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Westtexan
Member
07-16-2004
| Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 8:19 pm
I love to knit and have just learned about felting. I bought a book and am going to give it a try but I wonder if anyone here has ever felted-knit a purse? Also, does anyone have a recommendation for must have felting books?
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 8:43 pm
westtexan talk to max, she does this!
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Chiliwilli
Member
09-04-2006
| Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 9:12 pm
Isn't this knitting with wool yarn and then boiling it or something?
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Westtexan
Member
07-16-2004
| Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 11:30 pm
Thanks, gotta go find Max. Not sure how to do that. Maybe I can lure her into this thread (no pun intended--ha!) Chiliwilli--it is very much like that. You knit with animal hair (wool, angora, mohair) and then wash it. Same process for when you accidentally throw a wool sweater into the wash and it comes out shrunken.
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Chiliwilli
Member
09-04-2006
| Thursday, January 04, 2007 - 11:49 pm
That's what I thought. I certainly hope you will post pics of your projects once you're done. I'd love to see them.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, January 05, 2007 - 12:01 am
Westtexan, here's a post Max made a week or two ago: here that has a link to her blog where she has some of her knitted projects. She's done some beautiful things though I wouldn't know the difference between felt knitting and regular knitting if you whacked me over the head with it.
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Friday, January 05, 2007 - 1:44 pm
Yeah, another knitter! Here's a little purse I knit and felted.
It's made from Noro Kureyon yarn, which is wonderful to work with and has beautiful, self-striping colorways. I recently did a pair of socks that were slightly fulled in the dryer. They came out very nice. I also have some wool clogs in the works that will be felted. Be sure to put your knitted items in a zippered pillowcase cover before washing. Otherwise you'll get a lot of fiber into the filter of your washing machine, which isn't fun. Lots more stuff on my blog. 
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, January 05, 2007 - 1:51 pm
Max, thanks for the zippered pillowcase cover tip! Dakota's got some scarves and hats that have been hard to wash because of the fiber that comes off of it while washing.
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Westtexan
Member
07-16-2004
| Friday, January 05, 2007 - 8:10 pm
Max, love the purse. I'll check out the blog--tried to earlier and had some problems getting there. Anyway, I went to the knitting store today and picked up some gorgeous yarn and purse pattern. They had several sample felted purses that made me drool. This one should be easy enough. Well, should be. Just been working on it for the last 3 hours while watching a movie. Thought I was doing good. Realized I had twisted my stitches like the knitting store girl warned me about. Now I know what she was talking about. Too late, three hours down the drain as I will have to unravel everything and start over. (Take deep breaths and walk away--go play on the computer and shake it off--it's all a learning experience). I'm trying to be calm and cool about this but it is so frustrating because I make mistakes when knitting all the time. It takes me twice as long to finish a project due to fixing all my mistakes. One day I hope to be much improved.
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Saturday, January 06, 2007 - 12:52 am
WT, the best part about felting is that many mistakes get hidden in the process -- although twisting the circle of stitches is one that's hard to get past. I'm surprised you didn't notice it sooner, though. Frogging (ripping out) projects is really, really common, even among experienced knitters. To knit is to frog! Sometimes it's because of mistakes, sometimes it's just because we don't like how something is turning out. Been there done that. 
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Chiliwilli
Member
09-04-2006
| Saturday, January 06, 2007 - 2:25 am
Interesting. I've never heard it called 'frogging.' Although, I call it lots of things when I have to do it.

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Westtexan
Member
07-16-2004
| Saturday, January 06, 2007 - 8:31 am
I don't know why I didn't notice earlier either except that maybe I cast on too tightly and the bottom curled up as it usually does for me. When I made some progress I laid it down to admire and then discovered it was twisted though it didn't dawn on me at first. I kept trying to figure out what was going on. It seemed like one of those optical illusions with the continuing staircase or two/three pronged fork. Anyway, I'll work on it again today. About the casting on too tight. I wonder if I really do. I make sure the yarn is loose on the needle but it still curls up each time as I continue knitting. That may be perfectly fine. It's just that the sample swatches they show in the stores next to the yarn lay perfectly flat. I have made three afghans over the years. They have all turned out really pretty. (That curling up problem doesn't seem to happen with afghans). And I've made a scarf and vest and started several projects I never finished. Also I've tried crochet but prefer knitting.
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Saturday, January 06, 2007 - 9:36 am
WHen you knit in stockinette stictch (one row knit, one row purl), the edges and bottom will curl. If you do garter stitch (knit every row) it won't curl. To guarantee a loose cast on, use two needles when you're casting on. They can both be the same size or you can use one slightly smaller than what you'll use for the project. Hold them both together as you cast the stitches on (so the stitches are going over both needles as if they were one). Once you've cast on all the stitches, carefully pull the second needle out and start knitting. Loose cast on accomplished! The sample swatches in stores have been blocked so that they lay flat and look pretty. When you make a gauge swatch (I hope you do that before starting any project, as it's the most important part of knitting), you should block it before taking measurements, just as you would the finished project. That's the best way to make sure that the way you knit is in synch with what the pattern designer intends. If you don't do that, you risk having the finished piece be very different than what you're hoping for. That's not too important when making a purse, but it sure is when making a sweater! I crochet, too, but I like the look of knitted garments better. Crochet is much bulkier. Knit on!
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Westtexan
Member
07-16-2004
| Sunday, January 07, 2007 - 9:41 pm
Well, I finished felting my purse. It sure shrunk up a lot. I left it in the washer for 10 minutes per the instructions. It shrank to half its original size (which was way too big) but half is a bit smaller than I wanted. There were no gauge or measurements on the instructions so I guess a lot of this is trial and error. The store had a sample but it was knitted with numerous yarns including a lot of novelty yarns. It was spectacular but I didn't want to overwhelm myself with my first project so I just chose one yarn. My purse is much smaller than the store sample and I followed the directions to a tee. ??shrug?? The store purse handle was a leather one rather than a felted one. I thought I wanted to do that to but that was before mine shrunk so much. Now I think I'll knit a felt one but am unsure how to attach it. Still, I want to do more, but just want the outcome to be something more useful. I know that different yarn felts differently than others and perhaps the sample in the store was knitted with a base wool that didn't shrink up so much. Wish I would have checked the felting after 5 minutes instead of 10. The wool I used was beautiful and high quality (expensive) Diakeito (on sale) and the needle size was 6 (seemed small to me but those were the directions). Our store is locally owned and the owner creates her own patterns and there are samples of her creations all over the store and they are lovely, but I think next time I'll try a pattern from a book (which seems to require larger needles). I'll post a picture when I'm able. It's pretty. Small but pretty.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Sunday, January 07, 2007 - 10:29 pm
Westtexan, if you have a store that's locally owned, strike up a conversation with the owner. She may have some great tips and hints for you especially if it's her stuff that's displayed in the store. You might check into if she has classes or workshops as well. I totally adore the owner of the local bead store. As long as she's not busy she's always willing to take a look at something and offer advice and knows what her regular customers like so she can keep an eye out for projects and products that may interest them.
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Monday, January 08, 2007 - 1:23 am
Yes, different yarns felt differently. And, if the sample in the store had a variety of yarns, including eyelash or other fashion kinds of yarn, it definitely would felt differently as many of those fashion yarns won't felt at all. Instead, the wool around them felts, locking them into place. The result can be quite pleasing and won't shrink nearly as much as if the item is made entirely of feltable wool. Best way to gauge how much something will felt is to make a gauge swatch, measure it before felting, felt it, and measure it again. Then you can do the calculations to determine how big to make the item so you get the final size you want. Oh, if only they had told me in school that math was a helpful tool for doing art projects! I would have paid a LOT more attention in algebra, calculus, and geometry! If you decide to put a knitted handle on your purse, make a long i-cord and felt it. Then you have some choices. Depending on the way the body of the purse is designed, you can either sew the felted strap to the body of the bag, or, use a small knitting needle to create a hole where you want the handle to go and thread it through. You can then tie the ends together. The felt should be strong enough to hold it without ripping. You can see a sample of that technique here. I have a front-loading washing machine, so when I felt things, I can't check them part way through the cycle. This makes for a complete guessing game on size of things, but it still works (contrary to what some felting advice dispenses). But then that's part of the adventure. 
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Loyolamom
Member
05-10-2005
| Monday, January 08, 2007 - 2:22 am
I was wondering if you can felt something that is crocheted? I have done some knitting, nothing fancy just scarves and such, but I haven't mastered doing anything more intricate. I always seem to get lost when I'm working from a pattern or I make a mistake and then don't know how to fix it. I'd love to try felting though
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Monday, January 08, 2007 - 10:07 am
Yes, you can felt crocheted work as long as you use yarn that is a natural fiber that hasn't been superwashed. Heck, you can felt just the fiber without even knitting or crocheting, too, either in a wet or dry method.
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Loyolamom
Member
05-10-2005
| Monday, January 08, 2007 - 10:17 am
Thanks Max! Maybe I'll try a little something and see how it turns out. First I'll have to finish the coverlet I'm making for my daughter. If I stop to do something else I'll never go back to it.
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Westtexan
Member
07-16-2004
| Monday, January 08, 2007 - 6:19 pm
Max, This is funny-that website you sent me to with the Booga Bag is actually one I have visited before when googling felted knitting last week. In fact, I printed out the pattern and took it with me to the knitting store to get the needles and yarn to make that Booga purse (different color yarn--those colors are too bright for me). What a coincidence. Last week I was in Michael's craft store and looking at their yarn while shopping for something else. I saw a swatch sample of felted knitting and looked around for an instruction book or pattern but found none. I came home and immediately started googling to find out what felting was. And here a week later, I have felted one itsy bitsy pretty little purse that will hold nothing more than keys and a checkbook. If only I could set my mind to other things in life and be somewhat successful as well. (Been trying to learn how to swim and am worried I'm not going to master it.)
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 11:02 pm
WT, how goes the felting???? Got pics? I've just finished blocking my feather and fan stole. Have also completed a Lace Wings shawl made from some lovely Sea Silk yarn, and a corchetted topper for weraing over a tank top. Pics of all are on my blog. I'm working on a knitted net topper now and have plans for more to come. I'm going on a cruise in May, so all these pieces will come in handy then. THis Saturday, I'm going on a Yarn Shop Hop with a local knitting guild. We'll be riding a bus around town all day visiting six different knitting shops and generally having a fibery good time. Can't wait!
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:50 am
Max, I think I knitted that same stole for my mother for Christmas! I did it twice, using two different weight yarns so she would have options.
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 10:41 pm
Wow, Prisoner, you have stamina! I confess that I was VERY glad to reach the end of that one. It got so repetitive with just a four-row pattern repeat over and over again. I bet your mom really loved her gift!
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 10:59 pm
hi you guys. I used to knit and crochet but now cant (dexterity decreased) Everytime I see an ad for a Knitting Machine I consider it. Anyone here have one? Are they fun to use or are they just really simple and basic. I'd want to do Cableknit sweaters, fisherman knits and other 'designer' patterns. the machines are anywhere from 100-500$ so I am dragging my feet as I'm uncertain as to what they are good at.
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Max
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 11:18 pm
I have a knitting machine. It's the second one I've owned. I never use it anymore and need to sell it one of these days. Machines are great for some things. The inexpensive machines are plastic and use plastic face plates to change stitch gauge or work with differen weights of yarn. The more expensive machines, like the one I have, use metal needle beds and each machine is made to work with a particular range of yarn weights (like sport weight or worsted or bulky). Mine works with the finer gauge yarns. Machines are fast, but they're not portable. They're noisy to use, so they aren't something that can have any kind of social element associated with them (at least not easily). With a machine like mine, while you're not using your fingers and wrists, you are using a lot of arm strength to move the shuttle back and forth. There's a definite skill set involved that's quite different from hand knitting. Machines certainly have their place. There's absolutely no way you can match the speed in which they turn out fabric. But they aren't nearly as relaxing to me, which is one of the things I enjoy about knitting. And I certainly couldn't use one at the bowling alley or on a bus or in a coffee shop, places I often whip out my needle knit projects. Have you tried knitting looms or knitting boards? There's a lot less stress on the fingers and wrists and you can make lots and lots of things. That's what I used to do exclusively until I learned to use the needles last fall. ETA: Here's a site that talks about the pros and cons of a knitting machine. Good info to review if you're considering purchasing one. 
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