General Directions for Knitting and Felting the Projects
I am providing patterns for both hand and machine knitting methods. Make sure you read and understand the directions before starting. Construction methods differ in each project for simplicity of knitting.
There are no tension swatches to make or stitch counts to do, as the variables in size will occur in the washing machine. There are so many factors in the actual washing process that it makes swatch making unnecessary.
Wool
I have used many wools for felting. In the process I have eliminated many as well. MacAusland’s Wool is my preference for a number of reasons.
This is a wool that is affordable even for large projects. It is very strong and can take multiple washings. Once felted it has a bloom on the surface and it is difficult to see any of the actual stitches, which is always a goal for felt work. It is easy to embellish with needle felting, as it creates a firm dense fabric. The thickness and strength of the felt is also desirable for projects such as purses and hats because they will take long wear and still keep the original shape. You can substitute this wool for projects that are asking for another wool, if you do your own experimental work.
As a Farmer I like to support a local Maritime Company. MacAusland’s will take the wool I produce on the farm and allow me a discount on pound for pound purchases of wool and blankets. Larger farms with several hundred pounds of wool can get back their own wool in a custom mill run of wool. The wool and the blankets made there are of a high quality and durability.
Note * The knitting will appear to be loose. This is acceptable in pieces that are to be felted. They will shrink in the washing machine to approximately 2/3 of original size.
Notice: Wash the wool before knitting. I like to wash the wool in hot soapy water (sunlight or dawn hand dishwashing soap) by hand, rinse in the same temperature. I tie the skeins with a cotton yarn before washing to prevent tangling. I will use my washing machine to spin out the water only. There is a machine oil residue in the wool left over from carding and this makes it difficult to knit both by machine and hand. I usually buy up to a hundred pounds of wool at a time. I will pick a nice sunny day and wash them all and hang outdoors to dry. It only takes a few hours to dry if they are separated well.
Next put all the yarn for your project into balls. For machine knitting it is preferable to use a wool winder making a center pull ball and knit from the center of the ball.
Felting Washing Instructions:
Top Loading Machines- Wash each finished project separately unless they are all the same colour.
Set your machine to the lowest water setting with hottest water. Do not set on knit or gentle, you want the highest level of agitation available, either cottons or normal. Put a tablespoon of sunlight or dawn hand dishwashing liquid in the water with you project. I have an old machine that will wash with the cover up, and stop before the spin cycle. I just reset it to wash for three cycles and then close the cover and let it finish the rinse cycle (cold water, to shock the fibres). If you miss and it goes through the whole wash you can just repeat the whole process for one more wash and get about the same results.
Front Loading Machines- Wash each finished project separately unless they are the same colour. Use the hot water wash, cold rinse, lowest water setting. Use about 1 tablespoon of dawn or sunlight hand dishwashing liquid. Set for the longest cycle with the strongest agitation. Repeat the whole process.
When your project is finished you should not be able to see the individual knitting stitches. There will be some loose wool in your machine. I just swipe it out with a facecloth.
Next brush with a nylon bristle brush to raise the nap and remove loose wool from the inside and outside of your project. Shape to the desired finished shape, and place on a bath towel to dry.
For Purses I will often put a dry towel inside to give shape and speed drying. I will remove it after several hours, and let the purse finish drying. For Hats- I will shape on a hat form or bowl. If the hat has a rolled brim, I will often roll hand towels into a roll and place inside the brim all the way around.
Embellishing: If you plan to enhance your project with needle felting, you should do this when it is completely dry. Besides needle felting, you can embroider with floss or silk, and beads. I always try to choose fancy buttons or fasteners for purses using closings. If you don’t feel confident to work free hand you might pick a pattern from a decorative painting book or other art materials and trace it on to your project before working.