Allow 3-4 weeks

What is Felted Wool?

All Feltz Designs products are handcrafted from wool yarn, sometimes in combination with other types of fibers. The pieces are sewn together and finished by hand. Agitation and hot water used during the washing process cause the wool to shrink and form a dense, soft fabric called felted or boiled wool. Washing can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending upon the type of wool and other characteristics of the yarn. The resulting felted wool is soft and luxurious to the touch, but strong and durable. Felted wool is an ideal material for bags, purses, handbags, hats, and many accessories. A Feltz Designs product will last many years, even with constant wear. Because felted wool bags have a tendency to stretch with heavy contents, all full sized Feltz Design bags are fully lined, including the straps (if felted). If you are unfamiliar with felted wool, purchasing a swatch of a specific item is the best way to see it before you buy a larger item.

Cleaning Your Feltz Designs Felted Wool Product

All Feltz Designs felted wool bags may be cleaned in one or more of the ways described below. Check the tag attached to the product you purchase to determine the recommended cleaning method for that item. The recommended cleaning method is also stated in the product description on this web site.

Most Feltz Designs felted purses may be spot cleaned with Folex™, Resolve™ or similar carpet cleaning product intended for use on wool. Follow manufacturers directions, and first test in an inconspicuous place on the product. We recommend that you spot clean the felted bag regularly to remove any spots.

Most, but not all, Feltz Designs felted bags are hand washable in cold or luke warm water with mild soap. However, before you wash it, check the cleaning instructions attached to the item to determine the recommended method. Felted items can benefit from pre-treatment with a spot remover, as described, above before washing. For washing, we recommend Woolite or Eucalan soaps which are made for use with fine wool products. Do not use too much soap -- follow the directions on the soap container. Remove any removable decorations first. Submerge the item in warm water with mild soap. Gently squeeze water and soap through the fabric to loosen dirt. Allow the item to soak for an hour. Rinse in clean cold water. Pat with dry towels to remove excess water. Block (gently pat the fabric into shape) and lay flat on a towel to dry. If necessary, when dry, use a steam iron to smooth fabric. Replace decorations. Warnings: Do not use any type of bleach. Bleach destroys wool! Do not roll, twist or wring the fabric as it may become creased, distorted or misshapen. Do not machine wash or machine dry. 

Professional dry cleaning is recommended for some felted wool products if they would be harmed by washing. Remove all decorations before dry cleaning.

Water Repelency

All felted wool is water repellent, due to the presence of lanolin, a waxy substance naturally occurring in the wool.  However, felted wool is not water proof. To increase the water repelency of your felted purse, you can treat it with Scotch Guard™.

Removing "Pills"

Pills are small fuzzy balls that form on a felted bag with wear.  They are easy to remove by shaving the surface of the felted purse with a disposable razor.  Press hard and go over the same spot several times.  This will not hurt the bag and it does work!  Do not use scissors, as you may inadvertently cut the fabric.

Wool Allergies

All Feltz Designs felted wool products contain wool. People who have known allergies to wool should not handle Feltz Designs products.

Copyright 2008 Feltz Designs