The Felted Bag Book. Susie Johns
or a wool-viscose mix, for quick and easy results. Do not confuse this with the squares of craft felt available in art shops and toy stores, which is not suitable for use in any of the projects in this book.
Lining
Most of the projects in this book do not require to be lined. Knitted and crocheted felt, when shrunk in a washing machine, tends to produce a thick, firm fabric, and wet felt can be made to your preferred thickness, depending on how many layers of fibres you build up.
Recycled felt, meanwhile, where you shrink existing garments or other woollen items in hot water, can vary depending on the original thickness. If the resulting felted fabric is a little too soft or stretchy, a lining may help to give it substance and make it more hard-wearing.
As well as reinforcing your bag, a lining can also provide a soft, smooth interior, in contrast to the warm, woolly texture of the felt.
To line a bag, choose a plain or patterned silk, cotton or synthetic fabric. Measure the bag and cut the fabric to fit the front and back, as well as the base and sides for a deeper bag, adding 2 cm (¾ in) all round for seams and turnings. You should aim to make your fabric lining into a bag of the same dimensions as the bag to be lined. Next place the lining inside the bag, with wrong sides together, then turn under any raw edges and slipstitch the fold to the top of the bag. To make the lining as inconspicuous as possible, position it a little way down from the top edge of the bag.
ABBREVIATIONS
| beg | begin(ning) |
| cm | centimetre(s) |
| dc | double crochet |
| dec | decrease |
| in | inch(es) |
| inc | increase |
| k | knit |
| mm | millimetres |
| p | purl |
| psso | pass slipped stitch over |
| rep | repeat |
| st 1 | slip one stitch |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| tbl | through back of loop(s) |
| tog | together |
| * | repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as instructed |
| () | work instructions inside brackets as many times as instructed |
Look out for beautiful buttons for the perfect finishing touch. Sew on firmly with a needle and strong thread.
To line handles and straps, you can use the same fabric or – better still – use a length of ribbon or tape the same width as, or slightly narrower than, the handle. Velvet ribbon is a good choice for this, as it creates a slip-proof handle that will sit comfortably on your shoulder (as with Mary, on page 44).
To further reinforce the bag, you may wish to create an interlining. This is probably best made from a non- woven interfacing, which is available in a range of different weights. For a really rigid result, choose pelmet interfacing, which is very firm and will hold its shape; it is particularly good for boxy-shaped bags. Plastic canvas, usually sold alongside tapestry canvasses, can also be employed, particularly for reinforcing bag bases – as with Eve, on page 59.
Rigid handles can give a professional finish. These are acrylic, but also look out for wood and bamboo.
Fastenings
Buttons come in different shapes, sizes and materials and are the perfect choice for a simple fastening. Check out craft shops for other fastenings too, as it is easy to substitute one that really catches your eye for any of those used in the book.
Press fasteners are useful for keeping bag flaps closed (see page 42 for an example of this). You may also wish to consider a magnetic closure for a more professional finish. These come in two main parts, with metal washers, and are easy to insert into the fabric, and to attach with the help of a hammer or pliers (see pages 54–55 for instructions on how to do this).
Experiment with fastenings and closures, such as press fasteners, magnets, zips and hinged clasps.
Handles
Most of the bags in the book have felt handles but in some cases handles made from other materials have been used. Look for wooden, acrylic and bamboo handles, as well as chains and cords, to ring the changes.
Tools
Aside from the equipment listed in each chapter, make sure you have a good pair of sturdy dressmaking scissors for cutting felted fabric, a smaller pair of scissors for snipping threads, and another pair of scissors that can be used for cutting paper and other materials for templates and patterns.
A large, sharp embroidery needle is useful for stitching through one or more thickness of felt, especially with embroidery threads, while a blunt-ended tapestry needle with a large eye is essential for joining knitted or crocheted pieces prior to felting. An all-purpose sewing needle is also used throughout the book, with ordinary sewing thread.
Cord handles and straps can be stitched directly to a felt bag or attached using various rings and clips.
You will need a tape