purlJam

# Felted Fair Isle Easter Eggs

**Difficulty:** Beginner  
**Method:** Knitted in the round, stuffed, then felted (fulled) in a washing machine.

These charming Easter eggs are knitted larger than life using roving wool, then shrunk down in the wash to create a dense, fuzzy fabric. The felting process blurs the colourwork slightly, giving the eggs a beautiful, soft, vintage appearance.

### Materials & Tools
*   **Yarn:** Worsted/Aran weight 100% Wool Roving.
    *   *Critical Note:* Do **not** use "Superwash" or acrylic blends. They will not felt.
    *   **Main Colour (MC):** Cream or Grey (approx. 20g per egg)
    *   **Contrast Colour (CC):** Pastel Pink, Blue, or Yellow (approx. 10g per egg)
*   **Needles:** Set of 5.0mm (UK 6 / US 8) Double Pointed Needles (DPNs).
*   **Stuffing:** Polyester toy filling or leftover 100% wool scraps.
*   **Extras:** Tapestry needle, stitch marker.

### Tension (Gauge)
**Before Felting:** Approx. 16 stitches and 22 rows = 10 cm x 10 cm in stocking stitch.
*Note: Precise tension is not critical for this project, but a looser knit felts better than a tight one.*

### Finished Size
**Pre-felt:** Approx. 11 cm tall.
**Post-felt:** Approx. 7–8 cm tall (depending on agitation).

### Terminology (UK English)
*   **k:** knit
*   **kfb:** knit into front and back of stitch (increase 1 stitch)
*   **k2tog:** knit 2 stitches together (decrease 1 stitch)
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **MC:** Main Colour
*   **CC:** Contrast Colour

---

### CHARTS

**Chart Instructions:**
*   Read charts from right to left, bottom to top.
*   Since you are knitting in the round, every row on the chart is a Knit row.
*   Catch floats (loose strands on the inside) every 3-4 stitches to prevent snagging, but keep them loose to allow the wool to shrink.

**Chart A: Zig-Zag (4 stitch repeat)**
*Used for Rows 10–14 of the pattern.*
```
Row 14: □□□□
Row 13: ■□□□
Row 12: □■□■
Row 11: □□■□
Row 10: □□□□
```

**Chart B: Little Hearts (4 stitch repeat)**
*Used for Rows 10–14 of the pattern (Alternative).*
```
Row 14: □□□□
Row 13: □■□■
Row 12: ■■■■
Row 11: □■■□
Row 10: □□□□
```

**Key:**
□ = Main Colour (MC)
■ = Contrast Colour (CC)

---

### INSTRUCTIONS

**Base (Increases)**
*Using MC and 5.0mm DPNs.*
Cast on 8 sts. Distribute over 3 or 4 needles. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker for start of round.

*   **Rnd 1:** Knit all sts. `[8 sts]`
*   **Rnd 2:** kfb in every st. `[8 + 8 = 16 sts]`
*   **Rnd 3:** Knit all sts. `[16 sts]`
*   **Rnd 4:** (k1, kfb) repeat around. `[16 + 8 = 24 sts]`
*   **Rnd 5:** Knit all sts. `[24 sts]`
*   **Rnd 6:** (k2, kfb) repeat around. `[24 + 8 = 32 sts]`
*   **Rnd 7–9:** Knit straight in MC. `[32 sts]`

**Colourwork Section**
*   **Rnd 10–14:** Join CC and work Chart A OR Chart B, repeating the 4-stitch pattern 8 times around the egg. `[32 sts]`
    *   *Tip:* Keep your tension loose. If the colourwork is tight, the egg will have a "waist" when felted.

**Top (Decreases)**
*Cut CC. Continue in MC only.*

*   **Rnd 15–18:** Knit straight in MC. `[32 sts]`
*   **Rnd 19:** (k2, k2tog) repeat around. `[32 - 8 = 24 sts]`
*   **Rnd 20:** Knit all sts. `[24 sts]`
*   **Rnd 21:** (k1, k2tog) repeat around. `[24 - 8 = 16 sts]`
*   **Rnd 22:** Knit all sts. `[16 sts]`

**Stuffing Phase**
Pause knitting. Stuff the egg firmly with polyester filling or wool scraps. The egg should feel slightly squishy but hold its shape. Do not overstuff to the point where stitches are stretching open significantly.

*   **Rnd 23:** (k2tog) repeat around. `[16 - 8 = 8 sts]`

**Finishing**
Cut yarn leaving a 15 cm tail. Thread tail through a tapestry needle, run it through the remaining 8 loops, pull tight to close the hole, and weave in the end securely.

---

### FELTING INSTRUCTIONS (The Magic Part)

1.  **Preparation:** Place your knitted eggs into a mesh laundry bag or a zippered pillowcase (to prevent fluff from clogging your machine).
2.  **Machine Settings:** Put them in the washing machine with a standard load of laundry (towels or jeans work best to provide friction/agitation). Add a small amount of detergent.
3.  **Wash:** Run a standard hot wash cycle (approx. 40°C to 60°C). Do not use a delicate or wool cycle—you *want* agitation!
4.  **Check:** Check the eggs after the cycle. If you can still see individual stitches clearly and the egg feels loose, run them through again.
5.  **Shaping:** When they come out, they will look slightly misshapen. While they are still damp, roll them in your hands to smooth the fuzz and mold them into a perfect egg shape.
6.  **Drying:** Let them air dry completely (this may take 24 hours depending on the stuffing density).

**Troubleshooting:**
*   *Egg too fuzzy?* Once dry, trim excess fuzz with sharp scissors for a neat look.
*   *Egg not felting?* The water may not be hot enough, or there wasn't enough agitation. Try again with a heavier load of laundry.