| Step One: Knit the bag according to pattern. Featured project uses Booga Bag pattern available free from the author. Use 100% wool, for my bag I used Patons. TIP: I cast on straight needles (Size 11 or 13) to knit the bottom in garter stitch. I just don't like the circular cord curling up when I'm working on a flat panel. Transfer to circular needles by knitting the last row onto the circulars before picking up stitches. TIP: I like using small "ouchless" (no metal) ponytail holders as stitch markers. They come in a variety pack of colors, are inexpensive, and easy to slip. |
 Pictured is an 18" ruler. |
| Step Two: Place the knitted piece in a zippered pillowcase to save your washing machine from lint fuzzies. Add extra bulk to the load by throwing in a few pair of OLD jeans, remember you're washing in hot water, don't plan on wearing these jeans again unless you needed them to shrink. Wash in HOT water with very little soap - DO NOT let it run in spin cycle. CHECK OFTEN... stop the machine, unzip the case and LOOK! |
 Pictured is just 3 minutes into the cycle (I have extra HOT water). You want the stitches to begin to disappear. |
| Step 3: Have a container of COLD water on hand to dunk the project in once you're satisfied with the look. This step STOPS the felting process. You can always felt more by putting it back in hot water, but you can't UNfelt. I found that if I skipped the COLD water step that the piece continued to felt and shrink as it cooled on its own. The same pattern can produce various sizes of bags depending upon how much you allow the piece to felt. |
 THIS STEP IS IMPORTANT! It can make a 1-3 inch difference in the size of your finished piece! |
| Step 4: Stop the felting process and dunk in COLD water when your stitches disappear. Pictured project is after 10-12 minutes in my VERY HOT, top loading agitator washer with two pair of old jeans. |
 See how the stitches meld into fabric? |
| Step 5: To remove as much water as possible ROLL your bag in a heavy towel. Repeat in a drier section of the towel or even another towel - DO NOT WRING OR TWIST. The hardest thing about this project is waiting for it to dry... there's no other way - you just have to wait. |
|
| Step 6: Choose a box that is the same shape and size you hope your bag will be. Wrap the box in plastic grocey bags or a garbage bag - try to flatten out any wrinkles so your felted piece doesn't "absorb" the deformaties. TO BLOCK: Slide your wet, felted bag over the plastic covered box. Stretch it out as much or as little as you like. Remember to keep your stripes or other patterns straight. Once it dries, if the pattern is askew you'll have to re-wet (in cold water) and re-block it in order to correct. Let it dry UPSIDE DOWN naturally. |
 This the HARD part - waiting for it to dry completely - could take 2-3 days. |
| Step 7: Use a combination of small to large knitting needles to pierce holes for the handles. I use double pointed size 10's then work in size 15's to expand the holes. TIP: Use needle nosed pliers to pull the handles through the holes. TIP: I measure the bottom and add a piece of chipboard (cardboard) with rounded corners to support my purse stash. Pointed corners can poke through the bag. ENJOY! As my husband likes to point out... this is one project that is actually useful ;) |
|
