purlJam

# GEOMETRIC FELTED STORAGE BASKET

**Difficulty Level:** Beginner
**Technique:** Knit in the round, Fair Isle (Stranded Colourwork), Wet Felting

## DESCRIPTION
A sturdy, rectangular storage container knitted in 100% wool roving and then felted (shrunk) in a washing machine. The resulting fabric is thick, rigid, and perfect for holding magazines, yarn, or toys. The pattern features a modern geometric colourwork design.

## DIMENSIONS
**Pre-Felting (Knitted Size):**
*   Circumference: approx. 127 cm (50 inches)
*   Height: approx. 58 cm (23 inches)

**Post-Felting (Finished Size):**
*   Circumference: approx. 101.5 cm (40 inches)
*   Depth/Height: approx. 40.5 cm (16 inches)
*   *Note: Felting is an organic process; final dimensions may vary slightly depending on your specific yarn and washing machine.*

## MATERIALS
*   **Yarn:** Worsted weight, 100% Non-Superwash Wool. Single-ply "roving" style yarn felts best.
    *   **Main Colour (MC - Grey/Neutral):** 600 metres (656 yards)
    *   **Contrast Colour (CC - Bright/Dark):** 200 metres (218 yards)
*   **Needles:**
    *   6.0mm (UK 4 / US 10) circular needles, 80cm (32 inch) length.
    *   *Note: We use larger needles than usual for worsted weight to allow gaps for the fibre to felt.*
*   **Notions:** Stitch marker, tapestry needle, washing machine for felting.

## TENSION (GAUGE)
16 stitches and 22 rows = 10 cm (4 inches) in Stocking Stitch **before felting**.
*It is critical to check tension. If your knitting is too tight, the wool will not felt properly.*

## ABBREVIATIONS (UK TERMINOLOGY)
*   **k:** Knit
*   **p:** Purl
*   **st(s):** Stitch(es)
*   **RS:** Right Side
*   **WS:** Wrong Side
*   **MC:** Main Colour
*   **CC:** Contrast Colour
*   **k2tog:** Knit 2 stitches together (decrease)
*   **rep:** Repeat

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### 1. THE RECTANGULAR BASE
*The base is knitted flat in Garter Stitch to create a sturdy bottom.*

Using MC and 6.0mm needles, cast on 40 sts.

**Row 1 (RS):** Knit to end.
**Row 2 (WS):** Knit to end.

Continue knitting every row (Garter Stitch) until you have completed **118 rows** (or 59 garter ridges visible on the RS).
*Math Check: 118 rows at row gauge 22rows/10cm = approx 53cm long. (High shrinkage expected on garter stitch).*

Bind off (cast off) all stitches loosely, but **do not cut the yarn**. Keep the last stitch on your right needle.

### 2. PICK UP AND JOIN
*You will now pick up stitches around the rectangle to begin working in the round.*

With RS facing and the last stitch still on your needle:
1.  **Short Side 1 (Cast off edge):** You have 1 loop on needle. Pick up and knit 39 more stitches across the cast-off edge. [Total: 40 sts]
2.  **Long Side 1:** Rotate work. Pick up and knit 60 stitches along the side edge (approx 1 stitch per 2 rows/1 ridge). [Total: 100 sts]
3.  **Short Side 2 (Cast on edge):** Rotate work. Pick up and knit 40 stitches across the cast-on edge. [Total: 140 sts]
4.  **Long Side 2:** Rotate work. Pick up and knit 60 stitches along the second side edge. [Total: 200 sts]

Place a stitch marker to denote the beginning of the round.

**Round 1:** Knit all 200 sts in MC.
**Round 2:** Purl all 200 sts in MC. (This creates a "fold line" ridge for the bottom of the bag).

### 3. THE BODY
Switch to Stocking Stitch (Knit every round).

**Rounds 1-10:** Knit all sts in MC.

**Begin Colorwork (Chart A):**
*   Read Chart A from right to left.
*   Join CC.
*   Work the 20-stitch repeat of Chart A 10 times per round.
    *   *Math Check: 20 sts x 10 repeats = 200 sts.*
*   Keep floats (strands of yarn on the inside) loose. If a float is longer than 5 stitches, twist the yarns together at the back of the work to catch the float.

**Rounds 11-30:** Work rows 1-20 of Chart A.

**Middle Section:**
**Rounds 31-80:** Break CC. Knit straight in MC for 50 rounds.

**Upper Colorwork (Chart B):**
*   Join CC.
*   Work the 4-stitch repeat of Chart B 50 times per round.
    *   *Math Check: 4 sts x 50 repeats = 200 sts.*

**Rounds 81-92:** Work rows 1-12 of Chart B.

**Upper Body:**
Break CC. Continue in MC only.
**Rounds 93-110:** Knit all sts in MC.

### 4. INTEGRATED HANDLES
*We will create holes in the fabric that will become handles.*

**Round 111 (Set up handles):**
1.  Knit 15 sts.
2.  Cast off next 10 sts (loosely).
3.  Knit 90 sts.
   *   *Math Check: 15 (start) + 10 (gap) + 90 (side) = 115 sts used. Centre of long side.*
4.  Cast off next 10 sts (loosely).
5.  Knit remaining 75 sts.

**Round 112 (Close handles):**
1.  Knit 15 sts.
2.  Turn work. Cast on 10 sts using the backward loop method or cable cast on. Turn work back.
3.  Knit 90 sts.
4.  Turn work. Cast on 10 sts. Turn work back.
5.  Knit 75 sts.
*   *Total Stitch Count check: 200 sts.*

**Rounds 113-118:** Knit all sts in MC.

### 5. FINISHING
**Next Round:** Purl all sts (creates a top fold line).
**Next Round:** Knit all sts.
Cast off all stitches loosely.

Weave in all ends securely. For felting, weave ends in multiple directions to prevent them popping out.

---

## CHARTS

### How to Read These Charts
*   Start at the bottom right corner (Row 1, Stitch 1).
*   Read every row from Right to Left.
*   **□ (White Square)** = Main Colour (MC)
*   **■ (Black Square)** = Contrast Colour (CC)

### CHART A: Geometric Diamonds (20 stitch repeat)
*Work this pattern from Round 11 to Round 30.*

```text
Row 20: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 19: □□□□□□□□□■□□□□□□□□□□
Row 18: □□□□□□□□■■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 17: □□□□□□□■■□■■□□□□□□□□
Row 16: □□□□□□■■□□□■■□□□□□□□
Row 15: □□□□□■■□□□□□■■□□□□□□
Row 14: □□□□■■□□□□□□□■■□□□□□
Row 13: □□□■■□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□
Row 12: □□■■□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□
Row 11: □■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□
Row 10: ■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□
Row 09: □■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□
Row 08: □□■■□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□
Row 07: □□□■■□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□
Row 06: □□□□■■□□□□□□□■■□□□□□
Row 05: □□□□□■■□□□□□■■□□□□□□
Row 04: □□□□□□■■□□□■■□□□□□□□
Row 03: □□□□□□□■■□■■□□□□□□□□
Row 02: □□□□□□□□■■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 01: □□□□□□□□□■□□□□□□□□□□
        [--- 20 stitch repeat ---]
```

### CHART B: Simple Checkers (4 stitch repeat)
*Work this pattern from Round 81 to Round 92.*

```text
Row 12: □□□□
Row 11: □□□□
Row 10: ■□■□
Row 09: ■□■□
Row 08: □■□■
Row 07: □■□■
Row 06: ■□■□
Row 05: ■□■□
Row 04: □■□■
Row 03: □■□■
Row 02: □□□□
Row 01: □□□□
        [-4-]
```

---

## FELTING INSTRUCTIONS

**This is the most critical step.**

1.  **Preparation:** Place the finished bag into a pillowcase or laundry bag and tie it shut (this catches loose fuzz). Put it in the washing machine. Add an old pair of jeans or a tennis ball to increase agitation.
2.  **Wash:** Run a **hot wash** cycle with a small amount of detergent. Do not use fabric softener. Low water level is best to increase friction.
3.  **Check:** Check the bag after 15 minutes. It will look crinkled. If it hasn't shrunk to 40.5 cm (16 inches) high, run it again.
4.  **Shaping:** When it reaches the desired size, remove it immediately. Rinse in cold water.
5.  **Blocking:** While wet, pull and stretch the bag firmly into a rectangular shape.
    *   *Tip:* Find a cardboard box that is approximately 16" x 12" x 8". Cover the box in a plastic garbage bag. Shove the box inside your wet felted bag. This will force it to dry in a perfect rectangular shape.
6.  **Drying:** Allow to air dry completely (this may take 24-48 hours). Remove the box once dry.