Snippets Catcher Felted Bowl

Snippets Catcher Felted Bowl by Terry Morris

What is Being Made

The Snippets Catcher Felted Bowl is a small, functional container designed to collect and contain short lengths of yarn left over after weaving in ends and trimming. These yarn snippets naturally cling to felted wool surfaces, making this project both practical and decorative for any knitter's workspace. The finished bowl measures approximately 2 inches tall by 3 inches wide, creating an ideal size for desktop organization.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project combines two primary techniques: knitting and wet felting. The bowl begins as a knitted piece worked in the round using a circular construction method, then undergoes a felting process to transform the knitted fabric into a dense, matted felt material. Felting is a wet finishing technique that causes wool fibers to lock together, creating a sturdy, non-stretchy fabric with a distinctive texture that attracts and holds yarn snippets.

Stitches and Construction Methods

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches and increases to shape the bowl:

• Cast-on: Emily Ocker's method for casting on in the round, creating 8 stitches
• Knit stitch (k): The primary stitch used throughout the construction
• Yarn over (yo): Used in increase rounds to expand the bowl's diameter
• Increases: Strategic yarn overs create the shaping necessary for the bowl form

The construction begins with a small number of stitches and increases in subsequent rounds to achieve the desired width. This circular, bottom-up approach is typical for small vessels and containers.

Decoration and Finishing

The bowl features decorative embellishment using needle felting, a technique distinct from the wet felting of the main bowl. A single strand of wool yarn is attached to the finished bowl using a barbed felting needle and foam work pad, allowing crafters to add personalized design elements to their finished piece.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The pattern calls for specific yarn weights and fiber content to ensure successful felting:

• Main bowl: 6 yards of Heavy Worsted or Bulky weight 100% wool yarn (superwash wool is not suitable, as it resists felting)
• Sample yarn: Brown Sheep Shepherd's Shades Bulky in 100% wool
• Decorative yarn: 1 yard of 100% wool yarn for needle felting embellishment
• Sample decoration yarn: Mountain Colors hand-dyed super-bulky wool

Tools and Equipment

Beyond standard knitting supplies, this project requires felting-specific tools:

• Needles: US Size 11 (8.0mm) double point needles for the initial knitting phase
• Felting needle: A barbed needle designed specifically for needle felting the decorative elements
• Foam work pad: A protective surface for needle felting work

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the knitting techniques involved are relatively straightforward, combining basic stitches and increases, the intermediate classification reflects the additional skill required for successful wet felting and needle felting techniques. Crafters should have foundational knitting knowledge and be willing to learn fiber preparation and felting processes to complete this project successfully.

Design Context

Created by designer Terry Morris, the Snippets Catcher Felted Bowl falls within the containers project category. This practical design solves a common problem in fiber crafts while showcasing the transformative properties of wool felting.