|
Post by lindsay on Jul 6, 2018 18:33:15 GMT
A while ago I had to admit that I had never made a bag. So coming back from holiday I had my experimental hat on and decided to give it a go. I started off with a bit of internet research about handles & closures. What a minefield! I made a small bag & tried adding a felt rope handle at the prefect stage but it didn’t look like it was going to attach so I turned the ‘bag’ into an iPad case. www.ipernity.com/doc/2373440/46957498Eventually I found a tutorial that used a circular resist with the handle cut out of the circle so I tried it. As ever I intended to keep it simple but couldn’t resist trying a silk lining. www.ipernity.com/doc/2373440/46957492www.ipernity.com/doc/2373440/46957496What I learned: in worrying about it being too flimsy I made it way too thick. It may take several months to dry! Perhaps I should have used a thicker resist - the one I used was very thin and didn’t offer any friction to help with felting the inside. I tried to do it all in one day and got rather fed up with it. Maybe spread it over 2 days though it might be less of a problem if it wasn’t so thick. I do like the design though so may have another go. My my question is - what’s everyone’s experience re bag handles? I searched previous posts and gleaned a bit of wisdom from them but am interested in people’s conclusions about their favourite approach.
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Jul 6, 2018 19:23:53 GMT
Lindsay, I think you did great on your first bag attempts. I especially like the silk lining in the circle purse. I made one of those before but didn't think it was very functional. I haven't made many other bags. I think the rope handles are uncomfortable on your shoulder. I do like the look of the felt bags with leather handles that are added after felting.
|
|
|
Post by lindsay on Jul 6, 2018 19:35:40 GMT
Lindsay, I think you did great on your first bag attempts. I especially like the silk lining in the circle purse. I made one of those before but didn't think it was very functional. I haven't made many other bags. I think the rope handles are uncomfortable on your shoulder. I do like the look of the felt bags with leather handles that are added after felting. Thanks, Ruth, that’s helpful
|
|
|
Post by tracey on Jul 6, 2018 20:21:58 GMT
|
|
|
Post by elizabeth on Jul 6, 2018 22:03:04 GMT
OMG! I feel so much better! I have two or three bags finished except for the handles. I just can't figure out the best way to do them. I've looked at leather ones, but How do you attache them if you don't have a heavy-duty sewing machine.
Maybe it's because I don't use bags with short handles - over the shoulder only.
Hopefully someone brilliant will answer.
|
|
|
Post by tracey on Jul 7, 2018 6:19:33 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Jul 7, 2018 17:12:30 GMT
Lindsay I think your bags turned out nice. I’ve made only one and this is how I devised the handles. feltingandfiberstudio.com/2014/08/02/from-batts-to-a-handbag/ The only thing I would do different is make a cord for the handles on the whole inside rather around the outside. I’m sure you’ll find a way that works for you. I guess I’m a purist and want only felt. Have fun!
|
|
|
Post by lindsay on Jul 7, 2018 18:35:20 GMT
Lindsay I think your bags turned out nice. I’ve made only one and this is how I devised the handles. feltingandfiberstudio.com/2014/08/02/from-batts-to-a-handbag/ The only thing I would do different is make a cord for the handles on the whole inside rather around the outside. I’m sure you’ll find a way that works for you. I guess I’m a purist and want only felt. Have fun! I love this bag Marilyn, it is so beautiful, and so exquisitely made. The scrim interior is a great idea to stop the handle stretching. I’m with you on the purism I’m afraid - I don’t even like to sew things. Making such a long handle would be a challenge for me as I don’t have a long space in the studio. Did you have to work it in sections or do you have a good long table?
|
|
|
Post by lindsay on Jul 7, 2018 18:53:32 GMT
Lindsay I think I am not a great fan of making bags because of the handle issues. Your experimental pieces are great.
Hi Tracey thanks for sharing all your handle solutions on your lovely bags. I’m not surprised they sold. I may have to compromise my ‘felt only’ attitude (I certainly can’t justify it!) as I’m tempted particularly by leather or faux leather ones. I’ve also seen leather handles attached by punching a hole through the strap and the felt and fixing them together using a sort of rivet (probably not the right word) - like an eyelet but without the hole - or with a special permanent screw thing. That might be an idea and it means you don’t have to add tabs. I’ll do a bit more thinking.
|
|
|
Post by lindsay on Jul 7, 2018 18:55:11 GMT
OMG! I feel so much better! I have two or three bags finished except for the handles. I just can't figure out the best way to do them. I've looked at leather ones, but How do you attache them if you don't have a heavy-duty sewing machine. Maybe it's because I don't use bags with short handles - over the shoulder only. Hopefully someone brilliant will answer. Someone brilliant did answer, of course. Nice to know I’m not the only one scratching my head about this.
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Jul 7, 2018 23:51:31 GMT
The handles are what I don't like too. So we seem to have agreement on that. I have attached both felt strap and felt rope. I find you need to leave a long fluffy tail and put it in between the layers right at the start. For the long handled bags I have seen the sew on ends that are like the short handle ones sold on thier own. Then you attach a leather handle. You can get lots of interesting hand bag closures and straps. Handbag hardware or findings are fun to look at. There are so many kinds. Making a nice sturdy bag with heavy leather handles is on my list of things to do. I am really hard on purses. As to making to thick I think you dont need to go that thick if you use an nice strong wool like Finnish. The fine wools tend to pill anyway.
|
|
|
Post by Stargazer on Jul 8, 2018 2:01:52 GMT
Another option is to weave a handle with the technique card loom. Fun and quite long lasting, especially if you attach a leather patch where you shoulder will be. I will be doing that on a round needle-felted bag. Some day.
|
|
|
Post by lindsay on Jul 8, 2018 6:55:30 GMT
The handles are what I don't like too. so we seem to have agreement on that. I have attached both felt strap and felt rope. I find you need to leave a long fluffy tail and put it in between the layers right at the start. for the long bags I have seen the sew on ends that are like the short handle ones sold on thier own. Then you attach a leather handle. you can get lots of interesting hand bag closures and straps. handbag hardware or finding are fun to look at. There are so many kinds. making a nice sturdy bag with heavy leather handles is on my list of things to do. I am really hard on purses. At to making to thick I think you dont need to go that thick if you use an nice strong wool like Finnish. The fine wools tend to pill anyway. Thanks Ann I should have tried attaching the rope at the start - I think I’d read that it’s best to attach when the bag is lightly prefelted but it didn’t look as if it was going to work. I didn’t persist for very long though as the bag is small so I decided on a clutch. Then it started to look a good size for my iPad mini so I went for that. A nice big sturdy bag with leather handles would be great. I think I’d have to do a lot of bag-making before I got to that stage though!
|
|
|
Post by tracey on Jul 8, 2018 7:07:28 GMT
|
|
|
Post by elizabeth on Jul 13, 2018 17:21:06 GMT
Tracey, Thanks for the links and notes. I think I tend toward the purist side as well and want it all felt. Your felt-encased-fabric handle is brilliant, tho. How did you attach that handle?
Marilyn, I remember that post! I think I was too enthralled with how you did the decoration to completely understand how you did the handle. I might try that one, eventually.
Stargazer, please post a photo when you try that. I admit I did not understand it.
|
|