First up, I tried my hand at felting a bag. It is the ballband bag from Monica's site. I think it turned out ok, but I don't think I did it quite right - I did learn lessons for the next attempt though.
This, to the right, is the before picture. I didn't use very large needles (like I found out after you should use), but instead used the 4.0mm or 4.5mm called for on the yarn wrapper. I didn't know that it should be the larger needles so that the felting process would be better.
Next is the finished product as it is drying. I used one of my text books (Communication Disorders) wrapped in several plastic grocery bags to protect it.
I don't have the sizes with me to record here, but in the height it shrank a few inches, and in width only about an inch. Also, for the handle I just did a simple garter stitch. It is a long handle though, but she's a tall girl so I think it would be alright. I've also informed her that she shouldn't but anything too heavy into it because I don't think the handle would do well under the pressure.
The felting job went not too badly, though I think it might have been a little better had I used the bigger needles. There was still the odd stitch definition here and there, but nothing majorly noticeable.
Above is my other friend's Christmas gift - mittens! I think this is considered Fair Isle eh (though they called it stranding in the directions; my understanding is that the term 'stranding' is now used rather than Fair Isle, but I could be wrong)?
I got the pattern from Knit Picks, and it is this pattern. The yarn I used was Knit Picks Merino Style, and I really liked using it. It is soft and easy to work with. I've tried the mittens on, and they feel so soft and warm.
Anyway, just wanted to post a quick update and show the knitting gifts I made for Christmas now that they have been seen by their recipients.
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas filled with joy, peace, and love! God bless!!
16 comments:
Shelley, the gifts are wonderful!
Merry Christmas. : )
The gifts are great!! I like how the ball band bag came out!! And the mittens are beautiful!!
Merry Merry Christmas!!
wow! love the gifts! esp those mittens!! =) merry christmas! =)
Nice job on both the bag and the mittens! They look great.
Merry Christmas!
Love the mittens (bag too). Gosh, I just placed an order with Knit Picks also & would have ordered the pattern if I had seen yours first. Love the colors too. You did a great job. Hope you're having a Merry Christmas!
Those are wonderful gifts. I think you did a great job on your first felting. I love the colors in the mittens, so bright and colorful.
The bag turned out awesome! Very nice, I love the colors. Love those mittens! I've never done much colorwork. I have the yarn to make Center Square from Knitty. I'm not much at working with more than one color, but at least it's double-strand on big needles and will knit up fast!
Hope you had a great Christmas!
Great finished gifts, Shelley, you did a really nice job! :0)
I love the bag. It appears to be a slip stitch pattern. Is that right? Looks perfect to me.
I think the rule is, all Fair Isle is stranded, but not all stranded is Fair Isle. I guess the Fair Isle people are getting upset that people keep calling non-traditional patterns their name.
Great job on both projects, they are both beautiful.
They look great. I love the mittens, those are nice, bright, cheerful colors.
Seriously? You think that bag came out only OK? I think it looks fantastic! I really love that pattern, and it appears to me, anyway, that you executed it perfectly. And the mittens also came out great -- very lucky recipients.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Shelley!
I love the bag and the mittens. One of my goals for next year is to learn fairisle or colorwork. I get all those terms confused too!
Great!
God bless
Maria in the UK
www.inhishands.co.uk
I love the bag!
You did beautiful work on those mittens! They are so pretty! Your friend must have been so excited to receive them!!
:)
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