I have a secret to tell you about felting. Maybe you already know? Did you know that when you felt your hand knits, you lose more in length than you do width? A general rule is that you lose 30% in length and 10% in width.
One trick to find out exact percentage:
Knit a 5"L x 5"W swatch (Knit loose). Run through the washing machine (fast speed for lots of agitation). Measure again. Most likely, your felted swatch will now be (or be close to) 3.5"L x 4.5W. Try it sometime. Knowing this, you can design without fear of too much shrinkage!
So, Patons wool was on sale and I started knitting and knitting and then testing gauge and felting, and all that jazz, and what I came up with.....felt phone cozies.
I put those ones (and more) in my little shop. Next up: felt nook/kindle cozies and felt purses. I told you; felting groove.
Good thing. Because we just had a snow storm. Brace yourself for some chill inducing photos:
A covered pine tree.
Charlie hurrying back inside.
Bare trees in the backyard.
Snow clinging to the side of the deck rails.
Ice making its home.
Brrr.
A lonesome, heavy sunflower.
Icicle branch.
Dogs looking at me like I am crazy.
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I am still reading Cutting for Stone and will be for some time. The words/message/story is quite profound. Every night, I find a new quote to live by.
"...own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, and own the ones you don't...Not only our actions, but also our omissions, become our destiny."
Cutting for Stone
Have a good day!
XXOO, Gilda
