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The Joy of Felted Knitting

Updated on January 18, 2015

Felted Knitted Hats and Flower Pins

Felted Knitting

I discovered felted knitting during a long, dark west coast winter. To keep busy, I picked up my knitting needles, but I didn't want to make the usual hat. I felted it and wow ! I loved it - although it was tiny (I adjusted the pattern). The transformation was amazing. Felting a project takes knitting to a whole new dimension. Plus, It's really gratifying to shrink something on purpose! I am always excited to see what a project will look like after felting - it's quite magical! The technique is quite simple, but the results are amazing.

An appealing effect

Some of My Hats at the Craft Fair
Some of My Hats at the Craft Fair

There are several methods for felting wool and I am in awe of artisans who felt unspun wool - I've seen some truly beautiful works made this way. I learned to make felted (technically, "fulled") things by knitting and crocheting them first - supersized to allow for the shrinkage - then felting them in the washing machine. I had to use what I had on hand and I think that is the beauty of this technique - supplies are easy to get and the process is pretty straightforward.

Knitted Hat Before and After Felting

Knitted hat before felting - Boring
Knitted hat before felting - Boring
Knitted Hat After Felting - Ta Da!
Knitted Hat After Felting - Ta Da!

What is Felted Knitting? How does it work?

An overview

Simply put, a knitted project, made with wool is "processed" (I used my washing machine) and the knitting is transformed into felt-like material. This means the wool fibers have locked together and the item becomes more solid rather than made up of individual yarn stitches. The item can be felted a little or a lot - the more it's felted, the smaller and more solid it becomes.

Imagine your wool sweater washed in hot water - Yikes! It has been felted!

Here's How Felting Looks Before and After

See The Transformation!

Before and after photos of a pink wool hat I knitted then felted.....

Who's Felted? - Have you tried this technique?

Shamrock
Shamrock

Why do it?

I am hooked on felting for so many reasons. It is very satisfying and I can honestly say I enjoy every piece I make.

  • Felting is easy - no special equipment required
  • A felted knit is more durable - it can't unravel
  • You can reform, reshape or re-size
  • It's warm and insulating
  • If it goes horribly wrong, you can cut it and use pieces for applique or sewn together

Have you tried felted knitting?

See results
  • Hats
  • Flowers
  • Slippers
  • Totes
  • Tea Cosies
  • Trivets
  • Rugs
  • Toys
  • Mittens

What to Choose to knit and felt

Projects to felt - Some knitted felting ideas

There are many projects which are perfect for felting. I sometimes find large knitting projects too intimidating or never seem to finish them (guilty) - it's so easy to buy a dozen balls of wool and a gorgeous pattern, the first few rows are enjoyable, but then it gets harder and harder to keep going - these small knitted and felted projects provide almost instant gratification. I made close to a hundred coasters and trivets for Christmas - they were super fast to knit and looked amazing when felted.

My Foray into Rug Hooking

My hooked rug and picture at Bowfest (Hubby's pulling a face!)
My hooked rug and picture at Bowfest (Hubby's pulling a face!)

Here's my hooked rug and hooked picture. They're made with fabric strips. I made 2 rugs, and don't know if I will make another one. The hooked picture went a little quicker, and I have since made 2 more. I might make more.

The rug is an example of a craft I tried and found quite laborious - although, I loved the results.

working

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