Felted
Fun Spring Tote
Creative Artware for the Mind,Body & Soul By Elizabeth Looatt Young
SPRING TOTE
Materials:
Seven strands of complimentary novelty yarn, each app. 3.25 yds [3 meters] Worsted weight yarn Shown here: Nature Spun “Worsted’ (245 yds) [224 meters]: N60 Purple Splendor, 1 skein; N59 Butterfly Blue, 1 skein; 105 Bougainvillea, 1 skein; 308 Sunburst Gold, 1 skein; 109 Spring Break, 1 skein. One K1C2 °Adornment card in ‘Spring? Size US 11" (8mm) double point needles Size US $13"$ (9mm) $24"$ $\left(60\;\mathrm{cm}\right)$ circular needle Ring markers and tapestry needle Tote measurement before felting: (approximate) $17\,\,\%$ "wide $\mathbf{X}\,20^{\mathfrak{n}}$ tall $(44.5\mathrm{cm}\times51\mathrm{cm})$ Tote measurement after felting: (approximate) $12\,\,^{1\!}/\!\,_{2}$ " wide x 11" tall ( $(31.5\mathrm{cm}\times28\mathrm{cm})$
Note:
Hold two strands of wool yarn together throughout the project. When patterns calls for novelty yarn, purl the novelty strand with your two strands of wool yarn: \*purl one stitch with all three strands, drop the novelty yarn and carry unworked (loosely) in front while purling the one stitch with your wool yarn\*, pick up novelty yarn and repeat from\* across to end of row.
Knitting the bag base:
With purple yarn and size US 13 (9mm) $24"$ (60cm) circular needle cast on 40 stitches. Knit in garter for 16 rows (or 8 ridges). Do not break yarn. Pick up and knit 8 stitches along short edge; pick up and knit 40 stitches along opposite long edge; pick up and knit 8 stitches along remaining short edge. You now have 96 stitches. Place marker. The bottom of the bag is complete. Purl all remaining rows unless otherwise instructed.
Knitting the bag body:
Purl 8 rows in purple; 2 rows - yellow; 3 rows - olive; 1 row - blue; 1 row in blue with complimentary novelty yarn (following above instructions); 1 row - blue; 1 row - coral; 3 rows - purple; 2 rows yellow; 1 row in yellow with complimentary novelty yarn (following above instructions); 2 rows - yellow; 1 row - olive; 4 rows - blue; 1 row in blue with complimentary novelty yarn (following above instructions); 3 rows - blue; 2 rows - coral 2 rows - purple; 1 row in purple with complimentary novelty yarn (following above instructions); 2 rows - purple; 1 row - yellow; 4 rows - olive; 1 row in olive with complimentary novelty yarn (following above instructions); 3 rows - olive; 2 rows - blue; 1 row - coral; 1 row in coral with complimentary novelty yarn (following above instructions); 1 row in coral; 1 row - purple; 2 rows - yellow; 1 row in yellow with complimentary novelty yarn (following above instructions); 1 row - yellow. Continuing with two strands of yellow color, \*knit 2 together, knit 10, repeat \* to end of row for a total of 88 stitches. Purl one row in yellow; Knit one row in yellow. Do not break yarn. Cast on three stitches. \*Knit two stitches. Knit two stitches together through the back loops. Return the remaining three stitches to the left hand needle. Repeat from\* until all but the last three stitches are bound off. Knit last three stitches together.
Knitting the handles:
With sizeUS 11 $\left(8\mathrm{mm}\right)$ double point needles and a double strand of olive yarn, cast on 7 stitches. Knit 4 stitches, yarn forward, slip last three stitches. Turn work. \*Taking yarn across back of work, pull firmly, then knit 4 stitches, yarn forward, slip last three stitches, turn work. Repeat from \* to end of row for 4" (10cm). Knit across three stitches in olive, on fourth stitch, change to two strands of blue yarn, yarn forward, slip last three stitches. Turn work. Continue knitting handle with blue yarn for 16" $(40\mathrm{cm})$ .Handle is now $20"$ (51cm) long. Knit across three stitches with blue yarn, on fourth stitch, change to two strands of olive yarn, yarn forward, slip last three stitches. Turn work. Continue knitting handle with olive yarn for 4" $(10\mathrm{cm})$ . Handle is now $24"$ (61cm) long. Bind off all stitches in knit. Repeat above instructions for second handle. Weave in all ends of tote and handles. Do not sew on handles to bag yet.
Fulling your tote:
Note: Keep your hands and loose garments away from your washing machine while it is in operation. Turn off machine before reaching into it. Partially fill your washer with hot water. Add a small amount of detergent (I use Dawn dishwashing liquid). Place your project in a zippered pillowcase (this project can shed lint), then into washing machine. Set machine for its longest agitation cycle. Wearing kitchen gloves (the water is hot), check your project every few minutes to see if the amount of fulling is to your liking. While checking, straighten and stretch tote and handles out, and rearrange in the pillowcase. If you want additional fulling after the machine cycle, reset the washer for another agitation cycle and continue checking until everything is to your liking. Remove pillowcase from washing machine and spin out water (allowing purse to spin in machine can permanently set in creases). Remove purse and handles from pillowcase and thoroughly hand rinse under warm water. Gently squeeze out water by hand (do not wring or twist). Place purse and handles on dry towel, roll up and press out as much water as possible. Unwrap the towel. Pull tote over form or lay out to dry, molding it with your hands until shaped to your satisfaction. Don't be afraid to pull the fabric as wet wool likes to be shaped and molded. Straighten and flatten handles. Allow purse and handles to dry completely. Sew handles securely to tote. Brush felt and remove any clumps of wool. Voila! A new Spring Adornment tote is complete.
