From crochet stitches to soft felted fabric
There’s something lovely about discovering different ways a familiar material can become something different. The Icelandic wool was wonderfully suited to this kind of experimenting.
I was gifted a cake of Plötulopi unspun wool by Istex from a friend. I met Sasha earlier this year, she owns Finzah, a boutique yarn store located in Wollongong NSW (about 1.5hr south of Sydney). In Australia, the community of yarn stores, dyers and designers continues to grow. Having friends within the industry to collaborate on projects or share materials and patterns to boost another is so fulfilling and incredibly rewarding. I was cuffed when she gifted me this, it's been a real pleasure to experience a different fibre and experiment with my crochet in a different way.
While playing, I learnt a few things about the different characteristics of Icelandic wool. The main point I want to note is the long hair like fibres that are amongst the fine, soft woolly fibres. On the sheep these outer fibres are long, courser and act as a water repellent, protecting the softer, insulating layer.
While crocheting these fibres aren't obvious, it's not until felting the two fibre types begin to separate.
This wool is commonly used for knitting patterns. With 2 or more strands held together is makes a stronger Aran weight yarn, breathable and soft to wear.
While knitting is lovely, let's crochet.
For this project, we’ll start with a simple crochet pouch with a flap, worked all in a single piece. It’s a project suitable for beginner crocheters, as well as a great introduction to wet felting.
Through wet felting, the fibres soft fibres will gently tangle and draw together, softening the stitches to creating a dense, cosy fabric. The longer fibres won't felt, leaving the fabric with a soft hazy plume.
I am a complete novice with wet felting. So if I can do it, you certainly can!
Whether you like to natural texture or a cleaner finish, the finished pouch has a lovely tactile quality that sits somewhere between textured crochet and soft felt.
Watch the process on YouTube through the link below or follow the written instructions further down.
Thank you for following along.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR START:
Plötulopi is unspun wool (pencil roving) and is traditionally used to make authentic Icelandic Lopi sweaters. It is fragile and needs to be handled delicately.
Pouch is worked from a chain base. The body is worked in continuous rounds on the right side only. Use a stitch marker or a thread to mark the beginning of the round as you work the pouch.
The flap is then worked in rows, with an option of creating a buttonhole or loop.
Wet felting can be done simply by using warm water and soap.
MATERIALS & TOOLS
Hook: 5.0 mm Crochet hook
Yarn: Plötulopi by Istex, 100% Wool Icelandic. 100g, 328 yd/ 300 m cake. Worsted, unspun pencil roving.
Button or Toggle. 3cm x 3xm button was used and 4cm toggle
1 x Darning needle
1 x Stitch Marker
Scissors
MEASUREMENTS
Finished pouch size:
SMALL – 11.5 cm x 8 cm
LARGE – 13.5 cm x 8 cm
ABBREVIATIONS
Pattern is written using UK terminology, with US conversion noted below.
( ) Group of stitches inside parentheses. Stitches may be skipped or all worked into the same stitch.
* * Repeat instructions inside asterisks as indicated.
Bog: beginning of round
ch/s: chain/s
htr: half treble crochet (hdc: half double treble - US terms)
htr2tog: half treble crochet 2 sts together (hdc2tog: half double treble 2 sts together - US terms)
pm: place marker
st/s: stitch/es
PATTERN – small pouch no button hole
BODY
Work 14 chs.
Round 1: (2 ch, 2 htr) in third ch from hook, htr till last ch, (5 htr) in last ch, while rotating work, htr in ch sts just worked, till first ch, (3 htr) in first ch. - 34 sts
Round 2: Pm for bog, (2 htr) in second starting ch, 15 htr, (2 htr) 2 times, 15 htr, (2 htr) in last st. - 38 sts
Round 3 - 11: htr till end. Move BOR marker with each round complete.
FLAP
Row 1 - 3: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, 18 htr, turn work. - 19 sts
Row 4: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, htr2tog, htr to third last st, htr2tog, htr, turn work. - 17 sts
Row 5: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, htr2tog, htr to third last st, htr2tog, htr, turn work. - 15 sts
Row 6: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, htr2tog, htr to third last st, htr2tog, htr, turn work. - 13 sts
Row 7: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, htr2tog, htr to third last st, htr2tog, htr, turn work - 11 sts
CHAIN LOOP
Double a length of unspun wool. Chain 10 sts, more or less depending on the toggle you're using.
Once the pouch is fully dry, sew both ends of the chain length onto the centre edge of the flap.
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PATTERN – large pouch with button hole
BODY
Work 18 chs
Round 1: (2 ch, 2 htr) in third ch from hook, htr till last ch, (5 htr) in last ch, while rotating work, htr in ch sts just worked, till first ch, (3 htr) in first ch. - 42 sts
Round 2: pm for bog, (2 htr) in second starting ch, 19 htr, (2 htr) 2 times, 19 htr, (2 htr) in last st - 46 sts
Round 3 - 11: htr till end. Move BOR marker with each round complete.
FLAP
Row 1 - 5: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, 22 htr - 23 sts
Row 6: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, 8 htr, 5 ch, sk 5 sts, 9 htr, turn work - 18 sts
Row 7: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, 8 htr, htr in each chs, 9 htr, turn work - 18 sts
Row 8: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, htr2tog, htr to third last st, htr2tog, htr, turn work - 21 sts
Row 9: (2 ch, 1 htr) in same st, htr2tog, htr to third last st, htr2tog, htr, turn work - 19 sts
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FELTING
Use a large bowl or bucket, large enough for your hands and project to move around in.
Fill with enough warm to submerge the pouch in. Once soaked, rub your soap bar into the pouch to create a soapy lather. Start rubbing the piece with your fingers, taking care not to be too rough or stretch any parts out of shape.
It takes time and a little patience. Check your piece regularly, at the progress of felting. You'll know when it's time to stop. You'll loose the stitch definition and little light can be seen through the fabric. The stitch definition isn't lost completely but you feel and see it transform during the process.
Leave project to dry.
FINISHING
Once dry, trim long fibres and sew button in place.
If creating the loop, work the chain loop and sew in place.
