FAQ's & Pattern Corrections

Q: Do you do mail order?
A:
Yes, you can order directly from us. We accept Visa and MasterCard. Call or e-mail us for more information or to place an order. Downloads are available at www.ravelry.com 
Contact us for information on ordering kits, kit refills and hard copies of patterns.  877-467-0382. We’re happy to talk to you in person!

Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A:
The original Felted Fish was suggested by a 10 year old student who wanted to knit and felt a fish. When I told her there was no such pattern, her comment was, "You're smart, figure it out!" Well, I decided she was right and did some research on fish anatomy. The rest, as they say, is history. With an entire ocean full of marine life in vibrant colors and a multitude of shapes, I probably won't be done with fish for quite some time!
Other ideas have been suggested by customers in my retail shop (Baseball Cap) and yarn companies (Felted Cactus, Sunflower Bag, Ewe Look Marvelous).
One thing I strive for in all the patterns is easy construction and assembly. There aren't a lot of parts to make and assemble and once the piece is done there's not a lot of finishing.

Q: Can I use yarns other than the ones that your patterns call for?
A:
Of course you can. Your results may be slightly different, however. Keep in mind that plied yarns tend to felt faster than single ply yarns and the felted surfaces of the two can look different. Here's a short list of comparable worsted weight plied yarns that can be substituted for one another: Nature Spun, Cascade 220, Galway, WoolPak 10 ply.

Q: After working the increases in your pattern, my stitch count is not the same as the pattern states it should be.
A:
This problem is caused by confusing the inc increase with the make 1 (m1) increase. Adding sts by increasing is done by knitting in the front and the back of a st. Since inc uses a st to make the increase, it affects the st count. A m1 is done by picking up the bar between 2 sts and knitting into the back of it. Since m1 happens between sts it does not affect the number of sts remaining.
Try it sometime: CO 10 sts and knit a row. Next row: *k1, inc, rep * across. Count the sts. (15 sts) Now rip it out and cast on 10 sts again.
Knit one row. Next row: *k1, m1, rep * across. Count the sts. (19 sts)
Wow! What a difference! The Techniques section of all our patterns includes instructions for both kinds of increases. Some of the patterns use both techniques. Just take care to use the correct one.

Q:  The fins on the Felted Fish are knit in the round on only 2 needles. How does that work?
A:
Knitting double-sided flat pieces is easy to do on 2 dpns. The needles are arranged parallel to each other and you knit around them the same as on 3 dps. There is a gap between the sts from one needle to the next but it disappears when felted. It's an easy way to knit both sides of something without having to make one side, then another mirror image and sew both sides together.

Q: There are no instructions in the Felted Fish pattern for the fancy tails that are shown in the picture.
A:
E-mail us for a free sheet of instructions with five color charts, fancy tail instructions and instructions for making tiger stripes (as pictured in Knitter's Stash). We can  mail them to you as well.

Q: My husband’s head measures 25”. How can I make a Felted Baseball Cap to fit him?
Make the Brim as written. Any increase in the band/crown should be a multiple of 12 sts. For every 12 sts added, modify the top decreases as well. For a 12 st increase the first decrease would be *k1, k2tog, k9, ssk*, rep ** around. Then knit 2 rounds before beginning Rnd 1 of the decrease section in the pattern and proceed from there. Knitters who have tried this solution find that 12 sts will do the trick.

Pattern Corrections, a.k.a., Dept of Oops

Shaped Leaf Shoulder Wrap P-51
Shaped Leaf Pattern Stitch Row 12 should read: "P8, k1f&b, k2, p1, k5."
Slip Stitch Pattern Row 1 should read: "*WYIF, slip 1, k4, rep* to last st, wyif, slip 1."

Felted Baseball Bags P-45
Line 3 of Home Run Main Section should read: "K10, w&t, k to end of row, turn, knit to end of row, turn, k10, w&t, k to end of row."

10 Items or Less Tote P-56
Last line of dbl dec directions in Techniques should read, “Dbl dec in Lace Pattern does not require marker.”
First line of Lace Panel Setup should read, “With MC and circular needle…”.
Following Row 11 of Handles/Right Side and Handles/Left Side, text should read: “Work Rows 2 & 3 until 9 sts rem.”

Mini-Pendant Bag Pattern P-22
Technique Section NOTE should read: Throughout this pattern these guidelines and their exceptions apply unless otherwise noted:

  1) The first stitch of every row is slipped knitwise. Exception: Do not slip the first stitch on rows beginning with Inc, or SKP. 

  2) All right side (RS) rows are worked without beads, i.e., Slip 1, *knit* across.

  3) All wrong side (WS) rows are worked with beads, i.e., Slip 1, *Kslip* across (in other words: slip 1 stitch, *slide 1 bead, knit the next stitch, repeat *).
The directions in the body of the pattern are correct.

Bead Knitted Goldfish P-14
Tail increases for Rows 2-4 and 8-10 of the Tail section should read: "Work as in Head & Body Rows 5-7 above." When worked this way, there will be 32 sts.

Sheep Pin  P-24
Row 11 of Head/Body should read, “(27 sts)”
Row 14 of the Face/Ears should end, “… to last 2 sts, skp.”