Felted Purses

Are you bored of fabric or leather purses? Looking for something interesting or unique? Felted purses are the hottest knitted accessory since beaded stitch markers. Trendy felted purses are naturally one-of-a-kind, and can also keep you warm in cold climates.

Similar to a single piece of non-woven knit cloth, felt is a popular fabric used in many countries with harsh climates. Hats, rugs, blankets, boots, coats and handbags are made of felt in Turkey, South Central Asia, Russia and other parts of the world.

Felted wool is a natural fabric which forms when animal fur or wool is subjected to heat, moisture, change of pressure and alkalinity. The process of felting is like shrinking, in addition to getting smaller in size, the fibers lock together forming a thick permanent fabric. Felting a knitted piece is truly a game of chance and not for the faint of heart – you never really know how the final piece is going to turn out until it's too late.

Felt is the oldest fabric known to man. Starting thousands of years ago, women took to felt-making as a hobby, as well as a source of income. It hasn't been until recently that designer's felted purses in unexpected colorful patterns and simple detailing have become limited collectible items for stylish women. Designer brands like Lulu Guinness and Marni have created limited edition felted handbags – the same pattern is used for each bag, but each one is different thanks to the felting process.

If you have already mastered the basics of knitting and have the motivation and inspiration, felted purses are quite easy to make. The tricky part of making your own handbag involves the felting process. You need to soak your knitted bag in hot, soapy water and let it shrink. Trust me, it's not fun to see all your hard work diminish in size. The bag may shrink too much or the strap doesn't shrink enough – it is sticky business. Experienced knitters are aware of the shrinkage of different yarns and various stitches.

Thanks to the world wide internet, a number of gorgeous and free felted purse patterns are available with detailed knitting instructions. So dig out your knitting needles and set your creative mind to work – who knows maybe someday we may profile your line of felted handbags.