Azteca N W Farm

Felted Project Carry Bags

One of a Kind

Hand died Wool, Hand spun Yarn, Hand knitted and Felted

The Hand died wool or mohair, creates a color variation  in the spun Yarn

18 inches across ~ By 17 inches deep or tall, 18 to 24 inch, soft, thick "I" Cord carry handle

Will hold 2 pounds of raw wool to spin, or large knitting project,

probably even small quilting projects, like Lap quilting

Free Pattern below

Curly Top Bag Pattern

Very thick Yarn, thicker than Sport Weight

How Many Yards - big question.

  I spin my own thick yarn. Not Bulky yarn, but thicker than Sport Weight.  I get about 300 yards to 1 Pound of hand dyed wool.  A lot depends on what you are going to do.  Contrast yarn, only top edge and 5 or 6 inch wide band in the middle - probably 75 yards.  I carry along a strand of matching Mohair yarn. I use up about 3 skeins of Mohair yarn.  It makes the bag very soft and fuzzy.  Pushes the cost way up as I don't spin that.  Cost of that stuff is 9.00 to 11.00 a skein.  The hand spun raw dyed wool, costs about 25.00 a pound.  Raw white wool is 20.00 a pound.  When I alternate the colors the bands are about 6 inches tall.  

So this is not an inexpensive project.  I usually have about 55.00 in cost, before I spin, knit, & felt it.  

Size 10 or 11 needle, 29 inches long, knitted in the round

Cast on 300 or 350 Stitches, as many as you can squeeze onto your long needle.

Contrast color, K 2 rows after cast on.  Start Main Color yarn of Body. Then K3, K2 TOG, all the way around.  Continue this decrease until you are down to around 100 total stitches.  Adjust and do more decreases to get to the Bag body total of 100.

Body color can be all one with a large 6 Inch band of Contrasting yarn that was your first 2 rows.

My goal is total of 21 inches before I start the bottom of the bag decreases.  That should shrink to about a 17 inch tall bag.

The bottom of the bag is a hat type of decrease.  K8, K2 TOG, all the way around, then a plain row, K7, K2 TOG, then plain row - alternating  plain rows in between each decrease rows.  Do some extra plain rows to make the bottom of the bag larger as you choose.  I do my extra plain rows around decrease rows 5, 6, &7.  A hat type of decrease continues down K6, K2TOG,  then K5, then K4, then K3, then K2.  At this point you will continue the K2, K2TOG, until you are down to 10 stitches left, cut the yarn and weave the end around in a circle on the inner side.  Weave in any tails of contrasting colors around in the circle on the inside of the bag as well.

I like "I" Cord as my handle.  I start out with a cast on of 10 stitches, decrease K2 TOG at the beginning of each row.  When I am down to 4 stitches, that then is my I cord base.  I like to use two strands of contrasting yarn, carrying them together in the I cord.  Knit at least 20 inches, then start doing an increase each row.  I do my increase stitch in the middle of each row.  When I am back up to 10 stitches, cast off then cut the yarn and weave it into your top line.  I use one strand of yarn to sew these ends to the body on the inside of the bag.   This makes a very sturdy handle.  You can choose to do any type of other handle you wish.

The bag is then felted in a top load washing machine.  50/50 pure soap and detergent, same amount  that you would put each in for a regular load of clothes. .  Half load of  hot water, what ever your water heater allows.  DO NOT allow cold water rinse to hit this, not ever.  Stop the washer and start using the same hot water bath all over again, each time through.  This bag is large and takes at least 3 or 4 times through.  After 3 baths through, wring it out by hand and see if it seems to become firm.  It does not need to stand alone, like a bowl would.  When you are satisfied that it is firm as you want it.  I do not spin the soapy water out of it, I only hand wring it.  The spin cycle leaves creases that do not come out.  Then I stuff mine with about 50 or more of the Plastic grocery bags we all hate.  Stuff as many as you can force into it.  I do mean force them into it.  Work out the bulges for a smooth side.  Takes at least a week to air dry.  I do not rinse the soap; out of mine.  You can rinse yours, just be careful that you do not change the water temp from hot to cold.  That is way too much shock  If you ever get stuck call me  360-887-2506.     

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