Ok, I know this is dumb, but…They say to put the item in a zipped pillowcase and wash it with a pair of jeans. You don’t put the jeans in the pillowcase too, right???
Right.
Nope, just the item to be felted. The jeans are there for extra agitation. I’ve felted several purses and I’m never put one in a pillow case. Also, I’ve found that a couple of tablespoons of baking soda instead of detergent works better.
Some yarns are suggested to be put in a pillow case while felting to help retain shape better. Others because of the colors and or fibers of the yarn.
You would put the object to be felted in a pillow case (or a lingere zipper bag) to help protect your washing machine. The jeans are on the outside, they give the object something to bump up against.
I just finished some baby booties I need to felt, and the book says to do so at 175 degrees, my washer doesn’t go that high. How am I supposed to do that do you think?
First I would just try felting them as the washer is - it is likely the water will be hot enough.
If, however, after 20-30 minute (checking the booties often) it seems like they are not felting, I suppose you could boil a gallon of water on your stove and then add it into the already hot water in the washing machine.
Thanks for the help! I felted the bag yesterday and it really did need the extra stuff in the wash. I can’t control the amount of water in my washer so I didn’t want to be wasteful, anyways. The Lamb’s Pride really felted beautifully! I’m still waiting on it to dry out completely.
I’ve been reading all of the posts about felting. My piece is in the dryer right now - for the second time - so if it doesn’t work this time I will try the baking soda and/or the boiling water on the stove.
I’m making a messenger bag and it turned out beautifully . . . except for the fact that the hottest water in my washer made it grow even larger rather than becoming felted!!! I am so disappointed!
I put it in with jeans on the hot cycle (I chose jeans that were a little big on me). Then I tried the dryer on “cotton hot” - nothing. So I put it back into the washer with the jeans again and a bunch of towels - and I also pushed the button for “temperature boost” to make the water even hotter. Nothing. So now it’s in the dryer again but I am not too hopeful of what I will find.
The pattern said to use plain worsted, which I did, and I checked the label and it is not shrink-proof or “felt-proof”. The yarn label said to wash in cold water on delicate cycle and not to put in the dryer - and, of course, I’ve done both with no effect. I can’t imagine why my piece is not being affected by the hot water and hot dryer.
We even go a new tankless hot water heater this past summer, so the hot water should be really hot and constant.
If this current cycle doesn’t work, does anyone have any other suggestions in addition to the baking soda and boiling water on the stove? I’ve worked so hard on this bag and it looks really good - I would just cry if I can’t get through this last step!
Thanks! Cathy
Are you absolutely sure that you didn’t get some sort of superwash wool? I only ask because that is what it sounds like to me because of label saying its okay to put in the washer on a gentle cycle. In my experience, a Wool yarn will usually say Hand Wash.
It said you could wash it in on the delicate cycle in cold water but that they recommended hand wash.
Do you think that I’m screwed?!?
I just checked the dryer and it is bigger than ever!
Cathy
To Felt, you wash it on an agitation cycle with the hottest water you have and then to set the felt you rinse in cold water.
Also, I never put my felted project in the dryer. I agitate it in my washer with the hottest water we have, then once its felted to my satisfaction, I rinse it in cold water. After its rinsed, I soak the excess water out with a towel and block it to dry. I check it every now and then to make sure its blocking the way that I want. It usually takes a day or two to air dry.
So, I am not really sure what is going on with your felting. I am baffled. What type of yarn is it? (Brand and Type?)
Precisely. Otherwise, you’ll stop up your washing machine with fiber. When the knitted wool is washed, tiny bits of fiber come loose. The pillowcase catches all those tiny bits, protecting your machine. It’s a pain to pay for an appliance repairman, just because you were felting a bag!
I used Red Heart medium worsted weight wool. I’ve been thinking that that may be the problem. The pattern was in a book by Lion Brand - and the recommended yarn was Lion Brand worsted weight wool. I chose a different yarn because I didn’t like the colors available in the Lion Brand. I thought that buying a similar worsted weight wool would be okay - but obviously not!!!
I think that I am screwed!
I have the bag boiling in baking soda water right now, it’s been going for about half an hour - and NOTHING!!! No change.
It really makes me sick to think of all the time and effort that I put into this project just to have it made useless, something to just pitch in the garbage. But, like all mistakes, it is a learning experience! That is the kindest word I can put to it . . .
Thanks for all your suggestions! Cathy
You have accomplished one thing. You’ve proven that the Red Heart yarn will stand up to ANYTHING! :teehee:
Yes!!!
That’s too funny - and I will never forget it, either!
By the way, it’s boiled away a lot of the color. It’s now a rather putrid greenish yuck rather than the forest green it used to be.
Ah, well . . . try, try again!
Double check the fiber content of the yarn. If its not 100% wool it won’t felt. I haven’t seen a Red Heart yarn that is 100% wool. The yarn I have seen is usually a blend of acrylic and wool or something else with wool. That would most likely be the reason its not felting.
I actually went back and bought some Lion Brand - you know, the one that says all over the label “PERFECT FOR FELTING”!!! God, I’m such a moron!
In any event I discovered that if you cook forest green wool long enough, it goes from a sickly green to strangely orange. Hmmm . interesting. That could come in useful one day!
My new mantra: I love the smell of boiling wool in the morning.
Cathy
P.S. Thanks for all the suggestions. I’m only being slightly sarcastic because I need to laugh at myself a little, I’ll feel better!
Also, I might post again in the future regarding how my next attempt turns out. So if you are interested, stay tuned!
Cathy
Good luck! I will keep my fingers crossed for you that the second time around works. Post on how it turns out.
Good luck! 