Felting a seamed object?

[kareila]

I'm about to try felting for the first time, and I'm wondering if it's better to seam with the yarn beforehand, or wait and sew the seam with thread after the fact. I'd prefer the former but afraid it might encourage puckering along the seam during the process.

Has anyone tried one or the other? What were your results?

Also, should I baste around the edge of the buttonhole to prevent it from closing, or will it be OK?

TIA :)

Comments

[indeliblesasha]

I have never had any trouble with seams puckering when I've felted, and it's better to seam before the felting, because that's what makes it so solid. :)

And I've never had a button hole close on me either.

Hope that helps!

[kareila]

Great, thanks so much!

[momijizukamori]

I've also never had any problems with puckering with stuff seamed in advance - the seam yarn and the body yarn shrink the same amount so it's always ended up all nice and even. Hides messy edges, too!

I would baste around the buttonhole, yeah. Or find someone you can stick through it that'll stay - otherwise the edges may felt together and then you're stuck cutting a new one in.

[ct]

If you're concerned, try felting a swatch - knit a swatch, use something non-felting (and contrasting - black thread on black yarn is a headache waiting to happen) to embroider large square on it, felt, and measure your square. If it's still pretty square, you're probably good to go. If it's decidedly rectangular, you might have a problem if you seam beforehand.

[hivesofactivity]

I'd second all those who are saying sew first, felt after. It makes the seams fantastically strong, surprisingly neat (which I love as I'm a messy sewer), and I've never had trouble with puckering.

And as you are doing the felting (whether by hand or by washing-machine), you can check as it goes along whether it is closing or not, and ease it open - though I've not had this problem with buttonholes, either.

[stmaybe]

What sort of knitted object are you going to be felting?

There are a pair of felted slippers I like to make that requires a bit of seaming before felting. The pattern does say to seam somewhat loosely to avoid puckering. But I know I've forgotten to try to be loose with my seaming a time or two and haven't run into any puckering issues.

[kareila]

It's a pouch, so sizing isn't an issue, which is why I thought it would be a good first felting project. :)

Hopefully I will have time to get this done today and report my results!