Here are some shots of a couple different shoe patterns BEFORE felting. I wanted to somehow capture the magic of felting and will attempt to calm “First Time Felting Blues.” If you’ve never felted before you are shocked and amazed simultaneously at how gargantuan your project seems. DON’T WORRY! It will shrink down to the appropriate size with the first, second, or even third felt attempt. Check out these MaryJane’s I made for my mom. The pattern comes from Funky Knits by Carol Meldrum and Julie Marchington.

Ok, so her feet aren’t 12 inches long, but after a few cycles through the wash they’ll fit a size 8 foot. I usually just throw my felting projects in with my clothes on wash day. This will slow down the felting process because the slippers don’t have the whole washer to themselves and will be less agitated due to crowding. That’s ok with me. It saves water and shrinks at a rate that I can deal with. If only one or two projects are in the washer with a little natural soap and hot water, they will tend to shrink down with only one (maybe two) washes. Natural SHAMPOO/laundry soap + HOT WATER + AGITATION = FELT.

Another hard to believe transformation are these little boots (from feltFORWARD by Maggi Pace).

Although 7 inches doesn’t seem so ridiculous for a child’s foot, these guys shrink down to fit a 2 year old nearly half their original size. The soles are about 2-3 inches longer than the upper shoe itself, and has to be eased in to fit the opening This is because the sole shrinks more lengthwise than widthwise. Here’s a shot of the little boat-like shoes BEFORE felting.

***Stay tuned for the finished shoes, and for an interview with the felting queen herself, MAGGIE PACE!