Paying Consideration to the Ergonomics of Knitting – Knitting

As I’ve been writing sample roundups not too long ago, I really feel like I get extra felting patterns than I’ve seen not too long ago. I don’t know if felting is coming again or if it’s simply that I’ve been trying to find issues that occurred to have felted patterns, however if you happen to weren’t round for the final time felting was standard, otherwise you simply haven’t carried out it shortly, right here’s a refresher.

Felting (which is extra precisely referred to as fulling, as a result of it’s carried out to the knit material, to not the fiber itself) is a course of by which material knit from animal fibers are intentionally matted collectively, inflicting the stitches to lose definition and the material itself to grow to be smaller and thicker. You will have carried out this unintentionally by throwing a knit garment within the washer.

Felting knitting on function is an effective way to make stable, sturdy material that’s nice for outerwear, baggage, baskets and extra. It’s sometimes labored on bigger needles that you’d sometimes use for the yarn you’re working with, so tasks go quick, and the precise felting course of is enjoyable and somewhat magical, too.

I may go on and on about felting — I really wrote a whole book about it again within the day — however the easiest way to discover ways to felt is simply to attempt it. Listed below are some nice patterns to get you began.

It’s all the time good to begin felting with tasks that don’t have to return out an actual dimension. Baggage are nice for this, just like the Felted Physician Bag from Pipp’s Purses. This felted yarn bowl from Molly Conroy on Etsy can be one other enjoyable first felting undertaking, or attempt Nick Davis’ Wool Vessel, a basket sample you’ll find on Ravelry.

The cat cocoon from Yellow Thread Knits (accessible on Ravelry) is one I’ve had my eye on for some time as a result of I believe my cats would like it. It’s labored with two strands held collectively so it’s nice for stash busting, too.

Slippers are a traditional felting undertaking, too, and they’re nonetheless comparatively forgiving by way of sizing. These two patterns from Ravelry: the felted clogs by Bev Galeskas and Duffers Revisited by Mindie Tallack are two good choices.

Entering into extra intermediate tasks, this stained glass bag sample from Knitting Dream on Etsy is beautiful and really an effective way to cover any errors in your colorwork as a result of the colours meld collectively a bit because it felts. And I really like these knit and felted hats from Kristi Holaas Designs on Etsy. 

And only for whimsy, I couldn’t resist sharing these little felted fairy castles from Etsy designer Tiny Owl Knits Patterns. The sample says they can be utilized to carry double pointed knitting needles or crochet hooks, however they’re additionally cute simply as little buildings.