I’ve made a bag out of a mix of alpaca and virgin wool, and I knitted most of it in the round in stockinette on needles slightly too small to make sure the stitch was tight. Then I knitted a cover flap in flat stockinette, the flap that I made is incredibly curly (like I knew it would be) my question is, do I need to block out the curliness before I felt it? And if so, how should I block something of this fiber?
Thanks much!
I’m no expert on felting, but usually an object that will be felted is knit on larger needles, very loosely. The agitation and rubbing together of the fibers causes the felting and shrinkage.
If you knit something tightly, I’m not sure it will felt properly–but I’m pretty sure it will shrink.
You might want to knit a different type flap for this bag and make a different bag for felting. Up to you to decide, though.
I don’t mind, in fact I want it to shrink a little, and I know that because of the blend it will only be a slight felt. I want it to look a little fuzzy, but still with visible stitches.
But how should I block the flap? That’s really the issue I’m having.
Thanks!
I’d think that blocking the flap when it’s wet (after felting) would work better than blocking it now and then felting it. I suspect it would curl again, anyway.
I don’t think blocking before felting would do anything. You usually need to block after felting anyway so I’d go that route.