My first felted item

For the Motherhood Later swap, I decided to go a completely different route and try a new technique: felting. Felting is intentionally shrinking a knitted item so that the knit stitches disappear and a strong fabric emerges. Decorative pieces, slippers and purses of all sizes are the most commonly felted items.

I chose a pattern for a basket that one of my friends in the Over 40 Knitters group on Ravelry had made several times. Karen was my guide through the entire process, answering numerous questions and even taking photos of her work in process to show me. What a great help! It was rather odd knitting something that looked so shapeless, knowing that the finished shape would emerge during the felting. It was also my first attempt at knitting in the round, and I found that the mindless knitting is a great companion to watching television or participating in a conversation. But I was a bit nervous about the actual felting, because the instructions are vague and varied: wash in warm/hot water in a washer with an agitator, and check often.

Ta-da! Here is the finished basket:


I am so pleased with the result! Along with the basket I sent a skein of alpaca/silk lace weight yarn, some dark chocolate, a portable Post-It holder, a little pottery angel and some assorted freebies that I picked up along the way. The box went into the mail on Friday and Amy received it yesterday...and she likes it!

I am so thrilled with felting that I am working on a handbag for me and already have the yarn to start another basket.