Felted Up!

What a fun weekend! I started it off with the arrival of confirmation of my Rowan subscription, complete with a wonderful little weekend handbag project in All Seasons Cotton. I've been wondering what it is like to knit with cotton, so this seems like it will be a great chance to find out!

Right after the mail carrier arrived, I set off on a yarn store excursion with Julie. We spent a lot of time at Tangled Web (177 S. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, 708-445-8335) where I got a couple of skeins of Noro Kuryeon Color 75 -- just to play with. I wanted to get it just to see hot it feels and how it knits up. We also made a pilgrimage to Knitting Workshop (2218 N. Lincoln, Chicago, IL). I picked up the Debbie Bliss Noro one book that has the two patterns I am trying to decide between for my Silk Garden, and a little more Kureyon (two different colors) so that I could try my hand at making the stuffed bear and rabbit in the Debbie Bliss book (they each only take one skein). I also acquired a few balls of Austermann Candy Color, a microfiber yarn that feels like polar fleece...I do not really need another scarf, but this stuff definitely wanted to go home with me.

We were fortunate in that we got to talk to the woman who will be teaching the Fair Isle knitting class that we are going to take there starting in February. It sounds like it is going to be great fun and a chance to learn two-handed knitting, steeking and other things that I have been too timid to try on my own yet. Even better, I will be taking it with Julie! It is always more fun to do these things when you have someone to share notes with.

But I think the big deal of the weekend for me is completing my first felting project! It's not my handbag project. I got started on a Fiber Trends Winter Cap with Earflaps for John using Lamb's Pride Bulky in Ponderosa Pine. I did not expect to go very far with it, but once I got started, it just soared! Amazing how a well written pattern is not only a joy to work through but just seems to sing on the needles. I did not even mind the part that required the double pointed needles. I started it, finished it and felted it all today! What a blast! The only hard part was trying to persuade John to try on the hat while it was still a little damp (he wasn't too excited about taking the "before" pictures either...).

Before

John thinks he looks like a Polish terrorist, but I think it gives you an idea of how big the hat was before it went into the washer. I am glad this was my first felted piece -- small and a nice preparation for when I get my handbag finished. I still cannot believe I threw a wool knitted garment in hot water in the washer. But here's the result:

After

John refused to take pictures wearing a wet wool hat, so these are the best until it dries (this is probably the closest to blocking a knitted piece I've ever gotten..). There is also a chin strap that can be used to hold up the earflaps...I'll have to find some suitably manly buttons for that. The pictures really don't do the hat justice! It's just so much niftier in person. And it was so much fun to do! Definitely inspiration for getting my handbag done! I love how the mohair in the Lamb's Pride gives the hat a nice soft fuzzy look without being too feminine. Of course, the real test will be getting John to wear it. But given how cold it is in Chicago right now, I don't think that will be too difficult.