Felted Mobius Swirl Bag
Materials: Fleece Artist Kid Aran (100% kid, 50% wool, 250 g/ 400 m), 1 skein
1 braid Fleece Artist multicolor sliver
1 yd. smooth contrast-color waste yarn (there will be enough yarn to make 3 bags)
47" circular needles, U.S. size 11 (8 mm) (or size needed to obtain gauge)
felting needle and piece of foam
tapestry needle
stitch marker
round balloon
Gauge: 12 sts = 4" (10 cm) (before felting)
Abbreviations:
k knit
k1f&b knit once into the front and once into the back of the same stitch (an increase)
k2tog knit 2 stitches together
MCO Mobius cast-on
p purl
Begin handle and rim:
MCO 56. Before continuing, check to be certain there is only one crossing of needle and cable. Place a marker on right needle. Knit the first stitch, which is the slipknot. The first 55 stitches will alternate between being mounted with the front leg first (as you are probably used to) and the back leg first. Knit into the leg that comes first. When the marker appears beneath your needles on the cable below, you have completed the 55 stitches and from now on all stitches will appear mounted "normally" with the front leg first. The next stitch is formed by the double sides of the slipknot as it loops down around the cable below. Knit this stitch as if the double sides are one strand. Knit the next 27 stitches. Let regular yarn dangle while you use waste yarn to knit next 28 sts. Slide the 28 waste yarn sts back onto left needle. Now knit back across the 28 waste yarn sts on left needle, using regular yarn. (A line of waste yarn is now sandwiched in between rows of regular yarn. Later you will remove the waste yarn and knit the bag with the stitches left behind.) The marker now reappears in between your needles, announcing you have completed the first round.
Be clear about this before going on:
Each time the marker appears in between your needles (not on the cable below) you are at the end of a round.
Continue handle and rim:
Knit 5 rounds. Bind off. You have now completed the handle as well as the rim of the bag.
Bowl of bag:
Pick up (but do not knit) the 56 stitches held by waste yarn, working on the side with purl bumps, picking up first one column and then the second. Pull out a length of cable before picking up the second column, so you can make a U-turn with the needle. Remove waste yarn. You will knit with regular yarn from here on. To continue, keep a loop of cable pulled out like a single Mickey Mouse ear at the beginning of each round, so that the remaining cable creates a short circular needle that suits your circle of knitting. Beginning at one corner, place marker, *k 28, pick up and k 2 extra stitches in next corner, repeat from * once (60 sts). *Knit 2, k 1 f&b, repeat from * to marker. (80 sts) Knit 12 rounds. *Knit 6, k 2 tog, repeat from * to marker (70 sts). Knit 4 rounds. *Knit 5, k 2 tog, repeat from * to marker. (60 sts) Knit 4 rounds. *Knit 4, k 2 tog, repeat from * to marker (50 sts). Knit 4 rounds. *Knit 3, k 2 tog, repeat from * to marker (40 sts). Knit 1 round. *Knit 3, k 2 tog, repeat from * to marker (32 sts). Knit 1 round. *Knit 2, k 2 tog, repeat from * to marker (24 sts). Knit 1 round. *Knit 1, k 2 tog, repeat from * to marker (16 sts).
Finishing:
Cut tail of yarn. Use tapestry needle to thread tail through all 16 sts and pull tightly closed, sewing end securely. Weave in all ends and if there are any weak spots, especially near the handles, weave extra yarn through these areas to strengthen them before felting.
Felting:
Place bag in washing machine with a pair of jeans or tennis shoes or a half-dozen tennis balls. Set machine for low, hot water, on a regular (not gentle) cycle, and add two teaspoons of detergent. Set a timer and check on the progress every few minutes. Reset the machine to continue agitating (don't let it rinse) until the bag is the size you like. Pull it out and rinse by hand, then press between towels to remove excess water. Now pull, push and pat the bag into desired shape, giving the handle a good stretch and finger-pressing it smooth. Blow up a balloon inside the bag (this makes it nice and round) and let dry.
Needle-felting the swirl:
Use a felting needle to attach a swirling path of multicolored sliver to the dry bag, placing the piece of foam beneath the surface where you are needle-felting. Let the swirl travel from one side up the handle and down into the bag. Remember, this bag has only one surface, and the swirl demonstrates this!
Next: Getting Started
