purlJam

# Pattern: The Cloud Cylinder (Felted Container)

**Description:**
A beginner-friendly project creating a sturdy, felted storage container. This project is knit as a long tube on a circular machine, folded double for extra structural integrity, and finished with a hand-knit I-cord rim before felting. The resulting fabric is dense, firm, and perfect for holding notions, pencils, or dried flowers.

**Difficulty Level:** Beginner

**Finished Measurements:**
*   **Height:** Approx. 20 cm (8 inches)
*   **Diameter:** Approx. 10–12 cm (4–4.75 inches) depending on felting intensity.
*   *Note: Felting is an organic process; final size varies based on yarn brand, water temperature, and agitation.*

**Materials:**
*   **Yarn:** Approx. 150g of Worsted Weight (Aran) 100% Wool.
    *   *CRITICAL:* Do **not** use "Superwash" wool or acrylic blends. They will not felt. Use "100% Wool," "Feltable Wool," or "Roving Yarn."
    *   *Colour:* Natural White (or preferred colour).
*   **Machine:** 42 Pin Circular Knitting Machine (e.g., Addi King Size clone, or standard 46 Pin Addi — this pattern works for 40–48 pin machines).
*   **Needles:** 5.0 mm (US 8) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or circular needle for the I-cord rim.
*   **Extras:** Waste yarn (contrasting colour), tapestry needle, crochet hook (5.0 mm), scissors.
*   **For Felting:** Washing machine (or bucket and plunger), laundry detergent, tennis balls (optional for agitation), a jar or canister approx. 10 cm wide (for shaping/blocking).

**Tension (Gauge):**
*   **Machine Tension:** Standard machine tension.
*   **Felted Tension:** Not applicable as stitch definition disappears.
*   **Shrinkage Estimate:** Expect the piece to shrink approx. 30–40% in length and 20–25% in width.

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### Instructions

#### Part 1: Knitting the Tube (Machine)

1.  **Cast On (Waste Yarn):**
    Using contrasting waste yarn, cast on and knit 5–10 rows. This will hold your stitches open for the finishing stage.

2.  **Main Project:**
    *   Cut waste yarn and insert your Main Colour (White Roving Yarn).
    *   Reset your row counter to 0.
    *   Knit **130 rows**.
    *   *Technical Note:* Roving yarn has little twist and breaks easily. Turn the handle slowly and ensure the yarn feeds loosely into the machine.

3.  **Cast Off (Waste Yarn):**
    *   Cut Main Colour, leaving a long 40 cm (16 in) tail.
    *   Change back to waste yarn.
    *   Knit 5–10 rows.
    *   Crank the handle until the project drops off the machine.

#### Part 2: Assembly & I-Cord Rim

You now have a long tube open at both ends with waste yarn.

1.  **Create the Double Wall:**
    *   Lay the tube flat.
    *   Fold the tube in half by pushing one end inside the other (like folding a sock cuff).
    *   Align the top edge (where the working yarn ended) with the bottom edge (where the main colour started).
    *   You now have a double-thick tube half the length of the original.

2.  **Applied I-Cord Rim (Hand Knitting):**
    This creates a polished, rounded top edge that is very sturdy.
    *   **Preparation:** Using a 5.0 mm knitting needle, pick up the live stitches of the Main Colour from *both* layers of the tube.
        *   *Math:* 42 stitches (outer layer) + 42 stitches (inner layer) = 42 pairs. Treat each pair as 1 stitch to join the layers.
        *   Remove the waste yarn carefully as you place the stitches on the needle. You should have 42 stitches on your needle.
    *   **Cast On for I-Cord:** Using the cable cast-on method, cast on 3 stitches onto your left-hand needle (add these to the 42 stitches).
    *   **Work the I-Cord Bind Off:**
        *   *Step A:* Knit 2, Knit 2 Together (k2tog - knit the last I-cord stitch together with the first pot stitch) through the back loop.
        *   *Step B:* Slip the 3 stitches just worked back onto the left-hand needle.
        *   Repeat *Step A* and *Step B* until all pot stitches have been consumed and only 3 I-cord stitches remain.
    *   **Finish:** Cut yarn, thread tail through the remaining 3 stitches, pull tight, and sew the start and end of the I-cord together seamlessly.

#### Part 3: Closing the Bottom

1.  Turn the container inside out.
2.  Locate the starting tail of the Main Colour (from the bottom edge).
3.  Thread it onto a tapestry needle.
4.  Weave the needle through the loops of the folded edge (the bottom of the pot).
5.  Pull tight to cinch the hole closed (like a drawstring bag).
6.  Secure firmly with several knots and weave in ends.

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### Part 4: Felting (The Magic Step)

*Warning: Once felted, the wool cannot be unfelted. Check progress frequently.*

1.  **Wash:** Place the container in a washing machine (or a basin of very hot water). Set to a **Hot** wash cycle (approx. 60°C) with low water level. Add a small amount of detergent.
2.  **Agitate:** Add an old pair of jeans or tennis balls to the wash to help beat the fibres together.
3.  **Check:** Check the size after 10–15 minutes. The stitches should disappear, and the fabric should feel thick and solid.
    *   *If it is too big:* Wash for another 10 minutes.
    *   *If it is correct (approx. 20 cm tall):* Remove immediately.
4.  **Rinse:** Rinse in cold water to shock the fibres and stop the felting process.
5.  **Shape:** Squeeze out excess water (do not wring/twist). While damp, stretch and pull the container into shape.
    *   *Pro Tip:* Insert a glass jar, vase, or plastic container that has an 8-inch height or desired width inside the felted piece. Press the bottom flat against a table so it stands up on its own.
6.  **Dry:** Allow to air dry completely (this may take 24–48 hours) with the shaping object inside.