How to Wet Felt a Shoulder Bag on a Ball

Sally Gulbrandsen Feltmaker: Her tutorials and techniques are as individual as she is—unique, experimental, and always interesting.

About This Project

This charming shoulder bag was made by covering an inflatable Gertie Ball with woolen fibres. In this case, fibres from some Jacob's fleece were used along with a little decorative Merino Wool fibres. A tumble dryer was used to felt the wool.

Alternatively, the project could be bounced on a hard waterproof surface until the wool inside the tights felts firmly together.

An alternative might be to use Merino Wool fibres for the whole of this project. Merino Wool will produce a firmer felt.

The plain brown shoulder bag shown below was made using one layer of Jacob's fleece and one layer of Merino Wool fibres. The finish from the Jacob's fleece has a little fluffy appearance. Merino Wool will provide a smoother surface. I recommend that you use Merino Wool roving, especially if this is your first felting project.

Things You Will Need to Complete This Project

• Merino Wool Roving
• A Gertie ball
• A felting needle
• Matching embroidery thread
• A needle felting sponge (if decorating your bag with needle felting)
• Hot, soapy water (Dishwashing liquid or Olive Oil soap, grated and dissolved)
• One recycled purse frame; alternatively you can use a new one which should measure about 20 cm
• A large bowl similar to the stainless steel one below
• A tumble dryer

Method

Remove a purse frame from a suitable bag. I used an evening bag which I bought cheaply on eBay with a curved frame.

Gather the items required together and place them on a suitable waterproof surface. A small marble table was used here.

How to Start

Begin by flattening out the Merino Wool fibres. The Jacob's fleece shown here was professionally done in preparation for spinning, rather than felting but you can easily flatten out your wool roving.

Wrap a piece around the ball and pull it off with just a little overlap as shown below. Needle felt the piece together with a felting needle. Don't let the needle touch the ball—use the needle sideways as shown below, just a few pricks of the needle should secure it enough to keep the wool together.

Needle Felting the Fibres Together

When you attach the fibres to one another, take care not to overlap the layers too much. You don't want to create thick areas.

Fill in the Areas Which Were Left Exposed

After having wrapped the wool twice around the ball, fill in the gaps, overlapping the edges but not covering over the wool so that areas become too thick. The idea is to keep the layers completely even throughout this project.

Almost Covered in Wool

The First Layer

The first layer is now complete. Smooth it down with your hands, needle felt the odd pieces which stick out, and then cover the first layer with another layer in exactly the same way.

One Layer of Wool

The Second Layer

As can be seen here, the first layer has been completely covered with the Jacob's fleece. Remember to flatten out the wool as you go along. Make sure it covers the ball evenly. Putting the layers down evenly, determines the thickness or thinness of your layers—gaps mean that could end up with holes or thin spots on your bag.

Covering the First Layer With Jacobs's Fleece

The Completed Second Layer

Smooth down the wool. Needle felt the odd pieces which stick out and take care not to puncture the Gertie Ball.

The Second Layer Covering the Ball

Add a Little Color

Add a little color as desired. Alternatively make a little flower later and attach it to the shoulder bag once it is complete.

Alternatively, felt the purse in the tumble dryer until it is felted. Cut the opening as shown below. Remove the ball and needle felt as desired. . Remember to insert a piece of felting foam in the cavity before you start sticking the needle through. You don't want to needle felt your fingers.

Insert the Gertie Ball and inflate it whilst it is inside the felt bag but don't inflate it completely. Leave a space around the ball. Place it into the stocking, tie it up and put it back into the tumble dryer. The wool will shrink down to the required size around the ball.

Adding a Little Color/Or Alternatively, Keep It Plain

Another Way!

Getting the Ball into Those Tights/The Easy Way

Pull the Tights onto the Chair and Push the Ball Right up into Them

Ball in the Tights, Unknotted at This Stage

Oh Dear! All Trussed up like a Chicken!

Knot the Loose Ends Together (Loosely)

Hot Soapy Water

Fill the bottom of a stainless steel bowl with hot soapy water and dunk the project in the water.

Press down on the fibres until the ball feels firm underneath your fingers. Tie the knots so that the project is now firmly placed into the tights.

A Stainless Steel Bowl and Some Dish-Washing Liquid

Dunk Project into the Hot Soapy Water

Open the Knots and Tie Again Firmly

When the wool is completely wet through, open the knots and allow the project to hang over the bowl, The ball will sink lower into the stocking, knot it firmly, and insert it into the tumble dryer.

Holding the Project over the Bowl Before Tying the Knots Again

Squeeze out Any Excess Water

Squeeze any excess water from the project and remove any excess water with a towel.

If you don't wish to use a tumble dryer, bounce on a waterproof surface until the fibres have felted together.

Children love bouncing the ball on a table-top but when they get bored and tired. The tumble dryer will felt the ball in no time at all.

Bounce on a Waterproof Surface or Put It into the Tumble Dryer

Find the Center for the Bag Opening

Use a tape measure and mark a distance of around 20 cm. Measure the curved distance on your recycled bag frame—this should give you about the correct distance.

Mark the Cutting Line

Measure the Cutting Line

It should be around 20 cm—the distance across your curved purse frame.

Mark the Cutting Line with a Tape Measure

Cut Through the 1st Layer

Cut carefully with a sharp pair of needles. Try to cut through the first layer without cutting through to the ball. The next step is to expose the ball without making a hole in it.

Cut Through with a Pair of Sharp Scissors

Wet the Ball in Hot and Cold Water

Once the ball is exposed, wet the ball with hot soapy water. Massage the cut edges until they begin to harden, rinse in hot and cold water. If you are not using the tumble dryer, hit the ball on a hard surface until it shrinks back and becomes smaller.

If using the tumble dryer, wet, massage the edges, insert the Gertie Ball, inflate the ball so that it sits quite loosely into the bag. Put the stocking on and put it back into the tumble dryer. It will soon shrink to the size of the ball and you will then be ready to sew on the metal purse frame.

The Gertie Ball Inserted, but Slightly Deflated

The Tumble Dryer

Once the deflated ball is inserted into the felt base, put into the stocking and inserted into the dryer, the wool will shrink back against the ball. Once this happens, you can deflate the ball, remove it, and complete the purse by sewing on the frame.

Two Wet Felted Shoulder Bags - Made Using a Gertie Balloon

Recycle a Purse Frame!

Remove the frame and sew it into the opening of the shoulder bag with matching or contrasting embroidery thread as desired.

Removing the Metal Frame from the Old Purse

Sewing on the Purse Frame

Fold the felt bag in half and draw around it to get the right shape for your lining. Sew around the fabric as shown, turn the lining inside out and sew a row of stitching on the right side so that the bottom edge is over-sewn for strength.

The Recycled Metal Purse Frame Removed

A View of the Holes

The metal holes through which the bag can be attached with a needle and embroidery thread.

Metal Shoulder Purse Finding (Close-Up) Stitching

Bag Lining/An Optional Extra

The Inside of the Lining

Put the fabric right sides together, cut the shape from the drawing made previously, sew around the edges and turn it inside out.

Top stitch the bottom edge and fold in the top edges and sew down. Attach after you have attached the outer bag.

The Completed Shoulder Bag

Felting Tutorials

I Love Hearing from You

I love hearing your comments. I am happy to answer any questions you have regarding this or any of my other wet felting tutorials.

Another Completed Shoulder Bag Made with a Gertie Ball

A Felt Flower

How to Make a Wet Felted Flower

© 2015 Sally Gulbrandsen

Comments

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on February 25, 2015:

FlourishAnyway

You so clearly understand what it has taken for me to define my niche. I know that both the financial effort and time spent will reap rewards for a longtime to come. Best of all, I have had a lot of fun inventing new projects such as this bag on a ball felting project. Your comment is valued and appreciated.

FlourishAnyway from USA on February 24, 2015:

You've really defined your niche and are stretching it to its bounds. Very admirable! The investment that you put into building your hubs certainly shows up in their quality.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on February 08, 2015:

tillsontitan

I try not to, guess I have to assume that this is the first time a visitor has visited one of my tutorials or even tried wet felting for the first time. If I do it this way then I know they are more likely to come back:)

Thanks for the vote up, useful and interesting, it is appreciated as always.

Sally

Mary Craig from New York on February 08, 2015:

Sally you don't leave anything out. You are so detailed oriented it is easy to follow along. These little bags are adorable too. Great how to hub as always.

Voted up, useful, and interesting.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on February 08, 2015:

Glimmer Twin Fan

Yes I have been busy lately. Summer is just around the corner and I perhaps won't get as much time then.

I agree bounding the ball is fun, especially if you are making this with children.

Thanks for your comment which is always valued and appreciated.

Sally

Claudia Porter on February 08, 2015:

You've been really busy lately! This is a great purse and another beautiful hub with great instructions. I think the fun part would be bouncing the ball for a while and then eventually getting a purse out of it. Well done!

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on January 31, 2015:

FatBoyThin

Nice to have you grace one of my pages.

Do you know why your felting went wrong? Insufficient felting, too much shrinkage! There is always a reason for things going wrong. Happy to answer any questions if I can on felting. I love this art form and I have written a lot of tutorials. I don't do things the conventional way - I experiment with new ways of doing things so I won't guarantee you that I do them the way your tutor did.

Try the cute little polka dot purse tutorial. I am preparing two more projects at the moment - look out for them - am sure even these you could get right. They look amazing - one can't help but find this creative art form interesting.

Thanks for the visit.

Sally

Colin Garrow from Inverbervie, Scotland on January 31, 2015:

Hi Sally

Just skimming through your Hubs and noticed this. I attended a felt-making workshop a few years ago. The very first thing I produced (a wizard's hat) was absolutely perfect and I immediately went out and bought loads of materials. Unfortunately, since then everything I've attempted has gone wrong. Maybe if I follow your instructions...?

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on January 30, 2015:

DDE

You are too kind Devika. I would say a bag too but it seems that I may be a little old fashioned but then, this was always my way of describing a handbag. I love how diverse HubPages is - reaching out to people all over the world. I hope you are enjoying your day in Croatia. I confess I have been looking at travel sites which include the area you live in. How beautiful it looks. I would love to see it.