Instructions for knitted felting

Patterns for knitted felting

Theoretically, you can felt anything you have knitted from felting wool. However, since the end product becomes stiffer through felting, this is not advisable with just any pattern. Slippers have proved to be particularly popular among passionate knit-felters. Because by felting you make your self-knitted slippers sturdier and they also become a bit cosier. A knitted basket is also very suitable for your project. This can be a small basket with a lid, in which you may want to put bits and pieces. Or you can try a knit-felted dog bed. If you don't have any knitting experience yet, the best choice is a pot holder. Then you won't have any problems with the manufacturing and if the hand guard gets a little too small after felting, it can still serve as a coaster.

What is knitted felting?

There are different ways to produce a connected textile fabric. While knitting, crocheting and weaving will always produce a structured structure with a clearly recognizable pattern, felting creates a disordered surface structure. This is because you do not work with a spun thread but use a typical property of untreated raw wool. Similar to human hair, sheep's hair also has an outer layer of cuticles. When felting, the wool is therefore processed in such a way that the cuticles of the individual wool hairs are irretrievably interlocked. If you have already knitted a pair of slippers or a pot holder out of felting wool, you can additionally compact the surface of your knitting work by felting. It then acquires the same properties as felt: it absorbs water, warms and becomes cuddly soft.

Knitted felting patterns for beginners and advanced users

You can find knitted felting instructions for every taste and skill-level. If you are a novice knitter, you should opt for a simple project such as knitting and felting a pot holder. If you are already a knitting professional, the instructions for knit-felting slippers will not cause you any problems. A somewhat tricky matter, where you have to concentrate well, is always just the knitting. The subsequent processing in the washing machine is equally easy for beginners and advanced knitters: You put the finished knitted garment into the machine for a 40-degree Celsius wash, switch on a normal washing cycle - no economy cycle -, dose your detergent as usual (you have to do without the fabric softener) and press start. Before drying in the fresh air, pull your knitted felted end product back into shape.

The right wool for knitted felting?

For knitted felting you must use untreated, pure wool, otherwise the felting of the surface will not work. The so-called felting wool is available in many different colours. It is knitted with normal knitting needles. Depending on the project, this means with two individual needles, a set of needles or a circular knitting needle. For the subsequent felting you need a washing machine, water and detergent. It doesn't matter whether you use a regular laundry detergent or a detergent specifically or colours. But what you should never add is a fabric softener. The fabric softener causes the scales of the individual wool hairs to lay down. And this would be rather counterproductive when felting. If you don't have a washing machine, you can use one of our tutorials for wet felting to felt your knitwear by hand if necessary.

Knitted felting ideas - what can you knit from felting wool?

There are many wonderful things you can make with the help of our manuals for knitted felting or even with a tutorial you created yourself. For example, to make your gloves water-resistant, it's a good idea to knit them with a thin felting wool and then felt them in the washing machine. A scarf gets especially cuddly and warm when you felt it after knitting. Something very special is a homemade case for glasses, which you make more resistant and stronger by knitted felting. Even a blanket that you don't use as a cover, but as a pad, such as a dog blanket, can be made more dimensionally stable through the technique of knitted felting. Not only does it become fluffier, it also throws less creases and wrinkles.

Knitting felted slippers

If you make your own slippers, you can of course tailor them best to your personal needs. Knitted felted slippers have the advantage that they are particularly durable. They keep your feet warm in winter and you won't sweat in summer. However, when knitting and subsequently felting, it is especially important that you do not just follow the pattern for knitted felting, but also knit a gauge beforehand. Because even untreated, pure sheep's wool does not always react to the process in the washing machine in the same way. In any case, your end product will be between 30 and 40 percent smaller. But since the difference of ten percent can play an important role in the fit of slippers, you shouldn't rely on your luck. By the way, you can make small corrections afterwards by fitting in an elastic band or simply by cutting open the heel, shortening it and then sewing it back together. To make sure that no unsightly seams remain visible, you should cover the reworked area by hand using a wet felting technique.

Baskets made by knitted felting

For knitted felting a basket, it is best to use a slightly thicker felting wool. This will give your finished knitting a better stability. You should also make sure to pull the felted basket into shape when you take it out of the washing machine. Stuff it with kitchen paper and place it on the clothes horse to dry. By the way, knitted felt items are not suitable for tumble drying. They would shrink noticeably in the heat of the tumble dryer. If you still want to decorate your finished basket, you can sew on some knitted felted flowers or decorate it with buttons or beads.

Potholders made of knitted felt

The pot holder knitting is so easy that even children enjoy it. Even at the age of six, the dear little ones can learn to knit and then nothing stands in the way of a pot holder project. The advantage is that the self-knitted and felted potholder is particularly good at keeping the heat out. At the same time, the felting in the washing machine means that small irregularities disappear, which are particularly common when beginners are knitting. The children can make their first knitting attempts and can look forward to a great result after felting. Perhaps they will be so enthusiastic after the first successful pot holder that they will take on a second one for Mother's Day or Grandma's birthday.

Tips and tricks for knitted felting

If you want to get more tips and tricks on how to do knitted felting, you should check our YouTube channel regularly. There you will always find videos to enjoy. If there ever is a problem with knitting and felting, we will not leave you alone. We have created a help page, where you will surely find the right answer to simple questions. If there is no solution for your case, you can alternatively post a question in our forum. We are a large community, from which there is always someone willing to help. So, you do not have to despair. Do you have an idea for knitted felting yourself or do you know a good trick that we haven't published yet? Then we would be happy if you post your thoughts on our Facebook page. You are very welcome.

Sell DIY knitted felting patterns

By the way, you can even earn a little money with your own patterns for knitted felting on our portal. The only requirement is that you formulate your manual in an easily understandable text and provide it with informative pictures. What you have to do in order to upload your own tutorial on our portal and how you can earn money with it, you can read in guide to selling patterns.

By the way, we are not a site that deals exclusively with knitted felting. If you're interested in more handicrafts, we have a category for sewing, crocheting, knitting and crafting. Just scroll through!