Felt BOHO Bag

 

'A labor of FELTED LOVE!'... Indeed, the process of wet felting is a physical endeavor. It involves a lot of bashing, squishing, rubbing, and rolling, all aimed at shrinking the wool to the desired size and shaping the form.

Wet Felted Wool Front Side of BoHo Bag

Inside the wet-felted bag is a blue plastic pattern designed to be felt up close, still fragile, and about double the size of what my end result is aimed for.  Here goes some of those math skills to gauge materials to size and shape while studying the various wool types'  % shrinkage factor.

Wet felt up close, still fragile, but blended different colors together.

The above photo is a close-up of the first stage of wet felt in various colors laid over the main plastic pattern for the BOHO purse/bag. Also added at this stage are the circles of felt in the left corner, which feature plastic circles over a layer of felt for an open design technique, as seen later.

WET FELT Back and flap.

Gorgeous wool colors, and I like the overall shape.

I was learning how to smooth out the edges and get the wool to stick to itself in all the right places, and feel out where some of the felt can be too thick or too thin and become a breaking point. 

 

The blue plastic pattern emerges from the top of the bag, and at this point, the wool is slowly felting. Importantly, the two sides of the purse will no longer stick together during the shrinking and felting process, reducing it to approximately 40% of its original size.

Wet-felted bag in its final, finished shape and size. 

Time to dry and add the remaining details to complete the BoHo Bag.

The wet-felted bag is now down about 40% of its original size. Also, note the decorative circle dots, which have also removed their slight plastic pattern shape, exposing the underlying color and ridged edges.

Wet Felted BoHo Bag with the flap closed, noting the loops for the macrame strap.

Completed BoHo Purse/Bag with all its decorative details, hand-stitched lining, beads, and macrame strap with metal closure. 

Add a little BLING and a secret pocket! DONE...

Front view of the completed felted BOHO Bag/Purse

This BoHo Bag is not just a product of my own creativity, but also a beautiful collaboration with my sister Colleen. She handcrafted both the macrame strap and the macrame bling dangling from the belt, adding a unique touch to our creation. It's truly remarkable to share and enhance our creativity through collaboration.

Back view of the completed felted BoHo Bag Purse

Close-up of what colorful felted wool looks like, finished in its felting process. 

Sturdy yet with a soft hand feel.

Tiny Silk Macrame Cord BLING made into an adorable dangly 

for the purse strap made by my sister Colleen.

Full-length view of over-the-shoulder felted BoHo Purse/Bag.

The length of the macrame strap fits my body perfectly, and the BoHo Bag slides easily under my arm to the side like custom-made clothing. LOVE IT!

Hand sewing the inside of the flap of the SECRET pocket.

Blanket stitch embroidery detail for the top edges and flap.

Here's a close-up view of the decorative detail on the front section of the felted BoHo Bag. Each element is unique, adding to the bag's individuality and creativity.

Hand-stitched the beading above the Blanket Embroidery stitch. 

Attached is the metal closure for the bag, in its open position. 

I love the action of this closure.

The variegated macrame cord is perfect for this bag, and the closure is now locked. 

Completed felted BoHo Bag.

The lining comes from yardage I purchased in the late '70s. 

I enhanced the purse lining with a pocket and stitched beads along the top of the pocket.

The secret POCKET on the inside flap has a hidden snap 

where I can put my nail file and a small hair comb.

The Chrome Strap hook looks perfect... 

easy to add both the macrame strap & hook up to felted strap loops.

The BoHo bag was created through an online course put together by masterful designer and felter Fiona Duthie. She has gorgeous designs in all that she makes, and her online courses are all supportive. She provides in-depth explanations with patience, explaining even the most complex details to me, a beginner in felting. I recommend any of her courses in felting, where she focuses on design elements not typically taught in other felting courses. 

https://www.fionaduthie.com/workshops/online-felting-workshops/

The first class I took with Fiona Duthie was Paper & Fibre Design. I then took the Raised Surface Design course, and the last class was the Felt Boho Bag. I really enjoyed the process of wet felting, but I can say it was a lot more physically demanding, involving a long duration of smashing, crushing, rolling, and rubbing, than I thought it would be. Let's just say it is a great upper-body workout with woolly results!

I received many compliments on my first felted bag and plan to create at least one more! When I wear the BoHo bag, the shape and size fit me naturally, and the wool is soft against my skin; I can barely notice I am wearing it.

HAPPY Bag Lady Minaz!