Felting, We Have

You can't tell really on this picture, but the hand felting actually pretty much worked. Plonked the mitts into a pan full of hot water, and started lightly scrubbing with a bamboo soap holder I had found. It was the perfect size and abrasive quality for this activity, so I'm glad I'm a packrat. Probably took a good 15 minutes per mitt, but they did indeed shrink about an inch when all was said and done, and they definitely feel denser and softer. Of course, this means that they are *still* drying...but here's to hoping they will be ready to ship to Toronto shortly. This whole hand felting process was oddly gratifying, in a way I think the machine would not have been. I could actually see and feel the wool fibers shifting shape under my fingers, and it felt, well, productive. Is it something I want to do all the time, to every knitting project?
Hell no. But for things like Canuckistan-bound mittens, it works a treat.

They look great! Hand felting is lots of fun -- but only for smaller items! If you're doing a big project like a bag, it would take far too long.

hmmmm.... Aven... is that you ?? (meaning the Aven I know and love) how strange to find you here on my dearest Heather's page?! I didn't know you guys knew each other!!!!!!!!!!