Help, my purse is too loose at the top!

#1

Hi all!

I just completed a felted purse for my mom, and I am disgusted with how it has turned out. The shape of the “body” of the bag is fine, (I have a big corn flakes box covered in a plastic bag placed inside to give it shape while it dries), but the top is floppy and saggy. I used a soft novelty yarn mixed with a strand of the wool I was using for the top 10-15 rounds. I had to increase my needle size to accommodate the thickness, and now it has a flare shape. Plus, the strap turned out way too long, so the whole top basically just sags. I will try to illustrate the shape below:

\                               /
  \                           /
    \                       /
     |                     |
     |                     |
     |                     |
     |                     |
     |                     |
     |                     |
     |                     |
     |____________|

Any ideas for making it more sturdy or stable, like cutting the strap a little, or sewing the top together a bit?

I hope I explained this well enough. Thanks for your help!

Chris

#2

you know, i have a pattern for a bag that uses one of those canvas bags you would get at hobby lobby (ya know the ones you are suppose to decorate?) as a liner. That would firm up the top for you i think.

#3

The illustration I tried to depict messed up, but you get the idea. I like the idea of the canvas liner, but the bag is too small I think.

Do you think that perhaps cutting the straps and attaching them to the bag’s body instead of the top would allow for more stability and have the top be a cute “fringe”?

Thanks for your ideas!

Chris

#4

Would it be possible to take the straps out or off or whatever and kind of pleat the sides of the top of the bag, make a hole and thread the strap through and knot it like in a booga bag?

#5

Actually, I am noticing that as it dries, it seems to be much more stable. I am pretty sure that when it is completely dry, I will be able to attach the body of the bag together with a magnet or pretty button at the top, and then leave the “loose” fringy top to be what it wants to be. The strap also, does not seem so obnoxious and hard to deal with. Maybe I am not as disgusted with it as I was before! :rollseyes:

Thanks for all the tips!