How You Can Create a Durable, Delightful Bag with Felting Magic
Thanks to the magic of felting, you can create a lovely bag that’s endlessly practical and refreshingly durable
The very first bag I ever knitted was a felted pattern. And I had only been knitting for a few months when I decided to try it!
Why? As was often the case when I was a new knitter, I decided to try it because one of my kids asked for me to make one particular pattern.
I had recently received Charmed Knits, a delightful collection of knitting patterns inspired by Harry Potter, as a gift. And I encouraged my family members to go through the book and request anything they wanted me to knit for them.
My elder kiddo instantly saw “Hermione’s Magic Knitting Bag” and wanted it.
Naturally, the first thing I noticed was that it required felting, also known as “fulling.” I didn’t know it then, but this process uses hot water and agitation to cause wool yarn stitches to disappear into one another. It creates a thick, solid fabric called felt.
Although I didn’t know what I was doing when I started, I’m happy to say that I got the hang of felting pretty quickly. And at the end, my elder kiddo had a nice sturdy bag that they carried around for quite some time!
Why Felt?
You may wonder why anyone would purposefully felt a knitting project.
After all, many knitters have horror stories of a completed project made of 100% wool–a hat, a sweater, a pair of socks–that was not intended to be felted. But then someone who didn’t know any better threw that project into the washing machine and, worse, followed it with a nice trip through the dryer.
The result: a shrunken project that was now useless.
That is, indeed, a major bummer. But when you create a project that is intended to go through the washer and/or dryer, felting can be a real boost.
A felted bag has advantages over a non-felted bag.
- Unlike bags that are not felted, you don’t need to add a liner to a felted bag. Because the felting process removes the holes and gaps from your stitches, your felted bag will not have any holes or gaps for objects to poke through.
- Felted bags are by nature sturdier and harder-wearing. You’ll find a felted bag far more difficult to wear holes into.
- Finally, because felting creates a solid fabric, it can be easier to attach embellishments. Since bags often close with buttons, snaps, or zippers, for instance, felting can be ideal as a canvas on which to adorn with these features.
Now that you know the advantages of knitting a bag meant to be felted, let’s take a look at some fabulous knitting patterns! Any of these would make a great gift, or even a little treat for yourself.
Felted Bag Patterns Anyone Would Love to Receive
Note: all patterns will require 100% wool yarn. Do not use superwash yarn. Neither superwash yarn, nor wool yarn blended with other fibers, will felt properly.
Photo: Shannon Geddes
- What you’ll need to make it: About 70 yards worsted weight wool yarn; US Size 11 circular needles or DPNs (depending on how you prefer to knit in the round); stitch holder/scrap yarn/spare DPN
- Why you’ll want to: Here’s a cute little felted bag that was designed to hang from a spinning wheel, so it’s perfect for spinners! Of course, it can be used in a variety of other ways, too.
Photo: Lori Puthoff
- What you’ll need to make it: 440 yard worsted weight wool yarn; US Size 11 circular needles and/or DPNs (you’ll want the circular needles for knitting flat, but you can change to DPNs when you begin knitting in the round, if that is your preference); stitch markers; stitch holder/scrap yarn/spare DPN
- Why you’ll want to: This pattern creates a classic, beautifully structured purse that can even contain an interior pocket, if you’d like. (Optional, but who doesn’t love a purse with an inner pocket?)
Photo: Daisyflame on Ravelry
- What you’ll need to make it: 225 yard super bulky weight wool yarn (divided into two colors, 175 for main color and 50 for secondary color, if desired); US Size 13 circular needles at least 24 inches in length; any embellishment you desire
- Why you’ll want to: Designed to be embellished however you want, this large bag makes a sturdy and beautiful tote bag.
- What you’ll need to make it: About 640 yards bulky weight wool yarn, divided into two colors, 384 yards for one and 256 yards for the other; US Size 11 circular needles, at least 32 inches long
- Why you’ll want to: Ideal as a first felting project, this attractive bag features a delightful array of stripes and a rectangular shape designed to stand upright.
Photo: Ann Lim
- What you’ll need to make it: About 275 yards bulky weight wool yarn; US Size 10 or 10.5 circular needles, at least 24 inches in length
- Why you’ll want to: If you’re looking for a cute little bag that requires no seaming whatsoever? This is your bag! It’s especially perfect for carrying a small knitting project–in fact, that’s what it was designed for.
Enjoy the magic of felting and get a cute and practical bag out of the deal. What’s not to love?
