Okay, I know everyone’s been felting wool bags for years. But this is my first attempt and here is the results.

I found two small balls of 100% brown wool at my local thrift store. Apparently someone didn’t finish their project or didn’t need these two leftover balls so I thought I’d buy them to crochet my first felted bag. But fearing I didn’t have enough and wanting to crochet a good-sized purse, I splurged and bought a small skein of 100% variegated wool to make some colorful stripes on my purse.

It is very important to use 100% wool for your felting projects. I almost made the mistake of using some other “wool” yarn I recycled from another project, but found out it was only 20% wool. If I had used that, it would not have felted properly or evenly.

My bag was crocheted and then felted twice in my washing machine. The first time I used the hottest water setting for 10 minutes and then a cold water rinse. I put my bag inside an old pillowcase and tied it shut with a knot. I also threw in an old pair of jeans for added agitation. It wasn’t quite enough so I felted it again for about another 6 minutes. I added two recycled buttons to finish off the bag.

Here is the free pattern for anyone interested in crocheting this felted sling bag purse.

Felted Sling Bag Purse Pattern

Purse measurements:
Before felting – 11-1/2″ wide and 11-1/2″ long with 48″ strap
After felting – 9″ wide and 9″ long with 43″ strap

Materials:
3 ozs -100% brown wool yarn
2 ozs -100% variegated wool yarn for stripes (Bernat Natural Wool Meadow shown)
1 inch button or two recycled buttons as shown on bag

Hook: H (5 mm) crochet hook

Chain 40

Rnd 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook in each chain.
Continue around to corner end, work 2 Hdc in end st. Continue down the back side of chain by working a Hdc in every chain stitch and finish by working 2 Hdc in end st.

Rnd 2 – 10
Hdc in each st around and do not connect at end of rounds, just continue working Hdc in rounds until the last two sts of rnd 10. Work Sc and then Sl St to finish rnd. FO and weave under end to make smooth finishing edge on rnd.

Rnd 11
Join variegated wool yarn with Sl St in side of bag where you just finished last rnd. Ch 2, Hdc in ea st around. Join with Sl St to top of ch 2. Ch 1.

Rnd 12 – 14
Hdc in ea st around and don’t join at end of rnd. Just continue around working Hdc in ea st until 4 rnds are complete for stripe. In last two sts of last rnd, work Sc and then Sl St to finish rnd. FO and weave under end to make smooth finishing edge on rnd.

Rnd 15 – 23
Join brown wool yarn with Sl St at side of bag where you just finished last rnd. Ch 2, work Hdc in ea st around and don’t join at end of rnd, just continue around until 9 rnds of brown completed. In last two sts of last rnd, work Sc and then Sl St to finish rnd. FO and weave under end to make smooth finishing edge on rnd.

Rnd 24 – 25
Join variegated wool yarn with Sl St in side of bag where you just finished last rnd. Ch 2, Hdc in ea st around for 2 rnds as established in previous stripe. FO as before for last 2 sts also.

Rnd 26 – 29
Join brown yarn as before and ch 2, Hdc in ea st around as established in pattern until 4 rnds complete.

Rnd 30
Mark 4 center sts at front of bag. Hdc in each st to the 4 sts at center front. Ch 4 and leave the 4 center sts unworked for buttonhole. Then Hdc in each st around to finish rnd.

Rnd 31
Hdc in ea st of rnd to center where buttonhole opening was made, work 4 Hdc in opening space. Continue then working Hdc in ea remaining sts of rnd.

Rnd 32
Hdc in each st around until the last two sts of rnd at side of bag, Sl St in ea of the last two sts. This should make a smooth finishing edge for your purse. Make sure your buttonhole is centered and your strap beginning is at the side of bag. Do not finish off. Leave attached to begin strap.

Strap:
Start strap at side of bag. Chain until strap measures 48 inches. Attach strap to opposite side of purse with a Sc. Turn and work back up the chain by working a Sc around the chain until you get back to opposite end of strap handle. Adjust your Sc stitches around chain as needed to provide a smooth strap for your bag. Make sure your strap is not twisted before attaching the strap end to the opposite side of bag. Attach your yarn with a Sl St next to the st where you started the strap. Turn and work Sc back up strap in ea st and with a Sl St next to last st where strap connected. (3 rows completed for strap.)

FO and weave ends under on inside of the bag.

Felt bag as described in above article approx. 16 minutes.

Sew button(s) on purse under buttonhole space after dried completely.

If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.

Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
FO – Finish Off
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sk – Skip
St – Stitch
Rnd – Round

This pattern is copyrighted by Cindy of My Recycled Bags {dot com} and may only be used for private individual use. No commercial sales or use is permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable. ©2008