Felting with a Front Loader

I was introduced early on in my knitting "career" to felting at a French Market Bag class (ravelry link).  I've made a handful of them now.  At the time, I thought that the only way to felt was in a top loading washing machine.  We had recently bought a front loading washing machine because of their energy efficiency so whenever I needed to felt I had to run to the LYS and borrow their's.  This was good for the shop because I usually added to my stash while I was there, but it was inconvenient. (I'm also trying to be strong and not add to the stash unless it is to make a gift for someone.)

So I started looking around and did find some people who had success with felting in a front loader.  So I started experimenting.  If you are interesting in felting in your front loader please test that you are actually able to stop the washer in mid-cycle and open the door.  I understand that this can be a difficult or impossible process with some machines, but I have no problem with my Kenmore washer.  I just have to push the stop button twice and it unlocks.

After you have determined that your washer will unlock during the cycle, you will need to get your supplies together.  The supplies are very similar to felting in a regular washer...

1. A lingerie bag to hold your item to be felted.  This will keep fuzzies from getting in the washer and mucking it up.  This is VERY IMPORTANT!!
2. A few towels.  I usually use some from my rag pile.  I usually use three towels
3. Here is where it gets a little weird...Tennis Balls.  I use 3 tennis balls when I am felting.  This provides some additional friction/agitation, which is necessary to felt an item.

Step 1:  Put your item to be felted into your lingerie bag.
Step 2:  Put the lingerie bag, 2 towels and 3 tennis balls into the washer.
Step 3:  Shut the door and set your washer to its hottest setting.  On my washer it is the "Whitest Whites" setting.
Step 4:  Once the washer has filled up and starts to agitate set your timer.  This is where it will take a little bit more experimenting.  I have found that it is best for my machine to I let it run for 10 minutes and then I check on it.  I usually have to continue for another 10 minutes, but it depends on the item you are felting.
Step 5:  Once you get the results you are looking for remove the item from the washer and dry it with one of the other towels or you can turn your washer to the spin cycle and let it get some more water out before drying with the towel.
Step 6:  Viola, you have a felted item!  Now you just have to block and wait for it to dry.

Blocking a pair of French Press Slippers for a special birthday girl.  They are complete and probably my favorite pair I've made so far.  I will be giving them to the birthday girl tonight so no finished pictures to share yet.

It is not much different from felting in the regular washer, but without the tennis balls the process takes a lot longer.

Good luck and happy felting!!

In Record Speed

So I've only been knitting for about 4 months now.  I have definitely gotten faster then the glacier pace I set on my first scarf, but I am still not a speed demon by any stretch of the imagination.  I've watched videos.  I've watched my knitting instructor's technique, but I just haven't been able to change the way I hold the needles and yarn so that I can increase my knitting efficiency.  I don't worry about it too much because I enjoy the way I knit.  It is comfortable.  Are there others out there that struggle with this?  I don't want to foster bad habits, but I think I will just have to live with my knitting style for now.

Speaking of speed, I finished my French Market Bag (Ravelry link) in record speed...for me.  It took me about 2 weeks of knitting to finish this large project and I am proud of that.  When I concentrate on one project I make great progress.  I altered the pattern and made it wider and taller with longer straps.  Here it is before I put it in the washer...

It is hard to get a perspective of the size of this thing, but it was huge.  After I felted it, it was the perfect size.

Meet my new project bag.  I am very pleased and now I am trying to pick out colors for the one I am going to make my mother as a Mother's Day present.  Shhh, it's a surprise.

Ok, I promise no more posts about this project.  I am on to the next one!

A Lack of Materials Leaves This Olympic Hopeful Out in the Cold

Well, I would have finished knitting my lovely French Market Bag this weekend.  Even with my huge work commitments over the last week, I was making great progress and could have finished it on Friday.  Unfortunately, I ran out of yarn with about 2 inches left on the last handle.  Booo, Hisss.

Oh well, since I worked about 80 hours this last week, I've taken today off so as soon as my LYS opens this afternoon I will be there to buy another skien of Cascade 220 in a lovely shade of evergreen.  I'll finish the bag at the Knitting Nest and use their washer to felt it.  I am very excited!  I will post some before and after photos soon.

Also, while I am there I hope to sign up for a couple more classes.  My knitting guru, Staci, mentioned that she was going to offer a sweater class that I should take.  I am looking forward to making my very first sweater!