felt forward

modern designs in knitted felt

maggie pace
felt forward
Introduction

section one
Innovative Techniques
String of Beads Hat
Cutaway Petals Pillow
Shibori Wreath
S Bracelet
Conjoined Ring Purse
Ring Belt
The Knit-Purl Hat
Hoop Purse

section two
Unexpected Materials
Three Sisters Scarf
Alpaca Hoodie
Angora Ballet Sweater
Striped Headband
Freida Lights
Ice-Age Boots

section two
Modern Forms
Circles Table Runner
Circles Placemat
City Duffel
The Linear Box Hat
City Duffel
Chunky Flower Ring
Bobble Baby Hat

Basic Felting Information

Abbreviations & Glossary
 Felt Forward is a collection of patterns for
felters who—like me—are smitten with
the craft and are ready to explore more
of what is possible from it. As you thumb
through these pages, you’ll notice that each
project offers an original perspective: The
design may be uniquely constructed. It
may have an unusual use. It may be made
of a yarn not generally deemed “feltable.”
The patterns aren’t more difficult or more
time-consuming than other felted knits.
They don’t require an extensive background
in felting, or even years of experience in
knitting. What they do require is a sense of
adventure, and a desire to make a handknit
that is just a bit out of the ordinary.

felt forward 
 conjoined ring purse
Shower curtain rings inspired the idea for this purse—I actually
started the first version of it with the chunky snappable plastic
rings from my shower! After felting a few, I decided they were too
fat for the design. I finally settled on slender yet sturdy 11-gauge
brass rings from an online macramé supply store. Plastic rings are
a cheaper and even more lightweight option, but they can be dif-
ficult to find in 2½".

Finished Size Yarn Notes:

9" (23 cm) wide, Worsted-weight (Medium #4) 100% wool: 250 yd
9" (23 cm) tall, with (229 m) brown, 200 yd (183 m) green, 12 yd (11 m)
a 3" (7.5 cm) gusset. orange (optional).
shown here: Pick Up Sticks Felting Yarn (100%
wool, 220 yd [201 m]/3.5 oz): chocolate, 2 balls;
celery, 1 ball; and orange, less than 1 ball.
Needles
Size 10 (6 mm): straight and 2 double-pointed (dpn).
Notions
Tapestry needle; 39 brass, wood, or plastic 2½" rings,
11-gauge.

The purse is comprised of 39 rings: 9 each
on the front and back, 3 each for the gusset
sides and bottom, and 12 for the strap.
Each ring is encased in I-cord, then felted.
When dry, the rings are joined at their cen-
ter points with doubled yarn and a secure
knot.
The lining slides into the ring structure
and is tacked into place, making it easy to
exchange. Knit a second lining in a different
color and periodically swap it to change the
look of the purse.

Gauge
16 sts and 20 rows = 4" (10 cm) before felting

felt forward 
 times. Bind off, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail. With tail
threaded on a tapestry needle, use the invisible seam
method (see Glossary, page 000) to join the cast-on
edge to the bind-off edge.
Make 38 more rings. The purse shown here features
2 “colorspot” rings worked in orange; you may opt to
work all of them in green.

Lining
Front
With brown and straight needles, CO 40 sts.
Rows 1–56: Work in stockinette stitch.

Row 57: Purl all sts tbl to create a turning ridge.

Bottom
Rows 58–72: Work in stockinette stitch.

Row 73: Purl all sts tbl to create a turning ridge.

Back
Rows 74–130: Work in stockinette stitch.

Bind off all sts. Weave in ends.

Sides
With the straight needles and brown yarn, cast on 16
stitches.
Rows 1–56: Work in stockette stitch.

Bind off all sts. Weave in ends

Repeat Rows 1–56 to make second side.

Seam
Pin the first side piece to the sides of the front/bot-
tom/back panel. With brown yarn threaded on a
tapestry needle, use the invisible seam (see Glossary,
page 000) to sew the edges. Repeat to attach the
second side.

Knit Felt
Felt lining and rings according to the directions in
Rings
the appendix (see page 000). Felt the lining until its
Begin by making a 5-yard bobbin with the green yarn. measurements are close to the finished dimensions of
With green and dpn, CO 4 sts and knit 1 row. *Slide the purse.
stitches to the opposite end of the needle as for work-
ing I-cord (see Glossary, page 000). Pass the bobbin
and working yarn through 1 ring. Pull yarn from the
Finishing
end of the row along the underside of the ring across Join the rings.
the back of the knitting. Knit 4 sts. Repeat from * 33
felt forward 
take your knitted felt
in a new direction!

Paperboard, 8 ½ x 9, 128 pages
100 Photographss; 15 Illustrations
$21.95 US/$27.95 Canada
ISBN: 978-1-59668-039-5
november 2007
Knitted felt is fun—transforming large, floppy knitted fabric into a trim, three-
dimensional piece has captured the imagination of knitters everywhere. But until
now, aspiring felters were limited to the same old totes and slippers. Well, get
ready to felt in a whole new way!
Internationally acclaimed knitted felt designer Maggie Pace brings the freshness
back to knitted felt with this collection of innovative, stylish, and simple designs.
Although the patterns are easy for an advanced beginning knitter to master, the
clever techniques in Felt Forward will have you seeing knitted fabric in a whole
new light.

• Put some zip in that felted tote by felting with plastic rings and
embroidery hoops
• Take your knitted footwear out of the house with felted boots
made for walking
• See felt in a whole new way with felted flower lights
• Explore felt’s softer side with pieces made in cuddly alpaca and
angora

With friendly, detailed directions on felting in your washing machine and a glos-
sary to brush up on those knitting moves, Felt Forward shows you how to make
felted pieces with pizzazz—from the sweater you won’t want to take off to elegant
accessories perfect for the most modish knitter.

Knitters love Maggie Pace’s innovative knitted felt designs for their
techniques and fresh look. Since founding her company, Pick Up
Sticks! In 2003, Maggie has sold her kits and patterns throughout
the world. She lives in Oakland, California with her family. This is
her second book.

Interweave Press LLC is distributed to the book trade in the U.S. and Canada by
Independent Publishers Group, in the UK and Europe by Search Press, in New Zealand
by David Batemman, Ltd, and in Austrailia by Keith Aninsworth Pty Ltd. Interweave
Press LLC is also the publisher of 13 craft magazines including Interweave Knits,
interweave.com Spin-Off, PieceWork and Fiber Arts.