Free Pattern: Felted Nesting Bowls
Posted on Mar 18, 2009 in felting, instructions, knit, knitting, knitting pattern
A year ago I was felting like crazy, crafting mostly oven mitts but also different sizes of bowls. I was asked for instructions for these nesting bowls from a woman a couple of months ago and so I wrote them up for all the enjoy. The bowls make sweet little candy holders for this time of year.
If you haven’t tried felting before, this is a wonderful easy way to start. You will soon become addicted.
For the bowls pictured, I used Lion Wool and size 10 dpn (double pointed needles) (or 10.5 or 11…whatever big dpns you have on hand) (*but* if you’re going to go out and buy some, get size 10).
Make sure that whatever yarn you are using is 100% WOOL!
Approximate Finished measurements (diameter across top):
Orange: 6.5”
Purple: 5.25”
Yellow: 4.25”
Pink: 3.5”
INSTRUCTIONS FOR Felted Nesting Bowls:
Orange (Large) – cast on 72, knit 30 rows
Purple (Medium) – co 63, knit 25 rows
Yellow (Small) – co 54, knit 20 rows
Pink (X-small) – co 45, knit 15 rows
Decrease (bottom of bowl) for all sizes:
Round 1: [K2 tog, knit 7] continue around
Round 2: [K2 tog, knit 6] continue around
Round 3: Knit
Round 4: [K2 tog, knit 5] continue around
Round 5: [K2 tog, knit 5] continue around (this helps flatten the bowl’s bottom
Round 6: [K2 tog, knit 4] continue around
Round 7: Knit
Round 8: [K2 tog, knit 3] continue around
Round 9: [K2 tog, knit 3] continue around
Round 10: [K2 tog, knit 2] continue around
Round 11: [K2 tog, knit 2] continue around
Round 12: [K2 tog, knit 1] continue around
Cut yarn and with needle thread through remaining stitches and pull tight.
Felt as normal. I recommend a top loading machine, hot water, pair of old jeans for agitation and mesh bags to hold bowls.
Please let me know if you find any errors in this pattern. I’m a neophyte pattern writer and I welcome your feedback.
Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious.
Rantz | Mar 18, 2009 | Reply
It’s my birthday today. Really, it is.
*Shut up Rantz, you’re a goat.*
Rantz | Mar 18, 2009 | Reply
How do you get that shape? I’ve never felted anything. Do you block them after they’re felted? If so, how? They look awesome!
Michelle | Mar 18, 2009 | Reply
Love the bowls. Have you ever tried wet felting from scratch without the knitted bit, it is fun.
Shelley (aka Soul Creates) | Mar 18, 2009 | Reply
LOVE these bowls! They will be on my needles shortly. Many thanks for posting this fabulous free pattern. You are the best!
Susan | Mar 18, 2009 | Reply
I wish any of this made sense to me! I can only (barely) crochet.
J | Mar 19, 2009 | Reply
Great pattern I have been wanting to try felting again for awhile now. Thanks for sharing
Rae | Mar 21, 2009 | Reply
Awesome bowls! Thanks for posting the pattern.
smithsonjane | Mar 24, 2009 | Reply
So Beautiful! So Clever!! So waiting to use up the seven rainbow-color wools I bought a few years ago; as your instructions show, increase/decrease by five for each bowl.
Purple, small, then blue, green, yellow, orange, red, and maybe a black with a lid to hold them all.
thank you, my rainbow awaits.
Rebecca Z | Mar 25, 2009 | Reply
Do you block them after they’re felted? If so, how? They look awesome!
Brighton Gay Bars | Mar 28, 2009 | Reply
I bought a few years ago; as your instructions show, increase/decrease by five for each bowl.
Brighton Gay Clubs | Mar 28, 2009 | Reply
Love the bowls. Have you ever tried wet felting from scratch without the knitted bit
Brighton gay pubs | Mar 28, 2009 | Reply
Great bowls, perfect for using up leftover yarn from other projects.
Do you join for knitting in the round after casting on?
Susan | Apr 27, 2009 | Reply
Hi, what a GREAT pattern! I just knit and felted the x-small bowl, and it is adorable. It would be really cute as a trinket box with a slightly domed lid that fit on top by its diameter being just a little bigger. I am not a skilled enough knitter to figure out how to knit a top for this. Any ideas? Thank you so much for this pattern!! ~Care
Care | May 27, 2009 | Reply
Just made the large bowl, and I LOVE it! Thanks so much for writing and posting this pattern. I think I’m going to make a set of them.
Jennifer Codding | Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
These are perfect! I’ve been looking for the perfect felted bowl (not to mention, many sizes!) Thanks so much for the pattern. My lime green one is drying and awaiting some goods to fill it!
Taren | Jun 18, 2009 | Reply
Oops. I loved these bowls so much that I knit up a patriotic set and put them on my Fiberfads! etsy shop to sell. Found out recently, though, that I need permission from the designer to knit these for profit. One more thing, I donate my net profit to Mary’s Shelter, a local woman’s shelter, so I’m really knitting them for charity. May I have your permission to continue knitting and selling these bowls for charity? This is the best bowl pattern I’ve found. (Yes, I know, shameful flattery, but true all the same.)
fiberfads | Jun 27, 2009 | Reply
These are so cute- and I love the rainbow idea. I’m going to try to make some for my son’s preschool. Question- did you use one or two strands of yarn? I’ve always used two strands (per pattern instructions) when I felt, but your instructions didn’t list two. Thanks.
NB | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
No I think I only used one strand. However, two strands would probably make a sturdier bowl. Try it! thanks! Chris
admin | Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the instructions. When you knit, did you do this stockingnet or garter stitch? Thanks. I am looking forward to making the bowls. My local discount store has a ton of this yarn – in all colors – on sale for $3!
KIm | Sep 14, 2009 | Reply
Hi. Love the pattern and want to try it, but I’m unsure what wool to use – apart from it being 100% wool. Can you give some guidelines to the thickness and anything else important about it please? Thanks.
Fiona | Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
I used Lion Wool which was readily available at my local Fred Meyer. You can also use Paton’s Classic Wool Merino which I’ve seen at Michael’s and Jo-Ann’s or even Cascade 220 at LYSs everywhere. For the bowls pictured, I just used a single strand but doubled would make for a sturdier bowl. Experiment! Have fun with it. Good Luck!
admin | Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
Hi, I use bulky Lamb’s Pride yarn for these bowls, which makes them pretty sturdy. Also, I have been making shallower bowls with this pattern that I like a lot.
Care | Oct 6, 2009 | Reply
I will be attempting the bowls this long weekend. Not being an experienced knitter,can I use #10 circular needles?
I am presuming you just keep going round and round.
Thanks!
Dana | Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
I tried doing this on circular needles because they were the only things I had laying around, however once you get to the end of the pattern with just a few stitches it is too difficult to keep the stitches close together, so dpn’s would work much better.
Casey | Oct 23, 2009 | Reply
I am having difficulty with the decreases. K2tog, knit 5 twice in a row? It doesn’t seem to come out even (rows 3,5,7,etc.) Can you clarify?
nancy | Oct 31, 2009 | Reply
You’re right – it doesn’t look even in its pre-felting state but once you felt it, the uneven decreases will disappear. Try it and you’ll see.
Hope this helps.
Chris
admin | Nov 1, 2009 | Reply
When I do the decrease rows, I end up with a
point or a nub on the top (or bottom) of the bowl. Are the stitches suppose to lie flat. How many stitches are on the needles
when I finish decreasing.
Thanks for your help.
Judy | Nov 5, 2009 | Reply
Greetings!
I would love to knit the nesting bowls but wondered if I could do them on circular needles or straight knitting needles? I have used dpn’s but only to make handles for purses and don’t understand how to use them like this.
Lisa
Lisa Gaetano | Nov 9, 2009 | Reply
Hi — On the same topic of the knit 2 T, knit 5 rows…do you just begin the pattern that way and then just knit the remaining stitches in the row?
If so, then that is the same for the following rows which are then all out of whack numerically, is this correct?
Thanks much!!
Kristen
Kristen | Nov 16, 2009 | Reply
I just finished the large one and the second smallest. It goes pretty fast once you start. Can’t wait to finish the last two and then felt them. If they turn out perfect, I’ll send a picture of them.
They are so cute and I’m not sure if I want to give them away for Christmas now. I might have to keep them. HA HA
Barbara | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
STUNNING! These look like they came out of a crate and barrel catalog! I can tell what I’m going to be making for next year’s Christmas gifts!
Rebecca | Dec 14, 2009 | Reply
I just wanted to thank you for a great pattern! I made three of the nesting bowls with some cheapo undyed wool yarn from Michaels and dyed it with koolaid, then knitted them and felted them. It was my first time felting and I think it took longer than usual because the water wasn’t hot enough at first, and the koolaid dye. The yarn was color fast and didn’t fade at all, and I am now officially addicted to felting. I am making these bowls for Christmas presents. Thanks so much! btw, I usually have a difficult time with most patterns, but this one was well written.
saltwaterknitter | Dec 14, 2009 | Reply
Hi, The bowls look beautiful! Can you tell me how much of each colour wool I would need? Thanks so much….
Dawn | Jan 1, 2010 | Reply
I got the directions for these great bowls second-hand from someone and didn’t have the information to get size 10 needles. I’m halfway through my first bowl on size 7 needles. This is my first felting project — what will happen since the needle size is smaller?
auntie20 | Jan 3, 2010 | Reply
I’m wondering if I can use a chunky/bulky weight yarn to make these bowls. And then if I do would I have to go up a size or two with the needle size?
Thanks, I can’t wait to get started!
Melisa | Jan 6, 2010 | Reply
I think you can stay with the same size needle. Experiment! Different needle and yarn combinations yield different results. I can’t wait to see them when they’re finished!
admin | Jan 9, 2010 | Reply
I am really confused about the dpn. R your knitting these like a large i-cord. I tried this last night and it does not seem to look right. I am new to dpn and I guess do not understand the terminology. Also the decreasing, I am just confused but would love to learn if someone will help.
rebecca | Jan 23, 2010 | Reply
Hi! I was trying out your felting bowls pattern… I’m very new to felting, but I am having trouble getting it to felt. I have washed it in hot water with detergent. I put them in a bag with a pair of jeans in the wash, but they didn’t felt. So I tried drying them in the dryer, to see if that would help at all, and it did some, although I’m not sure if I’ve messed up the shape now. Even still with that, they didn’t felt much though. You can still see the knit and put a finger through. It’s not bowl shaped yet. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Kristen Casey | Feb 16, 2010 | Reply
I just started knitting in December with the goal of doing felted bowls. I have made a dozen off your pattern and they are fab. I use Paton’s or Cascade 220 double stranded. Bowls felt up well and are sturdy. Thank you!!
Christina | Feb 22, 2010 | Reply
I am having the same problem as nancy oct 31. On certain row of the decrease you’re left with an extra stitch on the needle. Do you keep on following the instructions and not worry about which needles the stitches are on. I completed the pattern and then ripped it out because it looked like a pointed hat and I think I made a mistake.
jen | Feb 28, 2010 | Reply
Yes just keep following the instructions even tho they might seem a little crazy. Before felting it will look pointy but after felting it flattens out. Try it and let me know how it goes. ~Chris
admin | Feb 28, 2010 | Reply
I just completed a set of 6 rainbow nesting bowls that I donated to my son’s waldorf preschool silent auction. A photo is posted on my ravelery site (which I am justing learning how to use) I’m unsure how to tell you to find them- my ravelry name is nmbonomo. I linked it to this pattern. let me know if there is a better way to share it. Thanks so much for the inspiration!!!
NB | Mar 9, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for the great free pattern! I found it on ravelry and have used it a few times now.
Jing | Mar 12, 2010 | Reply
I had the same thing happen with my first felting project and found out I was using washable wool which will NOT felt. Basically felting is shrinking the knitted piece so you no longer see the stitches. Try it again but avoid any yarn that says it’s washable (like WoolEase).
If you still have trouble, try increasing your water temperature a couple of degrees and wash again. I always add a teaspoon or two of a liquid baby detergent to the washing machine too.
Debby | Mar 25, 2010 | Reply
Did anyone else have trouble with the lip curling? I thought the felting would magically straighten it out, but it just permanently felted it all rolled. Maybe I need to rib the beginning few rows….?
Craftwhack | May 9, 2010 | Reply