Felted Mittens

The mittens are done!




Now to let the paint dry :)

Felted Mittens

I have finished the second set of cuffs for the mittens, and I just need to sew them in. I try to get over to Lawrence, Kansas for Knit Lawrence at least once a month, and I am glad I went yesterday. I mentioned to the others that I wanted to do something to give the mittens a gripping surface, and asked if anyone knew of anything. One of my fellow knitters said puffy paint, so I will give it a try.

Last night at Frances O'Dooley's (yes, I knit at the pub) I showed off the mittens to some other people and mentioned using puffy paint to make a gripping surface. One of them suggested I have them stretched while I do that.

Felted Mittens

Once I finished weaving the ends, I set about felting. Yesterday, I purchased a 5 gallon bucket, a plunger, and a package of tennis balls. I filled the bucket about halfway full of hot water, threw in the tennis balls, the mittens, and some Woolite, then used the plunger to agitate. It took about an hour, but I think they turned out really well.

Before felting:



After felting:



Now to get some Lionbrand Wool-ease to do the cuffs (so the cuffs do not felt when my brother washes the mittens).

Felted Mittens

The mittens are progressing quite nicely. I just need to do the thumbs and weave in the ends before felting.


I have not had very good luck using my washing machine to felt items, so I am thinking I will do what was suggested in the Fall 2007 issue of Knitty (Other Handy Uses for a Plunger) and use a bucket, plunger (a new one to use for felting only), and some tennis balls.

Projects on the Needles

I currently have three projects on the needles: a pair of felted mittens, a cabled afghan, and a plaid afghan.

Felted Mittens:



The Mittens are the Double Cufff Mittens from Knit One, Felt Too by Kathleen Taylor. My brother indicated he could use a pair of mittens, and since he works outside, I thought felted wool mittens would keep his hand drier and warmer.

Cabled Afghan:


This is the Cabled Throw from The Knitter's Bible by Claire Crompton. These are the four strips I have finished so far, and I am currently working on the strip with the Celtic Cable.

Plaid Afghan:



This is the afghan from the Lodge Pillow and Afghan pattern by Linda Cyr found in the Ultimate Book of Knit Afghans.