Sat. Oct 5th, 2024
Coaster and Place Mat Christmas Theme

I am currently working on some knitted felt coasters. As the name implies,  first they are knitted and then they are felted. I have made these many times before, so over the years I have come to favour certain yarns and particular needle sizes. I also have a favourite way to felt.

I use 8 ply,  (UK DK, US worsted weight) yarn, 100% wool, not machine washable.  I prefer to felt coarse wool which is also cheaper than fine and superfine wools that are used for garments. The needle size I to is  prefer is 6.5mm (UK 3, US 10 1/2), this is 2.5mm larger than I would use if knitting the same ply/weight wool for a garment.

Knitted Felt Coasters
Knitted felt coasters before felting.

The next step is the easiest, Felt by doing the very thing you must never do to your favourite hand-knit woollen clothes – machine wash in hot water on the normal cycle (I usually toss them in the denim load for extra agitation).

You can then either block them as you would any other item. Once the machine is finished, lay them on a blocking board (Google DIY knitting blocking board), stretch and pin into shape.  Leave for a day or two, depending on weather,  to dry.

Coasters Pinned to Blocking Board
Coasters Pinned to Blocking Board

Alternatively, (my favourite) toss them in the tumble dryer, then pull it into shape before it cools.  If the tumble dryer distorted it too much, simply spray with water and block (as above) or iron into shape. Seriously, you can be as rough as you want.

By CJ

Who am I? I am different things to different people. I am a poet, a visual artist, a sculptor of found objects, and a writer. I am a bookkeeper, an office manager, an administrator and software support consultant, even a short-order cook and barista. I am a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, a cousin and a friend. I am a traveller, a technophile, a philosopher and a student of all things.

2 thought on “Knitted Felt Coasters”
  1. […] first used the blocking board when I made the knitted felt coasters (see my previous post). I now find it invaluable for straightening out my granny squares (posts to follow). If you look […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *