This is the kind of luck that I have.
I spend all day knitting a beautiful and delicate headband that I’m am super excited to wear with my new hair. The pattern is a bit of a trial – but having finished it, I’m satisfied (but not loving the pattern so much that I would want to knit it again). Perfectly content if you will.
I show the boyfriend the headband and his feelings are lukewarm. Sigh.*
A few days later, with slept-in curls, my boyfriend decides the headband it actually pretty cute. YAY!
A day later (yesterday), said boyfriend comes up from the basement with a basket full of laundry fresh from the drier.*
You know that “classic” (overused) scene in the movies where the character screams “NOOOOOoooo!” while the camera zooms away really fast ( probably to indicate the lack of control the character has for their situation) to reveal a really deep abyss, or the character falling from the sky or something similarly horrible?
That’s what I felt here. My headband was at the top of the pile of laundry.
“Did my headband go through the wash?” I say.
“Yea, I thought ‘Did she mean for that to go through the laundry?'” my boyfriend replies. *
I grab it off the top of the pile. It’s felted. Much of the stitch definition (the whole point of lace) is lost. Some of it remains – it’s not even a consistent felting job.
So, I thought I’d take this opportunity to describe how Knitpicks Gloss survives a trip through the washing mashine (to contribute to the greater knitting knowledge in the world).
Softness: Maybe a bit softer than before it went in the wash. I think the silk (25%) really helped to keep the scratchiness at bay – as did the merino content I’m sure.
Shrinkage: Not too much – I can still wear this as a headband – but MUCH of the stitch definition has been lost.
Felting: Inconsistent. I think that this is probably due to the fact that the laundry machine was FULL (probably more full than the manufacturer would recommend). Also, it only made one trip through the machine – and usually when I felt stuff, it takes at least 2 or 3 trips.
Other thoughts: I’d definetly try felting with this yarn again (on purpose this time). I think that for an ipod cozy or something else small, cute, and in need of some durability it would be a great way to keep some shine and softness involved.
*As much as I would love to place the blame on someone other than myself, I cannot. The headband got tangled in my shirt as I removed it (my shirt) – and I didn’t retrieve the headband then. Also, I started the laundry load when I put the stuff in the washing machine – and obviously I didn’t check the laundry well enough. Thus, I am only to blame here, not my boyfriend.
All Buttoned Up 
Ohhh noooo! I am sorry. I am impressed with the way you took hold and looked for some good in the situation.
As far as buying Gloss for felting – I would not have considered that but I like what you said about the silk adding shine and softness to the felted project. Hmmm… Future projects vaguely looming behind the vail.
Oh snap! In the blankity blank blank blank sense of the word! What an absolute piss off. It took me a few years, but I have finally! trained my hubby to take stuff out of the laundry if he thinks “should htis go through the washer/dryer? When in doubt, don’t A nd he finally learned…yeah..
I did that once with a pair of cabled socks made in non superwash sock yarn. I wore them exactly one time. They barely fit over my feet afterwards. I was not happy. I’m glad yours is still wearable.
You’re a better person than me. If my boyfriend felted something I knit, I wouldn’t get over it for a few days. I like how you reviewed the result as a good thing and didn’t just complain about it. 🙂
It looks still good. Had a similar expeerience the other day. I made the fishtrap cap from E.Z. Knitter’s Almanac. It was too big for all our heads. So I set to hand felt it. My son came and wanted to have a go at it. We were both happy watching while he rupped and squeezed it and than rinsed it in cold water. I had a shock. It was felted toooooo much, all the cable and stitch definition were almost gone. Now my daughter can wear it as a bucket hat. Sigh.
I think you have missed the whole point/joy of The Boyfriend. He lives to be blamed, preferably unfairly. (What? You all are unaware of that? But that’s why relationships exist! lol)
At least the headband looked good both before and after.
oh nooo! i have had things like that happen so many times, but never with knitting yet {now i will jinx myself :0) }. its terrible.
at least you can still wear it :0) x
Yikes! But it really still looks cool, tho maybe not the look you were wanting… talk to me about the time the husband decided to “help” and do laundry, ALL my bras washed in Hot water, and then put in a Hot dryer… now that’s some elastic felting …
i would love to try and make a headband that seems easy enough?
I just do the basics.
have you ever tryed the knittingpal
its this cute little loom that clamps to your table with about 3 or 4 clamps.
then has 5 needles to it,
i made part of a shirt or coat i don’t know yet so i’m starting over again.
hkinkopf@comcast.net