Wednesday 7 October 2009

Felting...by mistake

A few weeks ago I made this handbag in a grey coarse wool (steinschafwolle) which I made especifically to be HUGE. Not a middle sized bag... nono... HUGE. My 15" laptop fit in there. I felted the straps in by using some metallic props I had. So, all ready I used it a couple of times with great success and admiration (mwaahhahahaaaa...).
Looked like this:

It' s hanging a bit croocked... I know. And there is not much to compare with when it comes to sizes. Maybe only the very trained felting eye can see the difference with the next set of pictures. The stripes are the outside of an embedded LARGE outside pocket.

What happened is that one day last week, I came home... it was raining outside, I had groceries... one of those messy days. I left my handbag on top of a pile of laundry in the laundry room where I took off my coat and shoes and kept going with groceries, kid, dog ...dinner... you know...the rest.
Next morning I was feeling a bit under the weather and my husband thought...hmmm Im going to give her a hand... Dread those moments, ladies! So he diligentely took everything out of my handbag -which was still hanging around the laundry room- and put it in the washer along with other clothes. When I heard the beeep beeeep beeeeeeep announcing that the washer was done I went and started to take things out and then I saw it... the bag... which had shrunk 1/3 of its size. We wash our clothes in a cold cycle always (green option)... but still... soap, friction and water (even cold water) kept felting the handbag. This particular wool felts very easily, so I ended up with a yet sturdier than before, compacted fibres...and a bit smaller handbag :


Laptop doesn' t fit in there anymore... but put a melon in there, handbag won' t break!
So, to those whom aren't felters: the same thing happens when you put a pure wool sweater in the washer... it shrinks... it felts. That is why, unless you want to pass it onto your kids, we wash wool by hand. Now, if you are a felter, and you got bored and tired and don' t feel like finishing the job (and don' t care to roll it up and continue later) throw it in the washer. Only (HUGE) disadvantage is that you can't control the process... so if it got croocked in the washer and it felts like that...it stays like that. And Im not to blame if a sock gets felted onto it... well, call it nuno felt!

7 comments:

Chrissie said...

Oh Marian I'm afraid I'm laughing so much at this story! Sorry!! But I love the bag - left a comment on your flickr before I read this post. I think everyone should have a special bag for melons....

eralamaga said...

JAjjjjaa!!! pasaba para agradecer tu comment y no puedo parar de reirme!! Pero acso el no es el marido d euna felter?? NO sabe que lavarropas NO??? jajajaj!!
me enamore de tu bolso! asi grandote (encogido quedo divino igual) pero con tres hijas y una vida a cuestas, simepre tengo tanto que llevar!! me encantan esos bolsos y me encanto tu historia!
ebsos, lucia

Kim van Waardenburg said...

Hahaha, Mariana! Didn't your hubby say : "It is never good when I help you!?"

I made a stupid thing yesterday morning: Janna needed a painting apron for school, So I ask hubby is he had an old shirt. So he took a white one. I thought that the eldest needed one too so I serached for a shirt of mine, went to the tiolets, picked the shirts up and went downstairs I Put it on Janna and cut the arms off at the good length. Then staretd sewing..... Hubby asked what shirt I used : He holded the white one in his hands!!!
Oh NO,I took his best( and most expensive) shirt...............

Christie Minchew said...

Ohhh, I am still laughing (but not AT you, of course). YOU made me laugh with this story. So sorry it is at the expense of your perfect tote, though. I've so enjoyed your blog since I found you....

LeelaBijou said...

Hahahaha, realmente quedo bonito despues de meterlo en la lavadora, hehe.

Bromas aparte, era una preciosidad cuando era gigante y sigue siendolo en version mini :)

Muchos besos desde Canarias!

Anonymous said...

Te quedo bueno igual, aveces pasa c los maridos que nos tratan de ayudar, pero bueh...lo hacen de dulces nomas!
debe haber quedado supercompactada,
lo contas de una forma que me hace reir, jajajajaja!
Saludos
Sil W

Jane_Bo said...

Nice bag even if it's not so big). And cool idea about socks felted into the wool) And now it's allowed for customer (or you?) to wash it in machine in delicate mode.