After the felting I got a very interesting shape. It shrank approximately an inch in both directions at the corners, more in the middle. I could have kept going with the felting, but I liked this effect so I stopped here.

I’m planning to take advantage of the frilly edges at the top and bottom by having them fold over at the top like a wavy collar. That’s a cotton lining with a magnetic snap that I’m going to hand-sew to the inside and one of my handle options, a translucent purple lucite. The Yarn Deli, absolutely the most delicious place to buy yarn in all of Southern California, has wonderful leather purse handles/straps that you attach with a cute button. I’m leaning towards the leather straps because they’re floppy and natural, like the purse. I just have to bring my purse down there and choose a color.