Pieces knitted in stockinette stitch will shrink more in length than in width during felting. To calculate how much your piece will shrink, knit a good-sized swatch and use this table to “do the math.”
| 1. Measure the stitch gauge, length and width of the swatch, then felt it. | Width (example) 8 in. (20 cm) 2.5 st = 1 in. (2.5 cm)
| Length (example) 8 in. (20 cm) |
| 2. Measure the swatch after felting.Divide the measurement after felting by the measurement before felting. | 7 in. (17.5 cm)7 / 8 = .875 (17.5/20 = .875) | 6 in. (15 cm)6 / 8 = .75 (15/20 = .75) |
| 3. Divide the finished size by the result. This is the length and width your piece should bebefore felting. | 24 / .875 = 27.5 in. (61 / .875 = 70 cm) | 36 / .75 = 48 in. (92 / .75 = 123 cm) |
| 4. Multiply the width result by the gauge from your swatch. (For metric, divide by 2.54.) This is the number of stitches to cast on. | 27.5 x 2.5 = 68 st (70 x 2.5 / 2.54 = 68 st) |
very nice
Great comment. If anyone else has some tips we will add them above.
One possible modification, because felted fabric gets funky on the edges:
knit a swatch larger than your desired measurement swatch, say perhaps an inch bigger on each side. (for example 10″ x 10″)
Loosely run sewing thread through a box of a given size. (For example 8×8)
Then felt and measure as you discussed. This allows for a more accurate measurement, without the distortion the edges will cause.