Two quick bag felting questions

How-to Questions
1

Hi, and thanks SO much in advance for any help!

I’m a very beginner knitter on my third project (I’ve crocheted for many years). I’ve been drooling over the Booga Bag for years and finally attempted it. Well, it went spectacularly well, and now I’m ready to felt (I’ve never felted before). So on to my two questions…

  1. I bought a zippered pillowcase for felting, but a book I was reading at Michaels last night said you need “a separate container for each felted item” so they don’t felt together. Does this mean that I need two pillowcases, one for the bag and one for the handle? Or is it okay to do the handle in the same one?

  2. The same book also said that you should put in a dye-proof sheet of some kind, and mentioned a specific brand name, so colors won’t bleed. I used Noro Kureyon color 40. Will the colors bleed all over and ruin the bag (or the jeans in the wash), or do they stay pretty well?

Thanks SOOOOO much!! I’m so excited to do this right away. I’m on vacation in Arizona at my in-laws’ house and the whole household of relatives is interested in this process, having seen me create the bag in the last 4 days. :slight_smile:

2

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=purple]You can put them all in the same bag.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]When you check the felting progress, check on the handle and unravel it… [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]I only use a dye-proof sheet if I’m dyeing different colors together…[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

3

Thank you so much!! So when you say different colors, do you mean variegated yarn, like this yarn I used is, or actually two different yarns?

Thanks!!

4

There seems to be disagreement on whether to use a zippered pillowcase. For big items, (purses etc.) I do not use a zippered pillowcase. If I am felting small items, then a pillowcase is the way to go so they will not get lost in the machine.

I’ve not used a dye proof sheet so can’t comment on that. I just put a pair of blue jeans in with the item…Happy felting!

5

I used NK #40 for a felted bag. It turned out pretty.:cheering:

I don’t put my items in anything, just the machine. As for the jeans, I use old jeans anyway, that I don’t care about. But even then I never saw horrible bleeding.
The only time I used one of those color catchers was with a bag that had red and off white stripes. I was worried the red would bleed onto the white.

Good luck and you will have to show us your finished object.:mrgreen:

6

Thanks SO much, everyone, for your help! I felted the bag yesterday and after two or three trips through, it was looking pretty good. No bleeding or anything. It dried really fast in this blazing Arizona heat (I’m on vacation here). I think I may have to do one or two more times through today, though–I can still see a lot of stitch definition.

7

Reasoning for the zippered bag is to protect not only the bag from the bumping and swishing but your machine as well. The lint will not always drain out and will get on your other washable items…a real mess! Felting creates tons of lint! Happy felting!!!