Hi all,
I don’t know why I was so scared to felt, my first experience positively proved that sometimes 100% wool just doesn’t felt!!!! First wash was done with the temperature suggested which was set at 30c, sat there waiting patiently for the washing to be finished. I even checked to make sure that the Tote wasn’t shrinking too much. However I pulled my masterpiece out of the machine and discovered if anything that it was bigger when it came out than when it went in.
So tried a second attempt this time I put the machine up to 60c, again waited for the cycle to finish, and yet again the Tote came out looking no different from the first attempt.
I was getting a little frustrated by this point. I then decided to put the temperature up to 90c the highest temperature on my washing machine, and waited. . . . . .The machine stopped. . . . . . I took a breath, opened the machine, ready for the big reveal, and the Tote was still exactly the same as the previous 2 attempts. What a waste of time, and more important, what a waste of water and electricity.
I put the Tote in my tumble dryer – by this point what was the worst that could happen??? The tumble dryer actually did a mini felting, so tried washing for a 4th time, followed by 2 hrs in the tumble dryer. Again the tumble dryer did a little more, but in no way does the Tote I made, look or resemble the Tote in the pattern.
So I have plan, I have found a really good website, that can provide me with the exact yarn that I need to complete this Tote. And because of the fabulous Australian $, the prices work out really well for me. So when the yarn arrives from the UK I will update my progress with the Tote. I just find it amusing that I seem to have found the only 100% wool in Australia that you cannot shrink. . . . . .no matter what you do to it, I mean that has to be a good thing.
I have a friend coming tomorrow for a visit, and she is bringing up with her some teddy bear eyes and noses, so that I can pick some for my daughters teddy bear pocket scarf, I could sew the eyes and nose using thread/yarn, but my sewing details are not quite perfected yet, and I think having real teddy bear eyes and noses will give the pocket scarf a better finish.
Also I have just received in the post from Nicky Epstein accessory range a pretty leaf clasp so that I can sew that to my shrug/wrap. All photos should be put on by this Sunday of the completed Scarf and Shrug/Wrap.
My latest job, is to practice the pretty lace pattern that I will be using on the 1950’s inspired dress, I am making a shawl with this pattern, I just want to in-grain this pattern into my muscle memory, hopefully this way the pattern for the dress will be easy, and the only thing I’ll have to think about will be knitting in the round – circular needles. And I will also need to learn at some stage how to use double-pointed needles. Have tried a couple of times, but I ended up having a hissy fit when it didn’t work. I know good craftsmen never blames the equipment, but I swear the double-pointed needles weren’t working, nothing to do with me 🙂
And don’t forget that Saturday 11th June is World Knitting Day, so if you, like me love to knit, there will be lots to do on that day at big craft centres who will be holding Knitting Parties, and I’m sure that there will be plenty of discounts on yarns for everyone to enjoy. And even your smaller local yarn shops should be holding events also, so give them a call and see what they’re up to, if not maybe you could hold your own knitting party, maybe raise a little money for charity with your own personalised knitting event.
Well that’s it for me tonight, see you all later.