How to make a Felted Kindle Bag

This was my first go at felting a knitted item and it has turned out so amazingly well that I thought I had better write down what I did or I’ll forget how I did it. I love the finished item so much that I am pretty sure I’ll be making more of them (stand by, Kindle owning friends!)

The wool is Rowan Colourscape, knitted on 7mm needles. I cast on 100 stitches and it knitted 60 rows in all. The finished piece of knitted fabric was just over 60cm long.

I’ve never felted before but it went in the wash in a pillowcase and a couple of towels at 40c. When it came out it was smaller and thicker, but not enough to be how I wanted. So I washed it again at 60c and that did the trick. I think I’ll have to experiment with washing it once at 60c and see if it goes all the way down in one go. (Feel free to enlighten me if you know!)

This left the final piece about 45cm long. I did work away at uncurling the edges but actually in the end just cut them off once friends promised it wouldn’t unravel! I had left it washing while I was out, so it was a bit crinkled and I should have rewet it and flattened it, but I was too excited!

Finished effect is great, lovely feel and weight and definitely strong enough to give some protection to a screen.

I cut it in to one long rectangle and then added a needle felted heart as an embellishment, which I blended to more or less match the wool I wanted to edge it with. (My favourite colour from Freddie’s blanket).

The edges are blanket stitched together in Rowan Wool Cotton, doubled and sewn with an ordinary wool needle (a bit rustic, I must work on that stitch!) and – ta-da! Complete!

I’ve plaited a wool strap to go with it now too, so it can be carried over the shoulder. Since I keep my Kindle in a case anyway, I won’t both for mine, but a button sewn into the inside of the front and a buttonhole cut into the back would stop a slimmer Kindle from sliding out.