How to Make a Felt Hat From Angora

The fiber from angora rabbits felts very easily.

Felted items are resilient to wear and use, and can be fun to make. Felting is an activity that both children and adults can do, no matter what their age. Angora fiber, which is sheared from angora rabbits, can be used in felted pieces to create a wonderfully soft fabric with a fuzzy halo and a lot of warmth. Using angora yarn, you can knit and felt a hat that will fit nicely and keep you warm and comfortable all winter long.

Things You'll Need

• Angora yarn (110 percent angora or a wool and angora blend)
• Two US size 8 circular knitting needles (5mm)
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Washing machine

Instructions

1. Cast on 91 stitches very loosely. A loose cast on is necessary to give the opening of the hat flexibility so that it will fit on your head. Join the ends of the round and work in stockinette stitch for 4 inches. Stockinette stitch is where the purl bumps are all on one side of the piece, in this case, the inside. To knit in stockinette in the round, knit all the stitches.

2. Knit one more round of stockinette stitch once the piece is 4 inches long, placing a stitch marker after every 13 stitches, seven markers total. Work a decrease round by knitting two stitches together at the beginning of the round and before each marker and knitting the other stitches in stockinette. You will have 12 stitches between the markers. All decrease rounds will be worked this way. Work three rounds in stockinette.

3. Work another decrease round so that there are 11 stitches between the markers, then work three rounds in stockinette. Knit a decrease round again, ending with 10 stitches between each marker, then work three more rounds evenly in stockinette. Decrease again to have nine stitches between markers, then work evenly for two rounds.

4. Knit a decrease round to decrease to eight stitches between the stitch markers, then knit two rounds in even stockinette. Decrease again to seven stitches between markers, then work two more even rounds. Work a decrease round so there are six stitches between the markers, then work one round of even stockinette. Alternate decrease rounds and stockinette rounds for two more repeats, ending with four stitches between each set of markers.

5. Work three decrease rounds consecutively, decreasing until there is only one stitch between each marker. Cut a yarn tail of a few inches to disconnect your piece from the ball of yarn. Thread the tail through a tapestry needle and pull it through all the remaining stitches, removing the stitch markers as you go. Pull the tail tight and fasten off your work.

6. Felt the hat by putting it in the washing machine on a hot cycle with a small amount of dye-free detergent. Dry the hat and repeat the process if the hat is not small enough to fit comfortably on your head. Because angora felts so easily, you will likely only need one pass through the washer to felt it thoroughly. Block the hat by steaming and stretching it to shape it.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a foam model head to shape your hat if you do not want to use your own head for the blocking process.

• Do not felt your piece too much, or the fabric will be hard and lose the softness of the angora. On the3 other hand, under felting will cause the hat to be too big and not very sturdy.

• Choose a yarn with either English or German angora fiber in it, as French angora has a higher concentration of silky guard hair and is difficult to felt.

References

• International Association of German Angora Rabbit Breeders: Felting With 100 Percent Angora
• Knitty: Felt This! by Rob Matyska; Winter 2003
• Lion Brand Yarn: Free Felted Rimmed Beanie and Scarf Knitting Pattern

Resources

• Knitting Pattern Central: Free Felted Item Patterns
• Straw: Free Knit, Felted and Crochet Patterns for Hats