It's important to check on your knitting frequently to see if your project is felting. Set a timer for five minutes and stop the machine when the timer goes off.
Because you put your work in a zippered pillowcase, it will be easy to find your pieces. A pair of kitchen tongs will make it easier to pull the case out of the hot water.
Pull out your knitted swatch and gently wring out some of the water. Take a look at what you've got. Spread a dry towel out somewhere, lay down your swatch, and grab your tape measure.
This first time out of the washer, you might find that something really strange has happened. Instead of shrinking, your "felted" fabric might actually be getting bigger. That's because wool tends to relax when it gets wet, so it may stretch a little before it starts getting smaller. Don't worry, just put it back in and start the machine again.
