Friday, November 13, 2009

A major event. And, uh, HELP!!!

I have used up a ball of yarn. Oh, sure, that doesn't sound very eventful, but let me specify. It was one of THESE balls of yarn:

From Bendigo Woolen Mills. 200g, 580m per ball. (In Imperial, that's roughly 7oz and 630 yards. So a half pound plus ball of yarn from hell. Well. Australia.)

That ball and another in cream combined to produce a large gauge swatch (about 10x12in or 25x30cm) and this much of a sweater:

The sweater is 52inches/132cm around, and you can see where my fingers hook in, I'm up past the arm pits and steeking the arm holes.

That's one hell of a ball of wool.

So, anyway, the Christmas knitting is coming along. Here's the snag:

HELP HELP HELP!!!
I need some black wool felt to do the neck with. About one yard should do this sweater and the two others I hope to do the same way. See, traditionally there's embroidery done on wool felt, and then sewn into the neck placket:

Image from here. Holy cow, check out what turns up on a tag search for 'embroidery' at Ravelry. Astounding.) I intend to do more of a henley neck line, not a cardigan. But you get the idea.

I know where to get the pewter clasps. I'm 90% sure I'm up to the embroidery and have most of what I need to do that (and know where to get the rest). But the actual fabric? No idea. I need medium-weight black felted wool. If I get desperate I'll knit a big swag of stockinette and felt it, or go with some heavy black cotton twill, but I'd far rather use the traditional material.

HELP!!! (You can e-mail me at SamuraiKnitterATgmailDOTcom, or just leave a comment. Thanks.)

16 comments:

joan said...

When I used to make Irish Dance dresses, I ordered felt from here:
http://www.ericas.com/fabric/woolfeltyardage.htm

Hope this helps.

Carrie S. said...

A google for "black wool felt" turned up http://www.ericas.com/fabric/woolfeltyardage.htm

RC said...

is there a Joanne's Fabrics there? they usually have felt yardage in the quilting section

Louiz said...

I can buy you some from the department store near here with a haberdashery if you can't find any closer to you...

NeedleTart said...

The felt at JoAnne's probably won't be a nice at the e-mail stuff. Thought you can actually touch it before you decide. Good luck with the hunt.

Mandy said...

I would certainly expect that Pigsbird would have a nice fabric shop that has nice wool felt! For example, here in Metro Detroit, I would go to Haberman's in Royal Oak. There's bound to be a similar store in a large metropolitan area like Pigsbird!

The felt at JoAnn's, even the wool felt (and yes, they do sometimes have wool felt) is going to be craft felt - is that the sort of thing you want? I have to say that I've never seen or touched one of these sweaters in person, so I don't know what the felt is like on them.

Donna Lee said...

Joann's does sell wool felt and it's not all craft felt. We made a cape for one of my daughters (lined in colorful silk) and it's lovely to work with. It's also washable unlike craft felt. It's less than 10 dollars a yard. But any good fabric store should have a felted wool section with different weights.

Amy Lane said...

I'm afraid I can't help you with this... but I can sit back and watch you work magic... so much fun!

Liz said...

I know Macculloch and Wallis have some in in London - it's not far from work so if you need a shopper...

http://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/Product.aspx/Wools!4507

kate said...

If you don't want to go the online route, there's a terrific fabric store in Pittsburgh called The Fabric Place. They're all kinds of knowledgeable (and awesome people in general) and if they don't have the felt, I bet they can point you towards someone who does.

historicstitcher said...

You could also felt some nice wool suiting fabric by just tossing it in the washer. I've certainly done that enough times! But you definitely don't want knitted felt for this - It'll be too thick and bulky.

thoughtfulknitter said...

I was looking for some other fabric, but I saw this as well:
http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/store/product.php?productid=9153&cat=142&page=1
hope this helps!

Pearls Mother said...

those Bendigo balls are sensational.
I'm spoilt, I have a bendigo outlet only five minutes away so I can go and fondle the balls.
Lindy

Anonymous said...

I found this http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/store/product.php?productid=9153 while googling "wool felt by the yard"

Carrie S. said...

I would certainly expect that Pigsbird would have a nice fabric shop that has nice wool felt!

You'd think so, but you'd be wrong. :( The fabric stores around here are pretty much JoAnn's and the occasional quilting store.

That said, JoAnn's does carry wool felt, though their color selection is usually limited in the 100% stuff.

Tala said...

Oh, no. Why did you have to link to the embroidery on Ravelry? I ADORE embroidery - I think I've already favorited a dozen projects in the first 3 pages! Oh, no!!!