The Answer Lady
Innovative Ideas for Machine Knitters

To contact the answer lady, use this new anti-spam e-mail address. Rewrite this address in the standard e-mail format with no spaces anywhere and the usual symbols for and and dot:
kathryn d answerlady at hotmail dot com

return to Home Page

FIVE FAST FELT PROJECTS using cut and sew methods. Each of these projects takes only a few minutes. They make wonderful gifts and are also good practice pieces for learning to cut and sew felt. Pattern includes: 1)pincushion or sachet 2) coin purse or jewelry pouch 3) oven mitt 4)purse with flap in any size 5)purse with zipper closure in any size. The zippered purse includes instructions for Super-Easy zipper insertion. Anyone can do it. The sewing skills required are very basic and can be accomplished on any sewing machine. Includes paper patterns that will print out on your printer. plus full instructions in easy-to-follow language and directions for producing the felt you'll need on any gauge or brand of knitting machine. Pattern is $6 Farther down on this web page, find a free pattern for a felted potholder so you can try out the technique and see how simple it is.

ALL NEW! NOW FOR ALL GAUGES OF MACHINE IN SIZES 20-60 FINISHED CHESTS FABULOUS FELTED VEST AND JACKET
All machines can use this pattern. Bulkies Use 100% wool worsted weight yarn such as Ashford Tekapo. Standard, Passap and mid-gauge use sport weight. Standard and Passap knit on every other needle. Garment is knitted, big, loose and sideways, then felted to perfection. Full felting instructions are included. Style options include basic vest & jacket, button bands, collars, hoods, double breasted, pockets, appliques and even lapels. Clear charts, lots of illustrations and simple instructions make vests and jackets lots of fun. Even new knitters can handle the project. This will be sent as a pdf file by instant download for $20 (24 pages.)

FABULOUS FELTED TOYS FOR BULKIES More fun with felting! Now bulky machine knitters (including Bond knitters) can make these great baby-safe toys: 2 sizes of ball, doll, assorted whimsical fish, and a rattle. The rattle has craft bells safely enclosed in the felt to make the noise. 8 pages with color photos throughout and complete felting instructions. It only takes a couple of ounces of yarn and a few minutes to make a toy! Use up your scraps and make a child smile. These would be great bazaar projects and fund raisers. It's perfectly OK with me if you produce them to sell. This is an E-pattern which will be sent as an instant download

FAST FELTED POTHOLDER (C) 2007 Kathryn Doubrley http://www.theanswerlady.com
You may copy and share this pattern as long as the copyright and website info remains attached.

This quick and easy potholder is made using simple cut and sew methods. It will introduce you to the ease of sewing felt. Best of all, it's a really great potholder! The little ridge makes a great difference in ease of handling.

Cutting and sewing felted fabric is more like traditional sewing than it is sewing on other knits. Use a long stitch on the machine to accommodate the thick fabric. Sometimes the seams and stitching lines where felt is sewn will look bumpy or rippled even though the stitching lines are straight. This is due to the stretching of the fabric while it is being sewn. Minimize it by using a long stitch on the machine and reducing the foot pressure. The adjustment that controls the presser foot is usually a knob on the top left area of the sewing machine. Some machines have adjustable feed dogs. Feed dogs are the toothed areas that the fabric passes over while being sewn. Adjusting these may help as well. Usually, though not always, the feed dogs should be raised to their highest point and the foot pressure lessened. Experiment with swatches until you get the smoothest seam possible. Any remaining ripples will steam out very easily.

Instructions:
1.cut 2 pieces of felt 6” X 8”.
2.Sew the 2 pieces together 1/4” from the edge. If the felt you are using is very thick, you may use a single thicness and skip this step.
3.Sew trim along each 6” edge if desired. Use your good sense here! Since potholders are to be used around heat, use trims that don't dangle and won't melt or flame. Or use no trim at all.
4.Fold the felted rectangle so that the 6” ends are touching.
5.Stitch along the folded edge 1/2” from the fold.

That's it! You are done. Now you can cook in style. A couple of these wrapped around some wooden spoons and tied with a piece of super-bulky yarn makes a great shower gift