Felted Purses

Felted purses started as a backyard hobby for many women. It later turned into small businesses and later became a mainstay in the fashion world. Fashionable women hug the soft fuzzy and warm feel of felted fabric, which is one of the most sought after yet affordable line of purses.

The word “felt” itself came from main characteristic of the material – its gentle, fibrous fiber being touched and “felt” by the owner.

Felt is made by pressing, usually sheep wool or yarn fibers into a cloth. Sheep’s wool works the best but later makers experimented on later forms of fabric as well.

The Process

Utilizing wool’s natural jagged edges on its fiber makes the material. These “scales” are rubbed against each other in the felting process pulling out micro fibers and at the same time interlocking them together to create a “felted” material.

The process is made faster and enhanced by friction to rub more fiber against each other, moisture and heat to make the fabric swell and soap to make the material wet and soft. Mastery of the process creates a felted purse that is trendy, funky and manageable.

History tells us that the felting has been existing in the cold steppes and mountains of Central Asia from 600 BC. The people in the area have used felt and its fuzzy fiber to protect themselves from the cold. One theory, however, is that felted material was discovered when the people used wool to pad their sandals as they walk the rocky slopes during long journeys.

Wool was placed between the feet and the sandals. The rubbing between the feet and the sandals later on produced felt – which was later utilized for many other uses!

Aside from clothing, felted fabric is used in piano keypads, upholstery, accessories and handbags.

The Product

Felted wool purses are one the most popular of felt wool products because of its personality and artistry made on it. Since wool is naturally absorbent, it easily takes in color and could easily be accessories; many felted purses had become walking works of art. Many felted purses are made at home, although many designers have also dipped their fingers into the trend.

The transformation of bland wool fiber into colorful, fuzzy purses with surface designs, sculptural elements, and handles have become a hobby for many women.

One drawback of felted wool purse is the care it needs to maintain its color and at the same time protect its material. The biggest problem with this material is its flexibility. Water could make it shrink while too much load on the bag could stretch it too much.

To care for your felted purse, it is recommended that gentle spot cleaning or manual dry clean is done. Throwing the felted purse into the washing machine could turn it into a fuzzy ball or a coin purse because of shrinkage.

Another care tip for felted purses is for the owners not to overload it. These natural fibers have the tendency to stretch, especially with its natural formation already rubbed and felted with rubbing.

Wool is also an allergen to many people, so proper precaution must be made before a purchase is made.

Handbags have become an extension of the personality of the carrier. Felted purses give this idea a stronger push with its wide and diverse choice of style or color.

Felted purses are fun. It is warm to the touch and its innate quality makes the bag protective of the items inside it. Although many designs of felted purses are not in line with fashion trends, these works of art never go out of style and rarely does one bag have a twin anywhere close.