How to block felted bags,
purses and totes.

Exactly how to block felted bags or purses to obtain a neat professional finish confuses many beginner felters.

I’m going to show you how I handle the drying and blocking process for both flat and shaped felted bags.

We’ll take it from the point where you have successfully felted and lightly spun dry your bag. ( If not - backtrack to the felting techniques and instructions section. )

The next step, after felting, is to shape (block) your bag.

Smooth out the sides and handles and pull them into the correct finished shape with your hands. You don’t need to be too gentle with this process.

If you’ve felted a flat bag or tote similar to the one below. Simply lay it somewhere flat to dry, placing something in the opening to obtain air flow inside. See the photo below.
NOTE: This bag has been purposely "double felted" to make it particularly hairy. Gaining a mohair look to a normally smoother wool/alpaca blend.

Scroll further down the page for a smooth finish bag.

I lay flat felted bags and totes on a sun bed in a shady spot to air dry in the warmth and out of the direct sun. Drying the outside in this manner “sets” the shape of the bag. If possible, without distorting its shape, prop the bag open to allow air flow inside.

Remember to turn your felted bag over to ensure the underside is also dry.

Once the outside is dry I turn the bag inside out and repeat. I then turn the bag right side out again and air the outside again, briefly.

Remember when you block felted bags it's important that they be thoroughly dry both inside and outside.

How long this process takes depends on your location. Luckily I live in sunny Queensland Australia so it’s usually a day for the outside and another day for the inside. But I also ensure I don’t felt if I know we are to have rain - common sense needs to kick in when felting.

If you live in a cooler, or a damp climate you may need to place your bag near a heat source such as a fireplace, oven etc. Whatever you normally do to dry your jumpers.

You can use a tumble dryer at a push - but - only use it on the cool part of the cycle and watch it like a hawk. Unless of course you want to felt it even further.......

Pull your bag into approximately the finished shape you desire, paying particular attention to handles, corners and any fittings or flaps.

If you bag has a flat base, shape it at this time. I like to stand my flat bottomed bags on a stainless steel cake stand. The bottom stays flat and I obtain plenty of air flow.

Stuff your bag full of non absorbent plastic type material. I use scrunched up plastic shopping bags kept specifically for this purpose. Re-used again and again they will last indefinitely and are perfect for pushing into the corners. When you have them in place mould your bag from the outside until you obtain the desired shape.

Once you are happy with the shape, pin the flap closed (if appropriate) as shown in this photo. Place your bag in a warm shady place to dry.

Remove the stuffing when the outside of your bag is dry. The shape should now be "set". Leave your bag open until the inside is also dry.

Your bag should now be perfectly shaped and ready for the finishing touches. i.e bag closure and/ or lining if that’s your choice.

Use this link for find out more about this particular felted bag

What if your bag isn’t exactly the shape you wanted, either because you didn’t stuff it in exactly the right way, or something unforseen happened?

You can't un-felt, but you can still re-shape and re block felted bags. Here's how...

Place your felted bag or purse in a bucket of clean hand-warm water to thoroughly soak - make sure it is totally submerged - go away and have a cup of tea, or something stronger....

It will take a little while for the water to wet through the felted material. You can help this process along by gently squeezing the water through your bag.

Once you're sure it's completely wet squeeze the water out by hand and re-shape and re-block your bag as previously.

DO NOT RE FELT in hot water unless you want your bag to be smaller.

If you’ve read felting techniques and instructions together with this page you now have sufficient information to successfully knit and felt your own bag, purse or tote....try out some of our other felted bag patterns.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.

Good luck and have fun.....

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