It just felt good

I felted the purple and pink tote bag this morning.  Here’s how she turned out:

felted tote bag 

Although I have a front-loading washing machine, and there has been much discussion among knitters I know about felting items in a front-loader, I myself have had no problems at all getting things to felt in my washer.  In fact, even though various instructions you read would have you open the washer from time to time throughout the cycle, I blithely throw everything in (everything being the item to be felted and some towels or rags or something), set the washer on “hot wash, cold rinse,” close the door, push the button, and walk away, only to return when the washer has gone through its complete cycle, including the spin cycle.  I realize that this demonstrates a great deal of faith on my part, but so far it’s worked out fine, and I’ve made a number of different felted things.  (Ask Ellen for a picture of Zeno’s cat bed.)

Here’s a closer view:

felted tote bag 

Oh, and, by the way, I was wrong about the two rows of applied I-cord at the top of this thing.  There were three rows.  Enough said. 

Hugo says:

Hugo 11-18-06 

“Um, no offense, Mom, but I don’t really care about your felted bag.  Can’t you take me for a little walk?”

Melinda asked about my 5-pitch combs.  You can read more about them and see pictures here and here.  They are some of my most heavily-used tools.  I really don’t use my hand-cards since I acquired and learned how to use the combs.  Their great beauty is that they can take a dirty, messy fleece (like the one I pictured on Wednesday) and turn it into something beautiful.  It’s really somewhat addictive–seeing what’s going to come out of the combs at the end of the process.

Monica, I do think the guard hair would look great dyed in some jewel-like color.  I hadn’t thought of that–thanks for the suggestion!

5 Responses to “It just felt good”

  1. Ellen Says:

    The bag is delightful! I love it.

    And, yes, I can verify that Zeno’s cat bed came out very, very well. The little demon even likes it, which is saying something. I mean, considering…

  2. Diane Says:

    Your bag is great! I think Hugo feels left out and would like a “dog pack” to carry on walks.

    I felt in my front load washer all the time. I did find that stuff felted faster (and doesn’t pick up or leave colors) with about 1/2 a load of regular laundry, warm wash, cold rinse, regular detergent/fabric softener. Yep, breaking many of the “rules”!

  3. Melinda Says:

    The bag looks lovely. Thanks for the combs info. I have a Jacob fleece with which I need to do something as I don’t want to send it off and blur the coloring.

    It’s fun to read a blog and see “Melinda” and think — Look there’s another! Oh wait, that’s me. 🙂

  4. MonicaPDX Says:

    Will not succumb to felted bag lust. (Really. Apt. washing machines. Can you imagine the possibilities for machine disaster?) But oh my, that’s pretty! Actually, seeing the end result makes me want to *wear* it, LOL. But now I have this vision of a real fleece sweatshirt, y’know? Despite the fact that I’d no doubt look like a very large eggplant. (I love dark purples.) Still. Oh, the warmth and cuddliness…

    And hey, I Made A Useful Suggestion, cool! [g] You realize, if you dye the guard hair, we will want pix. Not to add to your work or anything– Oh, who am I kidding. We’ll want to see what you came up with.Heck, I’m interested in what you’ll eventually use it for!

  5. Suzanne Says:

    Well Sarah HERE SHE GOES!!!
    I about to felt my first bag. I have looked at many directions for a front loader and your idea sounds the best, the easiest, and hopefully it will work for me. I will report back.
    Wish me luck.
    Suzanne