Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Knitting Never Felt Better

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knitting never felt better giveaway

This one goes to Chrystie!

In more cleaning out my office giveaways, I present this classic from Nicky Epstein: Knitting Never Felt Better.

This book from 2007 is a lot of fun and covers a lot of knit and felt projects, including shibori (using objects to keep parts of the knit article from felting), felting flowers, making slippers, bags, home decor items and more (you can see some of the projects on Ravelry at the link above, or check out a preview at the publisher’s website).

And like many of Nicky’s books, it includes many example swatches showing how different patterns and techniques look before and after swatching, which is invaluable if you want to design your own felted knitting projects.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Jan. 15.

I’d love to know what experience you have with felting your knitting and what sorts of projects you have made. I love making felted bags, and I have a giant felted blanket from my felting book that is one of my favorite felted projects, too.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  2. It has been some time since I felted a project. I have made two or three bags one of them was a back pack.

  4. Honestly I have never felted anything from my knitting yet. I would love to learn how to do it though.

  5. Nicky Epstein is a great designer. Love her original and creative projects. Have her book on scarf and would like to add this
    to my collection. Always looking for unique pieces to try.

  7. I’ve never felted anything on purpose.
    I have, however, felted a sweater by mistake, before becoming fiber smart..lol
    Love Nicky Epstein…great designer!

  12. I’ve felted two purses- one a darling red, but the other I overfelted. I’m still trying to figure out what to do to amend it. But it was fun!

  14. I have save several patterns for felted bags, but have yet to jump in and try the felting technique.

  17. I’ve felted 2 bags. One adorable little purple bag made from Lopi wool and a big messenger bag with Brown Sheep wool. You mentioned a blanket. Felting one has been on my list of projects for years

  19. I make a lot of felted slippers. I’ve also made several bags and hats. I love to see that end result when I pull items out of my washer. Pretty neat.

  20. I have done needle felting with wool fibers before but have never tried felting with a knitted project. I have seen many beautiful designs so it is something I have wanted to try

  22. I haven’t felted anything yet, but have a cute purse to try. Looks like some great projects

  23. The only felting I have experienced was done accidentally by my son-in-law. He washed socks I knitted for my daughter in hot water and dried them. However, I am interested to try felting on purpose.

  26. I have felted sweaters before for projects but never knitted my own felting project. I’m ready for the challenge!

Have you read?

Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles. 

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram. 

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm. 

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world). 

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry. 

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites.