Give your dad a great Father's Day treat - knit and felt this stylish pure wool laptop bag for him.
Father's Day is coming, and if you don't have time to knit Dad a jumper and can't face giving him another scarf or yet more socks, this laptop bag is simple to make yet very stylish. The bag is felted by machine washing it in hot water to make the fabric extra firm and then it's lined, so the whole thing is very sturdy. Designer Mary Henderson used a natural coloured yarn from British Breeds. She says, “It is a pure wool which felted into a lovely thick strong fabric.” Sheep required If you use a different yarn, you must make sure it's wool (so it will felt properly) and that its dye will last through a hot wash. Mary advises, “It would be possible to use any pure wool as long as it is NOT superwash which has been treated. Any yarn must have 'hand wash' on the label or ball band. If the label is lost, knit a tension square of 1 cm and wash at a hot temperature to see if it felts. (Washing it in a pillow slip with towels is a good idea, as your machine does not clog up and the towels provide friction - and get clean!)” When the knitted fabric is felted, it gets quite dense and thick, and will keep a laptop computer's case fromgetting scuffed or scratched. The thick felt is also good at throwing off a brief shower of water, but if it's going to be carried by someone walking to work, possibly in the rain, line it with waterproof fabric for extra safety.
