Here is a dumb question for ya. I have not started the project yet but the directions to my project just says “boil wash with soap flakes”. I have no idea what that means, does it mean actually put it in boiling water or just wash it in hot. If so, just the whole cycle and are soap flakes just washing detergent or something different?
Also I am making a swatch but if my swatch isn’t right will I really have to change the needles or can I do it with the wrong sz? (I of course have 10 sz 4 nededles and no sz3) The reason I thought maybe I could get away with the wrong size is because I am actually just knitting 2 rectangles which I am then cutting out gignerbread boy shapes and putting them together to make a stuffed gingerbread boy so the actual size isn’t super important, but will the gauge screw up the felting?
The main thing you want to do is use a needle size bigger then the yarn typically uses - ie, if the yarn says to knit with size 4 needle, you probalby want to use 6 or even 7. You want the stitches kind of big and loose. I wouldn’t bother making a guage swatch in this case, either. Just make your knitted piece plenty taller and longer then 1 or 2 finished size gingerbread men. Once your piece is felted, you can cut out as many men as will fit on it, even making some smaller or bigger then others (so long as you get multiples of 2 each size).
For the felting, use your washer. Put the piece into a zipper mesh or pillowcase bag, use the hot cycle. Add some detergent (what ever kind you use normally) and a pair of jeans or an old beach towel or 2. Every 5 minutes stop the washer and pull out the knitting to see how it looks. Start the wash cycle over if necessary. When it’s felted as much as you want it, rinse it out by hand and spread out on a towel to dry.
Thanks so much Marilyn. My son is very looking forward to his gingerbread man and of course he wants it rainbow striped just to make it difficult for me. LOL I have a feeling it will take me quite a while to knit up the thing. I’ll be back asking finishing questions when the time comes.