These cute little felted bowls are decorative and functional - use them to store odds and ends, stack them up, or put them on a coffee table to brighten it up. This is a great use for hand dyed ombre yarn, but of course any yarn could be used - I'm sure a set of these in bright rainbow colors would look awesome!
Materials :
- approximately 100 grams of worsted weight wool yarn - ombre or multiple colors (each small bowl uses about 15 grams of yarn and each small bowl uses around 23 grams)
- US size 10.5 double pointed needles or circular needles for magic loop (or size to obtain gauge)
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle to weave in ends
- Top loading washer OR bucket/plunger for felting
Gauge (before felting) :
Approximately 3 sts per inch in stockinette - gauge isn't overly important in this pattern but your gauge should be very loose so the bowls can felt effectively.
Sizes :
Small bowls measure 3.5 inches in diameter after felting.
Large bowls measure 5 inches in diameter after felting.
Note - finished size will depend on extent of felting and gauge.
Techniques necessary :
- Casting on and knit stitch
- Knitting in the round
- k2tog (knit two together) or similar decrease
- Felting - KnitPicks has great tutorials for hand felting as well as top-loading machine felting!
Pattern :
Small bowls :
Starting at top rim of bowl, cast on 40 stitches on DPNs or circular needle for magic loop, using long-tail or other preferred cast on method. Place marker for beginning of round and join, being careful not to twist.
Rounds 1-15: Knit around
Round 16: [Knit 6, k2tog] around
Round 17: Knit around
Round 18: [Knit 5, k2tog] around
Round 19: [Knit 4, k2tog] around
Round 20: [Knit 3, k2tog] around
Round 21: [Knit 2, k2tog] around
Round 22: [Knit 1, k2tog] around
Cut yarn, leaving a 6-9 inch tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches and pull tightly to close bottom of the bowl.
For ombre bowls, continue to make bowls from same skien of yarn. I was able to make 8 small bowls with about 100 grams of yarn.
Large bowls :
Starting at top rim of bowl, cast on 54 stitches on DPNs or circular needle for magic loop, using long-tail or other preferred cast on method. Place marker for beginning of round and join, being careful not to twist.
Rounds 1-20: Knit around
Round 21: [Knit 7, k2tog] around
Round 22: Knit around
Round 23: [Knit 6, k2tog] around
Round 24: [Knit 5, k2tog] around
Round 25: [Knit 4, k2tog] around
Round 26: [Knit 3, k2tog] around
Round 27: [Knit 2, k2tog] around
Round 28: [Knit 1, k2tog] around
Cut yarn, leaving a 6-9 inch tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches and pull tightly to close bottom of the bowl.
For ombre bowls, continue to make bowls from same skien of yarn. I was able to make 3 bowls with about 75 grams of yarn.
For both sizes:
After you have knit your desired number of bowls to create a set, weave in ends making sure to leave at least an inch after trimming the ends. Then either felt the bowls by hand or using a top-loading washing machine. The bowls should be fully felted with very little to no stitch definition at the end of the felting process; this will help the bowls hold their shape best. While they are still damp, shape the bowls, making sure they are all the same size and shape.
Let dry and then use them for storage or decoration (or a gift!)
