felting a knitted cardigan??

[tricot39]

I knitted ds a cardigan. Worrying it was going to be too small i fiddled with the pattern and now it is too big. It has been on the drawer for months but i noticed that the wool was going a bit bobbly. I wondered if i felted it that i could solve 2 problems in one hit? Am i right? Will the felting make it heavier like a jacket rsther than a cardigan? How would i do it? Will i ruin the shape? Tia

Is he still growing? Next year?

Felting. Personally I'd be too worried about buggering up my washing machine, I think!

I don't think it would work. When you felt knitted items, it shrinks more vertically than it does horizontally (I think that's the right way round) so your proportions would go out the window. It would get thicker and stiffer, but if you do it in the washing machine you don't have much control over it, and it could end up all felted into one lump. I'd undo it and re-knit, personally.

If the arms were too big/ long then you could try putting a bottle of water inside them then spray the arms with hot water, sprinkle on a soap mix then cover with bubble wrap, roll and pummel the arm at the same time. You will felt and full it. Depending on the wool, it may happen fairly quickly or might take about 20 mins or so.

If the body is too big then try the soap/ bubble wrap thing but put a plastic bag between front and back to stop them felting to each other.

This way, you can felt the areas that you want. Machine felting is ok but can be a bit savage on the wool and felt it too much.

Pop it in the drawer and wait until he has grown into it. I wouldn't mess with it any more...

Yes. I think i will go for waiting it out. But as he needs a cadrigan for the winter i will order another ball of wool and not fiddle with the pattern this time!! Thanks for the advice.

Before you try felting, you need to check it's wool and not a synthetic mixture! Also if it's machine washable or superwash wool, it won't felt. Not in a month of Sundays