Would using boiling water to felt make it seem more like fabric? Do you put it in the dryer after 1/2 hour or so?
I don’t think it really matters if it is boiling water or not, it is the agitation of the knitted item that actually makes it felt. 
ETA: You can put it in the dryer after it felts. It will help it dry a little bit, and probably felt a tad bit more. Most likely it will still have to sit out to completely dry.
hot water + agitation + a little bit of soap = excellent felting results!
hope that helps. 