am pretty happy with the bag the way it is, but will I be happier with it lined? What do you think?

Now you know about the lining, it was fun mixing the knit and woven fabrics.  The fabric is Kokka,  I wanted something that would brighten it up and make it cheery. I bought the fabric a Britex in San Francisco. I reinforced the bottom with an iron on interfacing. I can’t wait to wear it.

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2 Responses to My First Felted Bag – The Unflappable

  1. mary knapp-samet August 14, 2013 at 5:40 PM #

    looks great, I would have to see it before giving an opinion about felting. Whet will u be putting in it??

    • Toni August 14, 2013 at 8:09 PM #

      I think it will be a normal purse, wallet and the usual. Found a yummy fabric @ Britex today for the lining. I am such a sucker for fabric.