Friday, February 2, 2018

The Art of Dryer Felting

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A couple years ago I got a new washing machine which put a sudden halt to my felting days. It’s a top loader but doesn’t do fabric any favors in the felting department. I know a lot of the front loading washing machines aren’t designed to be opened during a cycle so felting with them is a nonstarter too. I think my new machine agitates too strongly with less water so it pulls the yarn apart widthwise before it can pull together. I’m no engineer so I have no idea really, just speculating on that but it doesn’t felt no matter what the technical issue is. So I basically had given up any thoughts of felting anymore knit projects….until ‘Ozlorna’ of Ravelry fame mentioned in a group conversation thread that she felted in her dryer.  I asked more questions, tried a couple swatches and am now a believer.  After the swatches, I proceeded to a hat pattern that I’ve been wanting to try and now I have 3 hats!  I’m onto my felted clog/slippers next.  ‘Ozlorna’ has had many successes with the dryer method to include slippers, hats, bags, etc.



Here’s the ‘how to’:

Give your finished project a quick wash and rinse by hand.  Squeeze out excess water and put in the dryer on high for 5 minutes.  Remove and rinse with cold water.  Put back in the hot dryer for 5 minutes, then rinse in cold water again.  Continue with the cold rinses in between the 5 minutes in the hot dryer until it felts to the size you want.  Watch it carefully.  It will go fast towards the end so I checked it every 2 minutes or so then.  Depending on the item you’re felting, the yarn and how far it needs to felt, it may only take 2 or 3 times in the dryer.  Honestly!   One of my hats took 3 five minute cycles and the other took 3 cycles plus a couple extra 2 minute cycles.  Then block and air dry as usual.  Note that you don’t put any other clothes in the dryer with it, just put it in by itself.  Of course, you can add more items to the dryer but it's not necessary.  Just don't overload the dryer.



If you’re lucky enough to have a washing machine that felts predictably and you’re happy with it, by all means continue to use your machine.  But this is a fine alternative if you don’t have a machine that will dependably felt.  Other than not felting because you don’t have a machine that cooperates, I can see a couple other plusses to dryer felting.  There’s far less time involved and much less water used.  

Happy felting!!

P.S.  This wonderful hat pattern is available for purchase in Marg Jones' Ravelry Store.  The title of the pattern is Felted Hat on Bulky Machine.

P.S. Again:  As long as Marg posted the link to her pattern in her comment below, I will add it here for easier reference.  Hope you use it, it's a great pattern.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/felted-hat-on-bulky-knitting-machine/


Thursday, February 1, 2018

Chemo Turban, Revisited

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A knitting friend, Bonnie, has knit several chemo turbans for those in need, bless her heart.  As we’re in the middle of a long, cold upper Midwest winter, she used a heavier yarn than I have specified in my earlier posted pattern and has graciously given me her consent to share her patterns.  Here are a couple of her concepts using the same yarn but with different gauges.  Both are great but she said she prefers the feel of the one knit in a tighter gauge.  Either are very acceptable because we fortunate ones with hair can’t predict what will feel good on the skin of those without.  From my previous experiences, my sister’s head was very tender and she preferred the smooth, soft yarns like Simply Soft or Berroco Comfort.  Then another friend’s head wasn’t tender and she preferred the fuzzier type yarns.  So use up that yarn, someone will make good use of them. 
A big thank you goes to Bonnie for her patterns. 

TURBAN  #1

Machine:  LK150 midgauge
Yarn:  Deborah Norville Everyday,  aran weight, 1 – 3.5 oz skein, 180 yds
Tension:  T7 and as noted
Size:  Woman’s medium 

1.  Cast on 78 stitches with several rows of waste yarn and ravel cord.
2.  E-wrap from L to R.
3.  RC000, T6, knit 6 rows.
4.  *  Remove fabric with a garter bar or several rows of waste yarn, turn work and rehang on
      the same needles.
5.   Knit 6 rows. *
6.   T7, repeat from * to * to RC054 with 9 total repeats.
7.   T6, knit 4 rows.
8.   T5, knit 4 rows.
9    T4, knit 4 rows, COL.
10.  Decrease for crown by transferring every other stitch to adjacent needle.
11.  T3, knit 1 row to right.
12. Gather live stitches and secure.
13.  Sew side seam. 
Band:
1.   With right side facing, pick up 5 stitches in top center of the hat.
2.   T4, knit about 32 rows, hang on other side of hat and bind off. 
An I-cord or 1x1 ribbing for the band is also an option.
Embellish as desired.

TURBAN #2

Machine:  LK150 midgauge
Yarn:  Deborah Norville Everyday,  aran weight, 1 – 3.5 oz skein, 180 yds
Tension:  T6 and as noted
Size:  Woman’s medium 

1.  Cast on 90 stitches with several rows of waste yarn and ravel cord.
2.  E-wrap from L to R.
3.  RC000, T5, * knit 6 rows.
4.  Remove fabric with a garter bar or several rows of waste yarn, turn work and rehang on the
      same needles. *
5.   T6, repeat from * to * to RC054 with 9 total repeats.
6.   T5, knit 10 rows.
7.   T4, knit 6 rows, COL.
8.   Decrease for crown by transferring every other stitch to adjacent needle.
9.   T3, knit 1 row to right.
10. Gather live stitches and secure.
11. Sew side seam. 
Band:
1.   With right side facing, pick up 6 stitches in top center of the hat.
2.   T3, knit an I-cord for about 80 rows, hang on other side of hat and bind off. 
A rolled stockinette stitch or 1x1 ribbing for the band is also an option.
Embellish as desired.