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!!

Changes, They are a Comin'!

I am mad at myself for only writing a post once a month the last few months.  There are many excuses, like a couple of sickly dogs and being generally busy at work, but I'm still not happy about it.  The dogs are all on the mend now.  The oldest had a back problem which lead to the discovery of a mass in her liver.  It can't really be operated on, but it isn't really causing her any problems except that her liver becomes infected at points.  Our middle doggie also had two masses, but these were causing problems and he had to be operated on.  A huge incision and mucho money later and he is well on his way to recovery.

I guess it is not as bad as it seems.  It doesn't seem to bother him too much.

I've got several projects going on that I am excited about.

1.  I am studying for my Certified Online Teacher Certificate.  I've taken the online classes, now I have to pass a test and develop and teach 2 online courses for the certifying association to critique.  This is for my position at UT, but I envision myself working on some outside interests with this new skill.  My mind keeps coming up with ideas to use this skill with my knitting obsession so hopefully I can make that happen soon.

2.  I am test knitting a wonderful skirt by Andrea Rangel I have been a fan of hers since I saw her Hex pattern in the Fall 2009 Knitty.  Truth be told, it was that pattern that finally made me get off my butt and learn to knit.  As soon as I finish this test knit for her, I will be casting on a Hex shawl in burnt orange!  It will be a fun knit while I am enjoying some longhorn football.

Here is a sneak peek of my test knitting

This skirt is a very fun, but a bit of a slow knit, especially for a slow knitter like me.  Since I am working on a deadline, I've had to put aside some of my other projects for a bit including my summer sweater university project and my own first pattern.  After I finish the skirt, I am going to concentrate on my first hat pattern because I already have a second pattern in mind!

3.  I don't know if it is a mid-life crisis or what, but I have been struggling with wanting to make some major changes in my life.  I couldn't figure out what it was I wanted to do differently, just that there needed to be a change.  It has been something that has been going on for awhile, but I have chosen to ignore it since I didn't for the life of me know what direction I wanted to go in.  After spending a lot of time contemplating what was going on with me, I think that I finally have it figured out.  I can't go into any details right now, but in the next few of months I hope to be able to announce a pretty major change in my life.  While this change isn't directly related to my knitting, I hope that eventually it will allow me to explore knitting in a more professional way too!!

I also hope to post more frequently on my blog than I have been.  If you have any topics you would like me to discuss on this blog please share your ideas!

Needles on Fire or Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines!!

I've been keeping my wonderful Knitpicks Harmony needles so busy I actually wondered if I could use them to start a fire by rubbing them together so much.  Not that I am even close to a fast knitting speed...

I completed my newest French Market Bag (ravelry link).  It is a gift for my mom for Mothers' Day.  Luckily she does not read my blog so I can share a picture with you.

No sooner had I felted this bag then I cast on for a third bag for my mother-in-law for Mothers' Day.  I love the Cascade Yarn I selected for this bag.  I almost finished the bottom of the bag this weekend.  The color, peacock, is quite lovely.  You can't really tell from photographs, but it is a lovely blue with purple and green tones throughout.

I think it will look lovely when I'm finished.  I am mixing this yarn with some grey and possibly purple strips.  My mother-in-law is quite crafty, but does not knit.  I know she'll appreciate the work that went into it.

Although, I have to complete this bag on a deadline, I just can't stop working on my neckdown summer cardigan.  I love the yarn and the sweater is turning out nicely!

I am going to see how far I can get by this Saturday and then I'll go see Staci Perry, who has her free knitting help at the Knitting Nest.  After that it is back to my deadline knitting projects.  I promise.

Speaking of Staci, she just released a new pattern with videos on her blog.  Her Raglan Toddler Tunic is as cute as can be.  Check her blog out and while you are there take a look at the basenji pup that she is currently fostering.   I think she is looking for a good home for him (unless she has decided to keep him for herself). :) I am sure I will be using her videos to get me through my first baby tunic.  I am so happy to get to knit something in pink finally.  My friend's little girl is due in the middle of June so I still have time for this, but I hate having deadlines hanging over my head.  I'll be making a larger one for a little boy for his birthday in October too.

Finally, I wanted to mention the great knitting giveaway over at Never Not Knitting .  Tons of lovely, colorful yarn and a Color By Kristin book with lots of patterns to use that yarn on.  How cool is that!

Well enough of this blogging stuff, back to my knitting!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I can't believe I haven't posted anything so far this month!  Time flies!  My real job has kept me jumping the last few weeks and the next few weeks will only bring more of the same.  That does not mean, however, that I have not had time to knit.


I took a class to make a neck down summer cardigan.  I love the yarn, Kathmandu Aran Queensland Collection (ravelry link)  in Petrol.  So soft and great to work with.  The pattern is really easy.  I got to the point where you split for the sleeves and then put it aside until the next class on Friday. 


Since then I have been working on my second French Market Bag.  I decided to make one for my mom for Mothers' Day.  I have made record time on this one.  I have one more handled to finish, many ends to weave in and then it will be ready to felt.  In plenty of time for Mothers' Day!  I mentioned that I was going to finish it in plenty of time for Mothers' Day to my wonderful hubby, who then said, "Maybe I could commission you to make one for my mom?"  Just when I thought I was getting caught up...  So I'll have to pick out some new colors for his mom and start working on it right away.


I can't believe I have been knitting for only 5 months now!  I'll be done with my first sweater before my 6 months anniversary. I'm signed up for another cardigan class this week and was very excited to hear about the Knitting Nest's idea for a Summer Sweater Team.  I've already picked out the sweater I want to make, Que Sera by Kristen Kapur of Through the Loops fame.  I picked out some wonderful yarn and just can't wait to get started.


I hope to have some pictures of my new projects up soon.  Every time I want to take pictures it is overcast outside.

Holy Sock

I've made good progress on my first toe up sock.  The other day I finished heel of the sock and was ready for the final push for the finish line.  Then, to my horror, I found a hole in the sock about an inch before the heel.  What to do?  At first I continued knitting and I thought about going back and fixing it after I completed the sock, but the more I worked on the sock and thought about it, the more it bothered me.   RIP, rip...I carefully took out my needles and ripped back past the hole.  Then I carefully picked up those live stitches and voila, I am ready to get going again.

I'm not going to talk about how to rip back to a problem spot.  There are plenty of videos and instructions available on the web for that.  As a new knitter, I use to get a horrible feeling in my belly when I would drop a stitch or had some other problem that needed to be corrected, but I've noticed lately that I have confidently gone about solving these problems.  While I am not super excited about having to reknit those two or three inches of work, I glad that I have the confidence to try and fix problems in my work.

I am almost ready to start working on the heel one more time, and oh yes, here is a photo of my wonderful hubby with his new cigar glove!

Now I just have to finish the second glove!

Lots of Juggling

After spending all of my knitting time on one project for two weeks for the Ravelymics, I could use a break from large, time consuming projects.  I had been working on my toe up socks, but wanted to do something different this weekend.

When I took my first class at the Knitting Nest, I noticed all of these knitted balls around the store.  Some were stuffed to be a toy for dogs, but some were stuffed with lentil beans to be used for juggling.  Since I was just learning to knit, I didn't feel like I could make them, but after all of the other projects I've done I felt confident that I could make them now.

Aren't they cute!  These were made with some of the yarn I bought for my first knitting project 24 year ago!!  It is a cotton yarn which I didn't enjoy knitting too much, but I love the results.  After knitting with this stuff for awhile, I thought to myself, "No wonder you didn't finish that first project when you were 16."  I remember getting frustrated when I was knitting back then, but never realized it was the yarn, not the knitting.  If it hadn't been for this yarn, I would probably have 24 years' experience knitting now.  Oh well, no reason to dwell on the past.  Now, I've got to relearn my juggling skills.

I've also finished another Kitty Hat (ravelry link) for one of the crazy kat ladies in my life and have almost finished some gloves for my hubby.  I was surprised with how quickly the gloves knitted up once I spent a little time working on them.  Of course, our winter in Texas is pretty much over with so he won't be able to wear them until next winter, but they'll be waiting for him then.

I have another small project to work on after I finish the gloves.  Then it will be time to knit my first sweater.  I am looking forward to learning some more techniques!  I also have selected a scarf pattern for some special yarn I got a few months ago, but more information on that will come soon.

Sock it to Me!

Just in case there are any budding sock designers out there, my wonderful knitting instructor, Staci Perry, is judging a sock design contest at the Exercise Before Knitting blog.

Blogger Elinor Brown has gotten some wonderful baskets together for the winners.  I wish I had the experience to design a sock...or anything for that matter.  The deadline for entering is April 19, 2010.

This year I'll just have to knit some of the winning designs and maybe next year I'll have some mad knitting design skills to share.

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!

All Ruffles

For Valentine's Day Eric went and got a lovely chocolate cake and Chicago Style Hot Dogs for lunch.  We decided to keep dinner low-key and went to Vinny's Italian Grill for dinner.  This gave me a chance to wear a very cute skirt I bought at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, but hadn't had an occasion to wear it yet.  The skirt and corresponding top went very well with my newly completed Just Enough Ruffles Scarf (ravelry link).  You can't see the cute skirt in this photo, but my scarf looks lovely and it is very warm which was good because Valentine's Day was a bit chilly.

I didn't get my French Market Bag completed before my class yesterday, but I am getting close to the end of it now.  I've got about 17 more rows before I start on the handles.  It would be great if I could get it done before tomorrow afternoon so I could take it up to the Knitting Nest to use their washer for the felting process.  My washer is a front loader which apparently doesn't work well for felting.  Learn something new everyday!

Olympic Knitting!

Well, the Olympic starts this weekend and I just recently heard about the Knitting Olympics or the Ravelympics.  What a great idea!  Knitters are so inventive.  Anyway, I've been searching for a project of my own to work on as a Ravelympics project.  Luckily for me the Knitting Nest has a class tonight on the French Market Bag (ravelry link...so cute!!) that I have been wanting to learn and it is just in time for it to be my entry into the Ravelympics!  It is cool to think about all the knitters all over the world watching the Olympics and knitting away!


I got a lot of projects of my needles lately so it is time to add about 5 more on the needles.  I am working on a new pair of socks, Cigar gloves for the hubby, another test knitting of the kitty hat and gloves for a friend.   And of course now I'll have my new bag to work on.  I'm glad that most of these projects to not have a due date.  I've been particularly enthralled by my first toe up sock project.  The colors are to die for.


I hope to have some more pictures to share with you next week.  Enjoy the Olympics!!

Finally, a Sunny Day

It has been cold and gray in Texas for longer than most of us like.  This had kept me from taking pictures of my latest (and largest) finished project.  This Saturday stayed cold, but was at least it was sunny so I could take a couple of photos.  May I present to you...

my Clapotis (ravelry link).  The color is more spectacular than I could have imagined

You would never know a new knitter made it and this pattern looks much more complicated than it really is.  I encourage those of you who are also new knitters to give this a try.  I think you will be happy you did!  I will definitely make another one in something lighter that I can wear in Texas more often.