For My Learn Along...
- Knit different spherical shapes.
- Learn more about my two
cameras and Adobe Bridge.
Since much of my photography is for my blog and Ravelry, this is the less-knitting related.
Dumpling Bag by Sharon Dreifuss has been in my queue for a while. It is in the Fall 2008 Interweave Knits. I'm not sure how often I will actually use this bag but it is spherical so it seemed like a good time to try it. It only took a few hours to knit and an hour or so to embroider. For the embroidery I used handspun and hand-dyed wool that I bought ages ago.
Knitting spheres turned into a lesson on felting wool as well. I've not been very successful with felting in the past. In the two weeks that I have been felting I've learned a few things.
- Felting works best for me when I don't care what size the end result is.
- My front loading machine DOES work for felting. Yeah!
- My favorite wool for felting is Paton's Wool Classic. This is an inexpensive wool that I bought on sale at a chain store. This wool was actually in my stash and somewhat of a buyer's remorse issue so I am thrilled that it works well for felting. It only took one time through my front loader and the stitch definition was gone. I put the bag in a pillow case with a few tennis balls. An old pair of jeans was added to the wash, outside of the pillowcase. I used a little bit of Tide.
- Hot water, heavy cycle.
- Try not to mix wools in a project. They felt at different rates and that can affect the product. I actually learned this while knitting Baby's First Ball which will come up soon.
Modifications to pattern:
- Eliminated the rings on the handles. Just looped the long handle through the little loop.
- Made the long handle 22" instead of 13".
This was a fun, quick project and would make a great gift for a younger person.
2 comments:
I love your dumpling bag! That pattern is a favorite of mine - but sadly I know I would NEVER use the finished product. I'm just not a felted bag sort of girl. However, if I was, this would be it.
Learn Along and keep challenging yourself is such a great gift. And I will definitely make the little bag.
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