Felting pure wool is oh-so-easy to do, and so wonderful, if you plan for it to happen! This project plans for the irregular amounts of shrinkage that happen with blocks of knitting going different directions.

The Skill

Once the piece is completed, wash it with a little detergent in a hot wash and a cold rinse. The extreme temperatures and agitation cause the fibers to bind up until the knit stitches are no longer recognizable.

You will need:

• 100% wool yarn
  (cotton and man-made fibers do not felt.
• Size 10 needles

Color 1

Cast on 14 stitches.

Knit and Purl 20 rows (knit one row, purl one row. . . ). End with a purl row. Bind off.

Change color.

Color 2

Pick up and knit 14 stitches along the left side of knit stitches. (Pick up and knit through a stitch in the first row, pick up and knit through a stitch in the second row, skip the third row. Continue picking up and knitting with this pattern until you have 14 stitches.)

Knit and Purl 20 rows. End with a purl row. Bind off.

Change color.

Color 3

Pick up and knit 14 stitches along the left side of knit stitches.

Knit and Purl 20 rows. End with a purl row. Bind off.

Color 4

Pick up and knit 14 stitches along the left side of knit stitches.

Knit one stich from the original cast-on together with the last stitch of each knit row while you Knit and Purl 20 rows. End with a purl row. Bind off. Felt as described above.

Follow the diagram to stitch the felted phone caddy together with lacing, or ribbon. Sew on a button, and a short piece of lace to lash the flap closed.