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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Cosy Felting-Teatime

Hi everyone, lots to show and tell the last day of March. I can't believe this. April Fool's day tomorrow and New England is forecasted for a Northeaster snow storm....I hope this is an April Fool's joke. I will let you know!

So where do I start. I was knitting my tea cosy and thought I should experiment with felting in my front loader washing machine before I felted the cosy with my expensive Noro yarn. So I stopped the cosy and knitted up a striped bag with Lion Brand yarn from Michaels store. It turned out nicely, but I had to run it through the wash two times. I was told that felting works best with a top loading washer. I have the front because we are trying to be more energy efficient, but I honestly wonder if it really is more EF. It takes forever to wash. Oops, I'm getting off tract. So here are the pictures of the felted bag, start to finish.


The knitted bag really shrinks a lot during the felting process, almost in half! I was happy with the results, so I went back to the cosy. Boy, it was large. I was really hoping it would felt well and shrink a lot. I felted it two times and dried it too. It was still pretty large, so I thought I would have to find a top loading washer. I ended up at a laundromat in a nearby town. I still had to wash it twice and dry it, it shrunk a little more. But guess what, I decided I needed a larger tea pot so it would fit. I think all along I was trying to make it fit a too small a pot!!! Silly, right!
So here are some pictures. Now I need your opinion, should I leave it as is or should I add the buttons and bows? I would love to hear what you all think.



So if I were to put the decorations on, it would look like the book cover.


So what do you think. I'm torn because I don't want to cover up the yarn, but then again it may look really nice?!?!?

So my tea cosy was a fun learning experience and a challenge. I learned how to do short row wrapping, felting and grafting seams. I got to go to the laundromat and buy a new tea pot, that I didn't even know I needed. I'm sure my tea will really taste special now! What kind of tea do you like best? Love to know. Thanks for visiting my nest. I hope to hear all your lovely thoughts and tea favorites.

xoRobin❤
Posted by mynestofyarnandbuttons at 10:42 PM

21 comments:

  1. Teresa KasnerApril 1, 2011 at 12:05 AM

    I bet your tea will stay nice and toasty hot now! That is beautiful! Good job!

    Hugs, Teresa

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  2. Helen PhilippsApril 1, 2011 at 4:00 AM

    Beautifully knitted and felted, Robin! I would be tempted to add some buttons, just here and there, so you can still see the lovely yarn - (but you know how much I love buttons)!
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Helen x

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  3. Tickety-booApril 1, 2011 at 5:47 AM

    Fantastic tea-cozy Robin! I love the bag too.
    I saw a pattern for a bag in a magazine and it was felted not sure if it was Noro and had little,tiny in fact, button flowers on (as in the button was the flower) and the stems were sewn on I will try to find a picture and PM it to you on Rav. It showed the beauty of the yarn without covering it up, maybe just the thing for your cozy.
    Love Tickety-boo
    xxxxxxxxx

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  4. MiaApril 1, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    Hi Robin,

    I have a front-machine too, and I do all my felting with that and it works great! If you want a heavy shrinking, you can add couple of big old towels in the washer too or even better, pair of old jeans (something that doesn't mind the color runs of the felted item) and that really helps as they spin there together!

    Your cozy turned out very pretty, and I would maybe add, as Helen said, a few buttons here and there or little embroidery to make button flowers... It's lovely as it is, though!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  5. mynestofyarnandbuttonsApril 1, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    Thanks Helen, I think I will add a few buttons! xo

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  6. mynestofyarnandbuttonsApril 1, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    Hi Mia, Thanks for all the tips! I love helpful suggestions : ) I think buttons would add more details and uniqueness. I will get it ago. xo

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  7. mynestofyarnandbuttonsApril 1, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    Teresa as always I love your sweetness and kindness. And I think you are my first comment most of the time!!!!! xoRobin❤

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  8. mynestofyarnandbuttonsApril 1, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    TB, thanks for your take on my tea cosy. I appreciate you sharing this idea and I think it could be the perfect addition! xoRobin

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  9. greenrabbitdesignsApril 1, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    Your felting turned out well!! I think it would look great with some buttons and bows!!
    Vivienne x

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  10. Crochet with RaymondApril 1, 2011 at 3:25 PM

    Wow, its just gorgeous Robin! I think it is perfect just as it is, but I think I'm outvoted!!! Great work, you are so talented and make me want to bust into my Noro stash and create something gorgeous!

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  11. MeredithApril 1, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    Robin, First great job on the bag...I love the colors it is fantastic. I love the tea cozy and I think some needle felting might be fun. If it doesn't work you can pull it off. What do you think?
    Have a great weekend,
    Meredith

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  12. CATHY DANIELApril 1, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    Personally, I prefer without the buttons ... well maybe just a few, but not so many as in that picture! The bag is lovely too. Our only trip to America was to Vermont and Cape Cod - everyone else we knew went to Disneyland, but not us! We loved Vermont.

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  13. penelope10April 1, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    I like it the way it is. Soooo pretty.
    I was glad to see the washers downstairs go back to top loading because I have more control with the Felting thing that way.
    Nice purse!!

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  14. stitches from walesApril 1, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    why not go the whole hog and put all those buttons and bows on.......supose you could always take them off again if you don't lik ei

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  15. saraApril 2, 2011 at 9:02 AM

    I have a soft spot for knitted tea cosies and yours is particularly lovely.
    lily.

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  16. saraApril 2, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    Robin, thanks for your lovely comment, I'm off now to have a little skip through your archives while enjoying a nice cuppa.
    lily x

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  17. Tammy@T's Daily TreasuresApril 3, 2011 at 2:39 AM

    Felting was one of the classes in my yarn and fiber group but they were knitting the bag and I don't knit so I never followed through with anything. Love that felted birdie in your header. So cute! Have a super Sunday. Hope you didn't get as much snow as they predicted. :/ Best wishes, Tammy

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  18. ClaireApril 3, 2011 at 7:47 AM

    Hey Robin, what a fantastic tea cosy, love the colours.
    I think I would find any excuse for a cuppa if I had a cosy like that.... .....
    I wouldn't want to cover it up, but maybe a grouping of buttons around the top or the base of the cosy might give you the best of both looks.

    Hope you are enjoying some nice Spring weather.

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  19. SaraApril 3, 2011 at 11:57 PM

    So pretty! And I love your new tea pot. Orange! I Think it needs a few buttons if your still taking votes. :)

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  20. ShantiApril 4, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    They are really nice!
    You did a great job!! Thank you for your congrats for my mom!

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  21. JaneApril 5, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    Hi Robin, that is a great tea cozy. I also love the stripey bag you made. Personally I would add some knitted or crochet flowers or similar but as we know everyones taste is very individual.Did the snow storm arrive?It's been lovely here. Thanks for your birthday wishes I had such a great weekend!
    Jane x

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