Pieced Purse Revisited- Part 4

The relatively dull interior of the finished bag...

                                                 ...receives a 'color infusion'...

                                        ...with the installation of this bright zipper!

                                                           The finished bag...

                                      ...with its larger pieced nuno pre-felt 'cousin'.

                       It's interesting to note how the colors of the printed silk change...

                                 ...depending on the color of the wool underneath! 

                              I'll be taking a short blog break to visit with dear friends.

                                                     See you in early April! 

Pieced Purse Revisited- Part 3

After turning the project right-side out...

                             ...felting continues with a bit more rubbing and rolling.

                           The purse is placed in various orientations during felting...

                                                        ...for even shrinkage.

                                            As with my earlier nuno pre-felt bag...

                                  ...the wild colors and patterns of the silk pieces...

                                   ...become quite muted and subtle after felting.

                                                  The finished project, drying...

                                                    ...awaiting a leather strap...

                                                         ...and festive zipper.

                                              
                                                Next time: the completed bag...

                               ...along with its earlier (and slightly beefier) 'cousin'.

Pieced Purse Revisited- Part 2

Adding layers of black wool...

                                          ...to both sides of the project surface...

                                           ...and attaching the hanging loops...

                                                        ...to the top of the bag.

                                                Fashioning an internal pocket...

                                           ...from scraps of colorful nuno pre-felt...

                                       ...and covering it with layers of black roving.

                                              After rubbing and rolling for awhile...

                               ...the pocket resist is beginning to work its way out...

                               ...and the felt begins to shrink and to become firmer.

                                              Next time: the resist is removed...

                         ...and the purse is turned right-side out for further felting.

Pieced Purse Revisited- Part 1

Machine stitching...

                                             ...strips of nuno pre-felt together...

                                          ...and, from them, cutting two layers...

                                              ...just slightly larger than the resist.

                                        Clipping the sides and bottom into place...

                                                  ...with the silk side 'inside'...

                                      ...and machine stitching the pieces together.

                                 Placing the resist between the two pre-felt layers...

                                                   ...and covering both sides...

                                                    ...with layers of wool roving.

                                             Fashioning cords for hanging loops.

                              Next time: An interior 'pocket of many colors' is added.

Pieced Nuno Pre-Felt Purses- Part 9

Cutting a leather strap for the bag...

                                       ...and attaching it to the felt hanging loops.

                                                     The jewel-like colors...

                                             ...and patterns of the finished felt...

                                                     ...bear little resemblance...

                                           ...to those of the original silk scarves.

                                       A view of the purse with the zipper closed...

                                       ...and open (displaying the internal pocket).

                                                     The finished purse front...

                                                               ...and back.

                                    Next time: several small felting experiments.

Pieced Nuno Pre-Felt Purses- Part 6

               
               Wrapping the overlapping wool from side one up and around the resist...

                                        ...except at the flanged bottom of the bag...

                                     ...where it must first be opened out carefully...

                                                       ...and then wrapped.

                      
           Painter's plastic is employed between the flange and the body of the bag...

                                            ...to keep them from felting together.

                                      Covering the bottom of the purse with wool...

                                   ...and returning the bag to its 'neutral' position...
     

                                   ...before covering the rest of the pre-felt in fiber.

                                    Next time: I change colors...and add a pocket!

Pieced Nuno Pre-Felt Purses- Part 5

Trimming the pieced pre-felts to the size of the resist.

                             Sandwiching the foam between two pieces of pre-felt...

                                             ...(with the silk toward the 'inside')...

                                         ...and stitching the pieced sides together.

                                       Adding a third pre-felt piece at the bottom...

                                                    ...and stitching it into place.

                    Fashioning hanging loops from sections of leftover nuno pre-felt...

                                         ...and sewing them to the top of the bag.

                       Covering side one of the project with layers of wool from a batt...

                                                         ...and wetting it out.

                                           Covering the hanging loops with fiber...

                                            ...and flipping the purse to side two.

                                           Next time: coping with the flanged flap.