Solid and Two Color Felted Bowl

Solid and Two-Color Felted Bowl by Sharon Mooney

Project Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern from independent designer Sharon Mooney offers instructions for creating two distinct felted bowl designs: a solid-color version and a two-color striped variation. Both bowls are knitted in the round using worsted-weight merino wool before being felted to create finished vessels with significantly reduced dimensions and a soft, dense fabric suitable for functional containers.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces decorative and functional felted bowls that can serve as storage containers, decorative pieces, or functional vessels. The solid bowl uses a single yarn color throughout, while the two-color variation incorporates contrasting colors to create visual interest. Before felting, the bowls measure approximately 13 inches tall by 14 inches wide. After the felting process, they shrink dramatically to approximately 5 inches tall by 6½ inches in diameter, creating a compact, sturdy finished piece.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level project employs fundamental knitting techniques worked in the round, which is essential for creating seamless bowl shapes. The pattern utilizes the following core techniques and stitches:

• Knit stitch (K) – The primary stitch used throughout the construction
• Knit 2 together (K2tog) – A right-leaning decrease used to shape the bowl and reduce stitch count as the piece progresses
• Make 1 (M1) – An increase technique created by picking up the horizontal strand between stitches with the left-hand needle, used to add stitches as needed
• Casting on and binding off – Essential techniques for beginning and finishing the piece
• Circular knitting – The entire bowl is worked in the round to eliminate seams

Materials and Tools

For the Solid Bowl: Approximately 2 skeins of Malabrigo Worsted yarn (100% Merino Wool, 216 yards per 3.5 ounces) in color 56 Olive provides the necessary yardage for the single-color version.

For the Two-Color Bowl: 1 skein each of Morehouse Farm Merino 3 Strand (100% Merino Wool, 140 yards per 2 ounces) in Sky (Color A) and Sunflower (Color B) creates the contrasting color effect. The use of 100% merino wool in both yarn options ensures excellent felting properties, as merino fibers are particularly responsive to the felting process.

Needles and Notions: The pattern requires a set of four size US 9 double-pointed knitting needles for working the initial rounds, a 16-inch size US 9 circular knitting needle for the body of the bowl, a stitch marker to denote the beginning of each round, and a yarn needle or large embroidery needle for weaving in ends.

Difficulty Level and Suitability

Rated as an intermediate project, this pattern assumes the knitter has foundational skills in casting on, basic stitches, and working in the round. The pattern note "Don't worry about it" regarding gauge indicates that precise gauge matching is not critical for this project, making it more forgiving than garment patterns and allowing for greater creative flexibility. The felting process itself helps even out minor inconsistencies in tension and stitch size.

Design Details

The pattern, designated as K207 and copyrighted in 2006 by Sharon E. Mooney, provides clear abbreviations and terminology to guide knitters through the construction process. The dramatic size reduction achieved through felting—from approximately 182 square inches of surface area before felting to roughly 30 square inches after—demonstrates the transformative power of the felting technique and results in a dense, durable finished product ideal for functional use.