When you feel like felting

Once you've knit and sewn it all together, it's almost the size of a lap blanket. (Where's a quarter for size comparison when you need one?)

Then, you take a trip to the washing machine. When it comes to washing machines, I am 28 years old and still in the dark as to how these things work. I was extra nervous about this particular machine because I'd never felted with a front load washer before. People talk about "spin cycles," but there is nothing on my machine that says it in those terms. It also was not clear how to stop the cycle and open the door at any point. It is crucial that you are fully aware of both of these things before you start, because if you get to the spin cycle and you don't stop it, you will ruin your work. Ugly creases become permanent, totally screwing up your shaping. I studied the front of the machine for about 15 minutes, trying to understand its mysterious system of dials and knobs. After I figured out enough of what I needed to know, I went for it, turning the dial to "hot wash" for the first time in my life.

It seems fitting to mention here that this was a gift to my mom for Mother's Day, because the whole time I watched this thing flop around inside the machine, I think I might have felt the way a mother feels when she lets her child walk to the bus stop alone for the first time. There was comfort in knowing that I could monitor it from a safe distance through the machine door window, but I knew that I just needed to let it do its thing, and it would all be okay.

Here is the slightly shrunken version - no wrinkles, no color bleeds, no weird spots that didn't felt properly. Felting felt like magic. The only thing I don't like about felting is the constant whiffs of wet dog smell that sticks around for the first few days, due to the soggy wool.

Once it dried, I added on these happy circular bamboo handles, kept in place with thicker embroidery thread. It's called an "overnighter" because you probably shouldn't put anything heavier than pyjamas, a toothbrush and a paperback in it. You could also safely and easily fit a towel, sunscreen and a beach read. Whatever suits my mom's fancy.