Felted handbag-Sew/seam before or after?

kalii2 · 06-03-2008, 12:57 AM

Should I sew up the side seams before or after I felt this handbag?
I would think after, so it would felt evenly and the stitches wouldn't get pulled all wonkey, but I'm not sure.....

ArtLady1981 · 06-03-2008, 09:55 AM

Felt it AFTER SEAMING.

Felting a 'seamed' bag doesn't distort the seams nor the bag.

blueygh2 · 06-03-2008, 11:05 AM

I would say, seam it before felting,...

It appears to me at least, that it could get a little difficult to seam after felting, and that it might look ... different.
My opinion...

mhansen · 06-03-2008, 03:36 PM

Definitely seam it first then felt it.

Miss Kittie · 06-03-2008, 04:26 PM

I've done it both ways. Either way it work out fine..

mwhite · 06-03-2008, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by ArtLady1981

Felt it AFTER SEAMING.

Felting a 'seamed' bag doesn't distort the seams nor the bag.

I agree....so you won't have lumpy seams.

kalii2 · 06-03-2008, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by mwhite

I agree....so you won't have lumpy seams.

Thats what I was thinking. If I felt it first, then I am sewing nice flat material. If I seam it first, it might felt funny between the "stitches" of the seaming and get all lumpy.
But then I thought, if I seam it first, then it will all felt up together, nice and even and the seams won't work loose or anything when it is done. Who knows..... I can only try, eh?

Off I go to felt in a front load machine! (Which has the option to pause, so I can take it out and check it along the way, and so I can take it out before the spin/rinse cycle!)