Felted knits

Galeskas is the owner of Fiber Trends, a wholesale knitting pattern company whose patterns are sold in knitting shops nationwide. In recent years, she has specialized in felted knitting, the process of knitting with thick wool yarn on big needles and then shrinking the knitted piece with heat and agitation to create a durable fabric. This technique lends itself to accessories like hats, mittens, and tote bags as well as large projects like vests and felted rugs. Although it includes some 36 projects, Felted Knits is more than a project book. It is a manual on felting knits that covers everything from choosing the right yarns, to knitting and accurately felting by hand and/or machine, to blocking and caring for felted knits. Just one look at the striking red-striped rug on the back cover of the book makes the knitter itch for the feel of wool and needles in hand, although starting with a small project like a simple purse is advised. A useful chapter on needle felting and felting notes for specific yarns round out this content-packed book. Highly recommended for public libraries and textile collections. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.