Friday, July 21, 2006

Wish Me Luck

The knitting of the bag is complete and now the scary part awaits, the felting of it. I have never felted anything in my life, well not intentionally that is. Yes there was the time when as a busy young Mum, I thought that I would take a shortcut with the wash and put one of Janelles handknitted jackets in the washing machine on the wool wash cycle. It came out clean but the lovely little pink cabled jacket was now reduced to a felted one, I learnt a lesson that day. I suppose if I were to take a positive out of that day it would be that the yarn in the jacket was also Bendigo, so at least I know that it felts well.

Bernie has kindly passed on her felting tips to me, she has also posted these on her blog, if like me you are a felting newbie you may find these really helpful. I possibly wont get time to felt the bag until tomorrow, so as the title of this post suggests please wish me luck.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good luck. You really can't go wrong when felting a bag. If it comes out smaller than you'd hoped, it's still perfectly good to use.

Anonymous said...

I HEART FELTING!!!!!! It covers up every imperfection and mishap-not that I would EVER have one of those ;-). I made a B-4 bag last year and it was so much fun - I don't think you can screw us felting as long as you keep your eye on it. Happy felting!

Jennifer said...

You can do it! It will look great!

Marina said...

Hmm, she doesn't mention soap? I had a difficult first experience till the husband suggested I throw in laundry detergent in addition to the laundry liquid I already had in. It raises the PH which any scientist/chemical emgineer (or hairdresser) can tell you will open the scales of the wool.

Anonymous said...

wow!! that was quick!! just in 3 days??? cant wait to see the bag after you felt it!!!

Ann said...

Good luck Sharon & I am sure it will turn out well - you sure are a fast knitter! A great looking bag.

Tracy Batchelder said...

Hope it turns out like you want. I'm interested to see how the bobbles turn out felted. Most of the things I've felted haven't had the detail that your purse has...just stockinette or garter stitch.

Sherri said...

It's just beautiful!!!!! I am also excited to see how all that detail felts. You are so incredibly fast!

Procrastiknitter said...

I love felting too! I'm sure it will be great, just don't let it get to the spin cycle OK? I can't wait to see it. I'm not very far on mine, but I'm working on it.

Anonymous said...

Good Luck!! You are very talented, so I'm sure it will come out just right!

Craftybernie said...

Luck!

Knittinreed said...

Such a cute bag!!! I can't wait to see the result of the felting.

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

The bag looks fabulous! I accidentally felted my first skein of wool that I dyed with kool-aid...still not sure exactly how it happened, but I managed to "rip" it apart so that it looked like yarn again. It was really soft after that and I made the dropped stitch scarf with it in the spring.

I have a pattern (I think it's just stocking stitch though) for a bag that I want to try. I have the wool for it (mulberry) and it will be felted too. Other than the accidental felting I did, I've not felted yet either. Have to knit the bag up first though.

Alliesw said...

It looks great now, it will look even cooler felted--enjoy (and be prepared for wet but happy hands)...

Anonymous said...

Have fun felting!!! I love it and don't think you will have a problem. I can't wait to see the felted bag.

Anonymous said...

Good luck. Felting is easy. Am sure you wont have any problems. If you are really worried just give me a buzz!! lol..Could pop over to help you out!

Katt

L. said...

Great job on the bag, Sharon, and I'm sure it will be a felted masterpiece when you're done. :)

MsFortuknit said...

Cant wait to see it Shar'! Godspeed, and thanks again for all your knid words!

Larjmarj said...

That does it...I'm getting on a plane to Oz to see how you knit so darn fast. ;-)

Felting is great, just take a deep breath and go for it. I know it goes against all previous "fiber care" knowledge but...it's a really great techniqe.

My Five Sons said...

Can't wait to see your efforts,I'm sure it will be okay!
A question(I ask here in case others want to know) What sort of beads did you use? I would love to try the Gecko sock pattern but not sure of the beads I should use!

zippiknits...sometimes said...

Well, it turned out beautfully, and congratulations to you. :o)

I'll soon pick up that silly burgandy FMB that is languishing under some other WIPs. Or are those UFOs? hmmmm