HelenSewstylish

If you click through to the pattern, it gives brief instructions on how to felt in a washing machine. You really need a top-loading machine so you can open the lid and check on the progress. I don't have a top-loader.... but I did find an article online (www.knitty.com, Fall 2007 by Christine Olea. Article can be found here: http://www.knitty.com/issuefall07/FEATfeltingoldway.html) which describes how to felt by hand. All you really need is a bucket, a strainer, and a plunger. Basically, you fill the bucket with hot water, put your knitting/crochet in there too, and then use the plunger to agitate the fabric. Place the strainer over your plughole so that when you change the water the fibres don't clog your drains. It takes longer and is hard on the arm muscles but I found it to be a great stress reliever!! Just keep going until your fabric has shrunk to the desired size, then pin it out to dry.

The finished bag before felting is approx 14 inches, and shrinks to approx 12 inches square after felting. It would be easy to keep adding to the granny sqaure until it is the size you want. I used Patons Classic Merino Wool and had tons of yarn left over (almost half a ball in each colour).