Felted Blue Handbag

I have simply fell in love with felting bags. Here is my latest bag which is a blue handbag with variegated wool yarn for the flap trim and the strap. I crocheted this handbag using 100% wool and felted it an extra long time as I wanted my final product to be very tight. This easy pattern works up very quickly and makes for a fun felted project.

As always, below is the free bag pattern so you too can create this cute little handbag. Enjoy!
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Felted Handbag Pattern

Purse measurements:
Before felting – 10 inches wide and 8 inches long with 48 inch strap
After felting – 7-1/4 inches wide and 6 inches long with 19 inches strap

Materials:
5 ozs -100% blue wool yarn
2 ozs -100% variegated wool yarn for flap edging & strap
3/4″ button for front closure

Hook: Metal G (4 mm) US hook

Chain 40

Rnd 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook in each chain.
Continue around the corner, working a Sc in each st down the back side of chain. Do not connect at end of rounds, just continue working Sc’s in rounds as this creates a seamless bag

Rnd 2
Sc in ea st down to first end, work 2 Sc in the end st, Sc in ea st down to other end. Work 2 Sc in that end st.

Rnd 3 – 32
Sc in ea st of rnd. Remember don’t join but just continue working in rounds. (Length is approx. 7 inches at end of rnd 32.)

Row 33 – 37 (Flap)
Working just on flap, Sc in ea st across back side of bag only to create flap. Ch 1, turn at end of ea row.

Row 38 – 47
Work 1 Sc over the next two sts (1 dec made). Sc in ea st down to other end. Work 1 Sc over the next two sts (1 dec made). Ch 1, turn.

Row 48
Work 1 Sc dec over next two sts, Sc, Ch 2, Sk 2 sts, Sc, work 1 Sc dec over last two sts of row. Ch 1, turn. (Buttonhole opening made.)

Row 49
Sc in ea st. Work 2 Sc in the buttonhole opening chain, and then Sc in ea remaining sts. Ch 1, turn.

Row 50
Work 1 Sc dec over first 2 sts, Sc in ea st to the last two sts. Work 1 Sc dec over the last two sts of row. Ch 1, turn.

Row 51
Work 1 Sc dec over ea of the remaining sts of row. Ch 1, turn.

Row 52
Sc in ea st of row. FO.

Row 53
With right side facing, join variegated wool yarn with Sl St at front beginning flap edge. Sc evenly around the edge of flap. FO.

Strap: I used a knitter spool to weave my strap using a variegated wool yarn. You could also just crochet a strap if desired. My strap length was 48 inches long before felting. Because I felted my bag for a long period of time, my strap became very short. I would recommend starting with at least 55 inches long strap if you felt your bag for 20 minutes as I did. Otherwise the strap in my project after felting is only 19 inches long.

Attach the ends of your strap with a Sl St on either side of your bag next to the flap edge. Secure by working several Sl Sts into the sides of your bag. Make sure you hide the variegated wool yarn ends on the inside of your project so they don’t show after felting. FO.

This handbag was felted approx. 20-22 minutes in the hottest water in my washer. It was removed and cold water rinsed in the sink. Shape bag and open up buttonhole opening if needed after felting is complete.

Sew button 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
Dec – Decrease
Ea – Each
FO – Finish Off
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sk – Skip
St – Stitch

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

****Please do not copy my patterns on your blog site or post my patterns on Internet sites. I do not allow my patterns to be republished without expressed written permission. Posting of my patterns, without written permission is in violation of my copyrights and is content theft.