Fun With Felting, Part I

Felting is an interesting form of crafting.  One way is to buy an already felted item, and using bits of colored fiber and a  really fun needle, one can create a pattern or design.  The other way is to knit or crochet an item  using 100% wool in a size much larger than what the finished product will be, and then shrink it.  Actually, it's the agitation of the fiber that causes it to shrink and become a firm fabric.

Shrinking the project is the fun part.  If you are still the owner of a top-loading washing machine, you have the best method.  Front loaders will work, but the problem is I felted my last bag this way about 3 years ago and have no idea how I did it.

I started a new bag awhile ago.  Instead of knitting though, this one is crocheted.  The pattern is "The Nomad Bag" from Noni Designs.  I really wanted to try felted crochet.  Making the bag itself wasn't too difficult.  Before the felting process started, this is how it looked:

Hopefully, the detail of the zipper flap is visible.

Since I wasn't sure about the front loader I tried the "dryer method".  This involves soaking the project in boiling water for 10 minutes, then putting it in the dryer with something to help agitate the wool.  I prefer my middle son's old, full of holes jeans, but I hear tennis balls work well.  It took one large stock pot and two tea kettles of water in the kitchen sink to cover the bag. (Use tongs to manipulate, the bag got very hot.)
I then put the bag in a towel and threw it in the dryer with the jeans for 10 minutes at time.

After about 40 minutes of felting, I concluded it wasn't reducing in size enough, so back to the sink for another ten minute soak.

Back to dryer and more ten minute increments (at least three).  It's very important to check the project because it is possible to felt it too small.  Since I was seeing progress, I let it go for a straight 20 minutes in the dryer and voila! it was finally the correct size.

The saga will continue as soon as it dries.........