Comments on: Frugal and Green Christmas Gifts part 1: Felted sweater bag

By: Tutorial for making a purse from an old sweater - Hippymom - An Evolution of Female Community

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:43:14 +0000

[...] for making a purse from an old sweater I love this! The Touchwood Project Frugal and Green Christmas Gifts part 1: Felted sweater bag __________________ I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an [...]

By: Super easy felt insoles for deliciously warm feet

Super easy felt insoles for deliciously warm feet — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:50:12 +0000

[...] I explained in the Felted Sweater Bag tutorial (for pictures and more detailed instructions), you simply add a few good squeezes of dishwashing [...]

By: Esther

Esther — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:51:25 +0000

This is fantastic Rachel and I love the detailed instructions with plenty of photographs. It’s certainly something I want to make and with this inspiration and honest report of how you got on – it seems so much more do-able.

Going to ask around for unwanted woollens. Charity/second hand shops are almost unheard of here in the Algarve. I would love to be proved wrong.

By: rachel

rachel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:13:05 +0000

No I don’t think it matters. I used Ecover on mine, which is pretty weak. I think the purpose is to strip some of the natural oils from the wool that would keep it from matting together. It’s probably not essential to use soap at all, since hot water on wool seems to do a good job all on its own.

Good for you for giving this a go and I can’t wait to see it!

By: The Touchwood Project » Frugal and Green Christmas Gifts: Felted tin can containers

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:08:01 +0000

[...] we’re going to use leftover pieces from our first project, the Felted Sweater Bag, to make this next project: Felted Tin Can Containers. Felted tin cans are great for [...]

By: Laura Kidd

Laura Kidd — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:11:49 +0000

I really like this idea Rachel, great detailed instructions that seem easy to follow and hence I have decided to launch it as a project for myself (and if it turns out well, perhaps a Christmas present!)
I have found an old woolen sweater and I am going to felt it today, but I just have one question about the dish washing liquid … does it matter if it’s a vegetable-based liquid (ie.not a chemical liquid)? What is the purpose of the liquid (or detergent)?
Thanks
Laura

By: Coffee Catholic

Coffee Catholic — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:40:58 +0000

Ohhhhh! The Touchwood Project website is yours! I see now! I love it ~ very informative but also an absolute hoot to read! Nice and witty. Seems to be a trend with you folk. I’ll post on my blog about this blog because I’m sure some of my friends and family would love to read this!

I’m trying to type but the twins are dancing around so much I’m gagging and Elspeth keeps slapping toys on my laptop keyboard LOL arrrg…

By: ACarLessFamily

ACarLessFamily — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:17:41 +0000

Fantastic! Im into town tomorrow and hitting the charity shops so any pretty woolen sweaters will be comeing home with me!

By: rachel

rachel — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:59:41 +0000

I just knew someone would spot that! No, I didn’t sew it up. Laziness again.

Because the bag shrunk so much and is felted so solidly, there’s only about two fingers width distance between each button and things like yarn or even eggs aren’t going to slip through. But if you want to make sure nothing can get out, sewing it up would be a good idea.

I also considered inserting a grocery plastic bag inside as a kind of “waterproof” lining. It looks less elegant for gift giving, but I’d do that for my own bag.

By: Darcy Prince

Darcy Prince — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:31:48 +0000

Looks great, Rachel, nice job! The tutorial is very detailed. Question: are you sewing up that buttoned opening down the front of the bag at all to keep it from being a spot where items could slither out? Or did it felt closed in the wash? And I totally love that your washer has a boil setting, nice.