Felted bag Pattern.

[lilacjojo]

Hi

I'm new to this forum, loving all the beautiful work. Just wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a knitting pattern for a bag which can be felted afterwards but it needs to be done with two straight needles, as I have never used circular needles. Are circular needles easy to use and do they come with instructions?

Thanks
Jo

[greannancrafts]

(welcome)(welcome)(welcome)

Pleased to meet you.

I can't help with your question but someone may be along soon who can.

Jane

[cosmic grammie]

Hi

I'm new to this forum, loving all the beautiful work. Just wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a knitting pattern for a bag which can be felted afterwards but it needs to be done with two straight needles, as I have never used circular needles. Are circular needles easy to use and do they come with instructions?

Thanks
Jo

Hi!

Circular needles take a little getting used to (what new thing doesn't!) but I love them, because there seems to be less weight on my fingers and wrists - they hurt if supporting straight needles, if long, along with the increasing weight of the knitting.

If your circs get cantankerous, hold up by one end and hold the blow dryer on them a little while to make them relax a little - so they will be less curly or wonky. Also, length is important - if not long enough, they can be a bit of a bear to knit on, but if too long, the same goes...

[cosmic grammie]

Forgot about "instructions."

You just "pretend" they are regular ol' straight needles, and cast on. Don't worry when they go off the needle part onto the cord. In my experience - never pull down on the knitting that is on the cord part - it has been my experience that that tightens the stitches on there, and makes it hard to slide them back on to the needle part later. But that's probably just me.

Okay, CO some stitches for learning purposes. Enough sts to go off onto the cord. Now just start knitting...whatever stitch you want to do - it's just for trial. So you're doing straight knitting, so when you get to the end, there's a way you won't even have to turn the knitting as it grows...you just flip the needles and there you are, ready to go back. Experiment...you'll see.

I found that when I was constantly trying to turn the whole knitting, i twisted the yarn more and more, making it kinky. But when I realized I did not need to hold the knitting up and turn it...I no longer twisted the yarn like that - it takes some experimenting to grasp this, and also someone better at describing than I. :p

But the bottom line is, circular needles are great, IMHO. I have grown to like them far better than straight! But I was not sure at first - seemed like it would be something very complicated. Not! Just get some inexpensive ones and try 'em out!

[cosmic grammie]

Are you already experienced with felting?

[cosmic grammie]

oooo, look at this free pattern!

http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/pignoli/pignoli.html

[lilacjojo]

I am a complete beginner where felting is concerned, I have tried a few jumpers in the wash one I think is almost there and the other one has not changed in any shape or form. But after reading a few felting websites, I think it may be a washable one, so have learnt a lesson there. I have taken up knitting after a few years absence and have made a few things but not really an experienced knitter, so any help would be great.

Jo

[cosmic grammie]

SLOW is the key to felting. Patience is a virtue!

Anything that is “superwash” or contains a fair amount of lanolin is not going to felt well.

If you are making a pouch, for instance, and it is sewn up before felting, be sure to put something inside it to keep it from felting to itself…like a folded pillow case or something. AND, it has to be something the pouch, or whatever, won’t felt to!

Once I even tacked a folded pillowcase into place in a bag I was felting. You don’t want the thing you put inside to be bunchy…because it will affect the outcome of the felting.

Also, if felting something biggish, it will come out pretty wonky sometimes! Can be upsetting. I over-felted a fairly large knitted panel…it was really wavy and thick. But it made a nice bag, though not what I had started out to make. Sometimes you have to do some steam pressing between damp towels to get it to lie right. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Most felted bags are saggy, and the straps are almost useless as far as staying on your shoulder…I advise making a strap and felting it separately, and pressing and then stitching it onto the bag, even with contrasting yarn…with decorative stitches. Make it long enough that it goes all the way down the sides of the bag and underneath – so as to give added support to the bag for holding anything of any weight…like lots of change.

All this may seem silly to the more expert felters here…this is all just from my own experience…I am not an expert at anything but trying things out, it seems!

[beaderselbow]

I love felted bag and always on the look out for new patterns. This was my first felted pattern that I used. ..

do a google search for

black sheep booga bag free pattern

I am an experienced knitter but it is a simple pattern

[beckyboo]

Hiya Jo and (welcome) to the forum

[autumn rose]

HI & (welcome) to the forum! Good luck with the new ideas :D

[lilacjojo]

Thanks for the lovely warm welcome and advice. I have looked at all the circular needles on various sites, what size would you recommend to start with?

Thanks
Jo

[cosmic grammie]

Just for experimenting, it depends on your preference and your eyesight! I use the larger ones because they are more comfortable for my fingers and my eyes, and because I do bulky things like ponchos and always get bulky yarn.

Also, for the purposes of learning, I always prefer a good contrast between color of yarn and color of needle!

For felting, you should definitely use larger sizes –at least a US 13, but it depends on what you’re making. And larger means more time for it to felt down to the size you want.

Needles are expensive and so maybe you especially want to buy some that are the right size and length for your chosen felting project…materials should will be listed in the instructions. Wow did I see some wonderful patterns after replying to your post – BUT I am strong...I can finish what I am currently working on...not flit about. ;)