APRIL FELTED WAVY BAG (C)

FELTED WAVY BAG


MATERIALS:
100% Feltable Wool 8.25 ounces (I used 6.5 main color and 1.75 contrast)
Size K (6.5 mm) and I (5.5 mm) crochet hooks
Zippered pillow case
Plastic bags (like Wal-Mart uses)
Towels

APPROXIMATE MEASUREMENTS:
Before felting: Height 20 inches, Circumference at upper edge 36 inches, Cord 84 inches

After felting: Height 10 inches, Circumference at upper edge 24 inches, Cord 64 inches

NOTES:
1. Read all the instructions before beginning.
2. When joining a new color, complete the joining slip stitch with the new color
3. The bag in photo was made using Patons Classic Wool and some hand dyed Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool.
4. When I used Patons Classic Wool and Patons SWS, the SWS ran out a few stitches before I completed the 6th section of contrasting yarn. I just changed over to the main color and continued with the pattern. After felting it wasn’t really noticeable.


INSTRUCTIONS:
Round 1: With K hook and main color, ch 2, 12 hdc into second stitch from hook. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (12 sts)

Round 2: Ch 1, *2 hdc in next st. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (24 sts)

Round 3: Ch 1, *1 hdc in next 2 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (32 sts)

Round 4: Ch 1, *1 hdc in next 3 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (40 sts)

Round 5: Ch 1, *1 hdc in next 4 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (48 sts)

Round 6: Ch 1, *1 hdc in next 5 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (56 sts)

Round 7: Ch 1, *1 hdc in next 6 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (64 sts)

Round 8: Ch 1, *1 hdc in next 7 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (72 sts)

Round 9: Ch 1, *1 hdc in next 8 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (80 sts)

Round 10: Ch 1, *1 hdc in next 9 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (88 sts)

Round 11: Ch 1, *1 hdc in next 10 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around. Join with slipstitch in first hdc. (96 sts)

Rounds 12 to 15: Ch 1, 1 hdc in each stitch around. Join with a slipstitch in first hdc. (96 sts)

Round 16-17: Still working with main color, ch 1, sc in 3 sts, *hdc in 6 sts, sc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with hdc in 6 sts, sc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 18-19: Change to contrasting color, ch 1, hdc in 3 sts, *sc in 6 sts, hdc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with sc in 6 sts, hdc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 20-21: Change to main color, ch 1, sc in 3 sts, *hdc in 6 sts, sc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with hdc in 6 sts, sc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 22-23: Change to contrasting color, ch 1, hdc in 3 sts, *sc in 6 sts, hdc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with sc in 6 sts, hdc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 24-25: Change to main color, ch 1, sc in 3 sts, *hdc in 6 sts, sc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with hdc in 6 sts, sc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 26-27: Change to contrasting color, ch 1, hdc in 3 sts, *sc in 6 sts, hdc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with sc in 6 sts, hdc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 28-29: Change to main color, ch 1, sc in 3 sts, *hdc in 6 sts, sc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with hdc in 6 sts, sc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 30-31: Change to contrasting color, ch 1, hdc in 3 sts, *sc in 6 sts, hdc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with sc in 6 sts, hdc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 32-33: Change to main color, ch 1, sc in 3 sts, *hdc in 6 sts, sc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with hdc in 6 sts, sc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 34-35: Change to contrasting color, ch 1, hdc in 3 sts, *sc in 6 sts, hdc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with sc in 6 sts, hdc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 36-37: Change to main color, ch 1, sc in 3 sts, *hdc in 6 sts, sc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with hdc in 6 sts, sc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 38-39: Change to contrasting color, ch 1, hdc in 3 sts, *sc in 6 sts, hdc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with sc in 6 sts, hdc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Change to main color and work remainder of bag.

Round 40: Ch 1, sc in 3 sts, *hdc in 6 sts, sc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with hdc in 6 sts, sc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 41: Ch 1, hdc in 3 sts, *sc in 6 sts, hdc in 6 sts, repeat from * around, ending with sc in 6 sts, hdc in 3 sts. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 42: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 43: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a slipstitch in first st. (96 sts)

Round 44: Ch 1, sc in same st as join. *Ch 4, skip 4 sts, sc in next 4 sts. Repeat from * around ending with ch 4, skip 4 sts, sc in 3 sts. Join with slipstitch in top of first st. [48 sc, 12 ch 4 loops]

Round 45: Ch 1, sc in same st as join. *4 sc in loop, sc in next 4 sts. Repeat from * around ending with 4 sc in loop, sc in 3 sts. Join with slipstitch in first st. [96 sts]

Round 46: Ch 1, sc in same st as join and next st. *2 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 6 sts. Repeat from * around, ending with 2 sc in next 2 sts, sc in 4 sts. Join with slipstitch in first st. [120 sts]

Weave in ends. When felting it isn’t necessary to be neat when weaving in ends. After felting you can trip off any nubs.

CORD FOR STRAP: Make 1 with main color

Round 1: With I hook ch 2, 4 sc in second chain from hook. Do not join.

Round 2-until 84 inches long: Sc in back loop of next sc. Continue working sc in back loop until cord is 84 inches long. You will be working from the inside of a tube.

Fasten off leaving a 4 inch tail. Weave tail through the 4 sc and pull snug. Tuck tails inside cord.
You can now felt the bag and cord.


FELTING/FULLING THE BAG:
Put the crocheted bag into a zippered pillow case. This is necessary to protect the pump in your washing machine.

Put the pillow case and a couple pair of old jeans into the washing machine on “hot” cycle, small load, fastest agitation. Add a very small amount of liquid dish washing soap (not dishwasher soap).

Let the machine agitate for 10 minutes. Stop the machine and check the progress of the bag. If it’s still too big, reset to the beginning of the wash cycle. Recheck it every 5 minutes, as it can felt in a hurry at this stage. Don’t let the washer spin. It takes 16 minutes in my washer. But times vary by machine and water temperature.

Remove the bag from the machine and rinse in a sink with cold water. Squeeze as much water out as possible without wringing. Wrap in a towel to absorb excess water.

Then shape it as you desire. I block mine by lining the bag with plastic bags and filling with raw beans. Here’s what I do; place the bag on a dry towel, and put three bags inside each other and inside the bag. I use three because sometimes those Wal-Mart bags have holes in the bottom. I figure three of them will keep the beans inside the plastic bags not against the wool. Fill the bags, inside your bag, about half full of raw beans. Putting your fingers through opposite loops, bounce the bag up and down a few times to compact the beans. Go all the way around bouncing with your fingers in all the loops. Keep adding beans and bouncing until it is full all the way to the upper edge. Change the towel to a dry one. Now wait for the bag to dry.

When dry, trim any loose ends. Weave the cord in and out of the loops and tie ends in an overhand knot.