Ruffled Felted Bowl Pattern

Actually, I’m not sure I’d call this a bowl if I’m being technical, as it looks a bit more like a vase, but it’s probably closer to a bowl than a vase. I’m using it to hold my reading glasses, so maybe it’s a holder. Anyway…

Materials

Size 11 circular or double-pointed needles for the beginning, double-pointed needles for the end, when the decreases begin.

Two skeins of a worsted-weight yarn approx. 50 yds per skein – or one skein of a bulky weight yarn.

Instructions

Cast on 128 stitches. Place marker. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Please note that the number of stitches left at the end of the row may not be perfect – I will redo it at some point soon. Just don’t sweat it if you don’t have the exact number of stitches.

Round 1 and 2 – Knit
Round 3 – *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 84 sts
Round 4 – Knit
Round 5 – *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 56 sts
Round 6 – Knit
Round 7 – *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 42 sts

Knit in st st until the entire piece from the beginning is about 8″ long. Then decrease:

Round 1 – *K4, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 37 sts
Round 2 – Knit
Round 3 – *K3, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 30 sts
Round 4 – Knit
Round 5 – *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 23 sts
Round 6 – Knit
Round 7 – *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end – 16 sts
Round 8 – Knit
Round 9 – K2tog until end of round – 8 sts

Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving about an 8″ tail. Using a tapestry needle, pull the tail through the remaining stitches on the needle. Weave in all loose ends. Remember that felting will make the ends virtually disappear – however, you must eliminate any largish holes or gaps by darning them before felting. Felting will not close them up completely.

Felting

Before you felt, make absolutely sure that there’s nothing in the knitting that you don’t want there permanently. In other words, stray threads or lint, etc. It will get felted into the fabric permanently and be virtually impossible to remove.

Put the bowl in a lingerie bag or pillowcase tied at the top. This is important because otherwise you could end up with all sorts of fuzz in your washing machine that takes a few loads to get rid of. Put in the washing machine with a small amount of soap, at the hottest temperature possible. Use a fairly low water setting, either small or medium. Also add a pair of jeans that you don’t mind shrinking. Agitation is as important as hot water for felting, and if the bowl is in there by itself, there won’t be enough agitation.

Start the washer. Check the bowl every few minutes to see how it’s doing. There should be virtually no stitch definition left when it’s done. Keep resetting the washer if necessary. Don’t let it go into spin cycle. The spinning can stretch the bowl out. When it’s finished to your satisfaction, rinse in tepid water, squeeze out the water and roll the bowl up in a towel. Press out as much of the water as possible. Dry the bowl over the next couple of days. It’s good to put something in it to weigh it down and flatten the bottom. I use a full coffee can.

What Kind of Yarn?

Believe it or not, you do not need to use 100% wool (or other animal fibers) in felted items. I have used Lion Brand Landscapes yarn in one of my felted bowls, which is 50% wool and 50% polyester, I believe.

You can also use a 100% man-made fiber as a carry-along with the natural fiber, as I did in this bowl:

I would definitely not use any yarn with less than 50% animal fiber, though, and I would definitely do a swatch with any mixed fiber yarn. Also, do not use superwash wool. It’s been specially treated to NOT felt in the washing machine. In addition, white or off-white yarns do not felt well, as the bleach has usually destroyed the fibers to some extent.

Knitting Terms and Abbreviations

beg – beginning
dec – decrease
dpn – double pointed needles
K1 – Knit one stitch
k2tog – Knit two stitches together
M1 – Make one stitch
ssk – slip, slip, knit
st(s) – stitches
st st – stockinette stitch (knit right side and purl wrong side)