Flat Felted Bags

I block flat felted bags by shaping them and then using long quilting pins to pin the bag to a piece of Styrofoam that is a little bit bigger. I save the Styrofoam that comes as box packing for this. I also stretch the bag a wee bit as I pin it to put some tension on it. This keeps the edges from curling.
 

Shaping Round Bags or Bags with Bottoms

While the felted bag is still damp pull and stretch it into the desired shape.  When the bag comes out of the machine it can be all twisted and balled into itself.  Don't be afraid to stretch your felted bag into the shape you want.  I stuff my felted bags with plastic bags, using a ruler or pointy stick to push the plastic bags into the corners.  I keep pushing in the plastic bags until I have the shape I want.  I leave the plastic bags in while the felted bag dries. And I hang the felted bag from my quilt stand, place the quilt stand over a heat vent and leave there until it dries.

What I do about creases...
Here's my trick for creases. While the felted bag is still damp, I steam it with the iron (watch out for steam burns because A LOT of steam can come off a damp bag) and then I take a size 4 or 5 metal knitting needle and slip the needle under the fibers in the crease and gently work them loose, re-steaming as needed and stretching the crease. I also turn the bag inside out and steam the crease and then go back to working the crease on the right side with the knitting needle. This may not work with every crease, but I have had good success with this method.  Creases can happened when you use a really “hairy” yarn.  In the felting process this hairy yarn felts to itself.

Straps Too Short? 

You can stretch your I-Cord straps when they are still wet.  If I have felted the strap separately from the bag, I loop the strap over a dowel and clip the ends to something heavy that will pull on the straps as they dry.  Then I hang the dowel between the sides of a quilt stand.  If I attached the straps before felting, I hang the bag from the dowel and place something heavy on top of the plastic bags that I am using to shape the bag (I use a big rock -- no kidding!).  And I hang it from my quilt stand, place the quilt stand over a heat vent and leave there until it dries.

No Promises!  These are the methods that works for me.  I made NO guarantees that these tips will work for you.

  Other Questions:  Email us at patterns@felted-bags.com

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